The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-14
Latter II Making = Vigorous Fight to
BE Retained N Missionary Bishop
of the Dark Continent.
TIME LIMIT OF PASTORS
WORRYING THE LAYNfEN AND
PREACHERS AT THE CONFERENCE.
Amendment to he Reported Providing
for Extension to Ten Years-"Par-
son" Goodwin's Snap Shots.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
CLEVELAND, May 13.-The Methodist
quadrennial conference will tomorrow take
up the election OF bishops and other officers
subordinate to the General Conference. The
committee on episcopacy, it is said, viii re-
port in favor of retiring three venerable
prelates-Bowman, Foster and Taylor-but
the adoption of the report is uncertain
Bishop Taylor is making vigorous fight for
a new lease of life, and may win. The COM
mittee on itineracy will recommend what Is
known as the Buckley-Butts amendment to
the time-limit resolution. BY this PROPOSE
tion pastor may be continued ten years in
one place if he receives vote OF three
fourths of the quarterly conference and the
consent of majority OF the presiding elders.
The vote of the committee was 3S to %, but
1t will not pass the conference.
There was no little indignation expressed
last night when. about o'clock, the CON-
mittee on the episcopacy ordered the retire
ment OF all but members of the committee.
that they might more freely discuss the rea-
sons for peremptorily assigning Bishops Bow
man, Foster and Taylor to the ineffective
list. So much interest cen.ered in the doings
OF the committee that nearly all the minis
terial members not engaged In committee
work had met in the auditorium of the First
Methodist Church to hear what was to be
said for and against the election of
bishops, and many laymen had left the lay
mems association, which was meeting in the
Sunday school room of the same building to
discuss the same question from the layman's
standpoint, so that there was a large
dience, including many women. The discus
sion had gone on for more than an hour. The
subcommitte had reported in favor of elect
ing two new bishops, the maximum number
recommended by the bishops. and DIR. Moore,
editor OF the Western Christian Advocate,
had moved to amend by making it four.
While occasionally. but very rarely, voice
would be heard In favor Of electing none at
all, the prevailing sentiment appeared to be
in favor Of DR.. Moore's substitute. In sup
port of this it became 50 necessary to refer
to the growing mental infirmities OF Bishop
Foster, on account Of age, alluded to in these
dispatches several days ago, that it was
thought best not to continue the discussion
before a miscellaneous audience, though
composed wholly of members of the General
Conference, hence this call for an executive
session. Perhaps it was wise, though it is
difficult to see why those who are to vote on
the question should not know the worst if
there be anything not already revealed.
While this discussion going on in the
auditorium among the ministers, for the
Episcopal committee has 12l ministers to
two laymen, the laymen were discussing the
same question in an adjoining room. The
meeting was largely attended and was pre-
sided over by ex-senator Harlan In the alb
sence of Prof. Dickey, who had to leave
before the discussion was ended. There were
but two or three who favored the election
of any more bishops at all and none that
asked for more than two. While expressing
the most profound love and respect for the
office and the present officers they seemed
to think that as now administered there
was enough. There were many free critl-
cisms as to the time devoted by the bishops
in what was purely private business, such
as bookmaking, lecturing and church dedica-
| tion, from which they realize much profit
pecuniarily. No attempt was made to formu-
late opinion by resolution, the talk being
| three-minute, free-to-all conversation dur
| ing which more than one referred to the poll
| ing of a vote by others in such a case. so it
need surprise no one If that last resort is
appealed to In settling the question Of the
| number OF new bishops.
| The opening exercises this morning were
| led by Rev. DR.. Gillian. OF Texas, a very
dark colored man, and it Is due to say that
| at no time has the scripture lesson been
read with more unaffected elegance and that
no prayer had more truly appropriate petit
| tions or was freer from unmeaning plati-
| tudes.
| The exodus of lay delegates to make room
| for their alternates has begun, thus giving
an opportunity to pass around the honors
| ference. This is not as detrimental to bus
| mess as might at first be imagined, as the
laymen are so in the minority as to prac-
| tically amount to little in any matter Of
| general interest.
A proposition to have the General Confer
ence meet once in six years instead of once
| in four received favorable consideration,
but was finally referred to committee. from
| which It is likely to be returned with fa-
| vorable recommendation.
| The committee on the episcopacy report
| that though they had continued in session
| till II o'clock last night, they were unable
| to report as TO the number of bishops to be
elected because the question Is complicated
| with so many other questions, such as the
/ question Of missionary bishops, the residence
| of general superintendents and especially
| the matter of retiring several of the pres
ent bishops. but they promise 10 make a re-
/ port early Tomorrow Meanwhile they an
| nouncedFa meeting for the afternoon. at
/ which no outsider, male or female, was al
| lowed. This secret session was suggested
| wholly on account Of the supposed delicacy in
| discussing the effectiveness of the older
| bishops.
The committee on revivals reported several
| immaterial changes, mostly merely verbal
| which were readily adopted. but one OF the
| proposed amendments, relating to the re-
| baptism OF those baptised in infancy. was
| recommitted. Its adoption. which Is prob
| able. will be a new departure which will
/ restore the rule Of early Methodism, allow
| ing the rebaptism OF such at their own re-
| quest. T. A. G.
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.