The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-05-15
STORMY SESSION
Methodist Conference the Scene
Of Another Heated Dis
cusSiOn.
Episcoi acy Committee Recon-
mended Retiring Bishops
Foster and Bowman.
Motion by Dr.. Bird geman of Ham.
line. Makes the Intended Ac-
tiOn Less Severe.

~ JENFIAND NaN ID -NTTfat lhteIcst
was manifested by the general Metho-
oiN conference in rhe report OF the com.
mittee on eplSropacv. The report.
which was rean by DIR. Buckley, stated
that III the opinion of the committee.
Bishops Bowman and Foster are roo old
to stand the strain Of their duties. and
recommended their retirement at the
end Of this conference. it.s non effective.
In the list of bishops returned as effec-
tive We're all other bishops with rhe ex-
eeptionnf~ ~Rishep Tayler, and his name
was not mentioned. A generous appro-
priation was urged for them. and the
respect felt for them was fully set forth.
A Most Pathetic Scene.
A soon as the report was read, Bishop
Foster advanced. The entire audience
arose and received him with the great
est applause In the midst Of the most
impressive silence, the low tones Of
Bishop Fosters ,xeice were heard. He
said he simply had request to make.
He knew the question was one OF great
delicacy, and he begged to be permitted
to retire. Cries Of "No, no." came from
al parts of the hall, and Bishop Foster
extended his arms saying: please.
please" It was most pathetic scene.
Bishop Foster spoke for q few moments,
and the conference, by rising vote,
granted him his request. Bishop Bow
man said he would make the same re-
quest, az he had Just learned for the
first time in his life, that he was not
effective. A call was made for . few
remarks from him, but he declined to
Say anything, and the two white haired
fathers left the hall. Bishop Foster q
speech was touching in the extreme, and
he left everything in the hands Of the
conference.
DR.. Bridgeman's Substitute.
DR.. George H. Bridgeman Of Mime
sofa offered q substitute which recited
that in the cases Of Bishop Morris and
Bishop Simpson, in 1858, and 1879, they
were continued in the board Of bishops,
but relieved of their duties. The sub.
stitute provided that Bishops Bowman
and Foster should continue ON the
board but be relieved Of duties. In sup.
port of his motion, DR.. Bridgeman said
1t was unnecessary and unkind to take
such action as was contemplated in the
report Of the committee. He eulogized
Bishops Bowman and Foster. and urged
that they be permitted to round out
their magnificent careers ss effective
members Of the board. Rev. J. e. c.
Sawyer spoke feelingly in favor Of the
substitute. He said the other members
of the board could be trusted to give
them little work or none at all. The
only object in retiring them was to re-
trench and that was unnecessary in the
face of the immense membership. He
closed with q strong appeal for the
adoption Of the substitute.
Proceedings Unparalleled.
The report stunR Rev. John Lanahar
of Baltimore, who said the proceeding.
Of the Episcopal committee had beer
unparalleled in the history Of the church
and he hoped it would never occur
again. $a @3
1.-The meetings have been secret. Dul
they have called them executive. and
the name has been most appropriate II
that the meetings have been held fol
execution" he continued. why say
to the world that things are to be saii
that cannot be said in public and pab
hshed to the world? Why should any
thing be said Of these noble men behini
their backs?"
DR.. Lanahan had been informed thal
things had been said that could not b,
said in public, and he called upon Dr.
Buckley to inform him il such was tha
case Dr.. Buckley refused to reply Il
any question, and said he would late