The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-08
BY a Vote of 425 10 9s Ii Decides that
the Four Delegates Are Entitled
to Recognition.
RESULT OF A COMPROMISES
ANNUAL CONFERENCES TO VOTE
AGAIN ON THE QUESTION.
other Important Matters Considered
pairing to Worry the Ministers.
pecIal 70 .he Ipdianapolls journal.

Special TO The Indianapolis Journal.
CLEVELAND, o., May THE quadren-
NAL conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church temporarily settled the woman ques-
ton to-day by admitting the four delegates
on whom the fight was made. The fight
win be renewed four years hence, after
the annual conferences have voted on the
subject again in new FORM
The conference has at last got down to
business. The last Of the important COM
mittees has been appointed and now that
the woman question has been disposed Of
the center of interest is found in the COM
mittee on the eDisccpacy. composed of 123
members. 1t meets with open doors and is
largely attended by members who are not on
committees meeting at that hour and by
visitors Very little was done to-day to in
dictate the mind OF the committee on any of
the several important measures to come be-
fore 1t. but there is an atmosphere that you
cannot help breathing whether in the pres
ence of the committee or mingling with dele
gates az your hotel or elsewhere. That
there will be three of four new bishops elect
ed is now a foregone conclusion unless the
movement OF the laymen which took form
the other day shall assume such magnitude
before the time of the elections as to make
1t wise to postpone any further election of
bishops until the new order of things which
is sure to come shall have been agreed on.
IL any change Is made along the line pro-
posed 1t will seriously affect the episcopacy,
and ii Is thought best not to have too many
old bishops with vested rights to hamper
the new eplscopacy. This may affect the
question of election.
than forty-seven OF the members of this
episcopal committee viii be voted for, with
probably half dozen or SO not yet heard I'd
committee Is composed nearly wholly OF
ministers, the one having received the largest
a matter of right. Ordinarily, OF course, he
Is leading character In his conference. and
IT. Is most natural TO wish 70 give him bit
of taffy in the way Of a complimentary vote.
not expecting. ever desiring, in most
cases. thac. he be elected This multiplies
in the end. except that it gives the appear
ance or wanting everything that Is going
70 come TO any given conference or group
or conferences. and initiates against the
interests of really deserving men who are
candidates for office other than the episco-
pacy. But such Is politics among those who
are not used TO play politics. The county
that pushes or even allows more than one
candidate for State office gets left on all,
as viii prove the case in this ecclesiastical
election. IL 1t Were not too impertinent for
an outsider i would suggest several modif-
cations OF the states now existing.
The meeting Of the several district delega-
tions to nominate the committee on the lay
man question developed what many were
not prepared for. In one district. the Sew
enth, composed of the Indiana and the
Michigan conferences. and the Lexington
Conference. Prof. Dickey, layman, intro
be taken to completely revolutionize the pol
Icy of the church-that was not the way he
put 1t. but that is what IL means. He had
hardly taken his seat when minister arose
and seconded the motion with most en-
phatic words, and he by another and an
other minister. giving the layman hardly
--u NJ. mt to urrxr t1-t-
ton, al favoring the suggestion. DIR. Buch-
tel. OF indianapolis, emphasized his speech
by calling TO mind the action OF the pastor
OF the Broadway Church in indianapolis
by. which he. in the exercise of his lawful
preTogative, revolutionized the quarterly
conference to suit his purpose: insisting
was Inconsistent with the spirit OF the age.
This being about the unanimous opinion of
the delegates from our district and the fact
that practically the same spirit and the
same proposition obtained In many, IL not
ali, the districts. there can be little doubt
The irrepressible Chaplain McCabe deliv-
cred his ever charming, ever new lecture
on The Bright Side OF Libby Prison to
large and enthusiastic audience, those who
had heard II over and over again being as
enthusiastic as those who heard il for the
Cabe In the world. and il will be sad affair
when his election to the episcopacy, which
now seems probable IL any bishops are
elected. removes him from the high plane
he now occupies, in which his personality
Is his capita,. As a bishop he takes place
on level with the episcopacy only.
The discussion the woman question
yesterday dragged it's slow length along
with nothing special 10 mark il until the
bishop recognized DIR. Mason, a colored man
CT the blacklist type. He was greeted with
cheers as he went forward TO the stand but
more when he proceeded to address the
ference In diction and with a pronuncia-
ton that had not been surpassed by any
speaker. He was in favor OF the admission
c. the women. and he sustained his position
by forctbe arguments as anyone had
used The pulpit he may I'LL next Sunday
will be sought after by all who are looking
for a good thing in the line of sermons.