Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-31

amen; from which 1t Is inferred, however,
that he is pleased with the man chosen to
succeed him, and will put no obstacles in his
way.
The conservation service being finished,
the delegates and spectators, the latter num-
boring several thousand, are filing across the
platform to give to the three new bishops
the warm hand of Methodistic godapeed.
There were no incidents. The bishops are
assisted in consecrating their new colleagues
by ministers who are selected by the candi-
dates; presumably, their special friends. some
Of them very aged, like DR.. Rust, for in
stance, who helped in the setting apart of
Bishop Cranston, and Prof. McCabe Of Della
ware, who laid his hands on the head of his
distinguished relative, the chaplain-bishop of
that name. The new bishops kneel upon
footstools. Eight years ago, when five were
consecrated at New York, Bishop Newman
took his foot before kneeling, and, by a
digniied jerk, knocked the f~ootstool away
from him, preferring to put his marrow
bones upon the hard floor. This, in peni-
tentlal memory, perhaps, Of the long struggle
1t had cost his friends to get him elected.
But there was no such incident this time.
WIVES OF NEW BISHOPS.
To speak of the new bishops makes me
think of their wives. What a strain these
women were under during the four days
deadlock! But they sat bravely through
every session. Mrs. Cranston, who is less
than 40. a charming woman with a Madonna
like face, was an object Of special interest
as she sat from day to day in the. front row
Of a private box. watching for the return of
the %tellers, and listening to the announce.
ments which might doom her to disappoint-
ment or make her the wife Of a great Method
list bishop. After the election a beautiful
basket of flowers adorned the front Of the
box she occupied, placed there by warm ad-
mirers from Cincinnati. Mrs. McCabe went
through the ups and down OF the ballcting
as brayely as her soldier-husband endured
the vicissitudes OF army life, and 1t is ques-
tionable II she was any more pleased when
the chaplain was made a bishop. than when,
long years ago, she welcomed him home
from Libby prison.
The new officials elected, other than the
bishops, are the two missionary secretaries,
Drs. A. j. Palmer and w. T.. Smith, the
former one OF the most polished products
of eastern Methodism, prim and distin-
guished-looking with features of the kind
that seem specially made to be set off with
dainty eyeglasses, and the latter. a full
bodied. whole-souled, strong-faced repre-
sentative of the type of ministers who have
planted the flag of Methodism on the far
western prairies. Very properly, the East
ern Book Concern has for its new agent
a man Of the east, and this fortunate in
dividual Is DR.. George p. Mains. a favor
We son OF the churches OF Brooklyn, who.
II looks count for anything. will surely be
quite as successful In this business position
as he has always been in the passionate.
In the Western Book Agency, Bishop Grams
ton is succeeded by DR.. II. C. Jennings. a
substantial, wholesome-looking minister
hailing from Minnesota. He is slightly
lame at present: but think of a man with
a sprained ankle walking away, as DIR. Jen-
nings did. with the other numerous candi-
dates for this place. II, with such a handi-
cap. he could do so we'll in the race for
this position. what may not be expected OF
him In the office itself? DR.. Jennings will
preside over the Chicago house, and the
senior agent. DR.. Lewis Curtis. will remove
to headquarters al Cincinnati.
NoTABLES IN EVIDENCE.
This reminds me that Chicago is the home
Of DR.. Luke Hitchcock. a retired book agent
Of this church, and a man whose venerable
and distinguished form has attracted more
attention than that of any other on
the platform. Amongst the delegates,
seen and not heard, there are few
who have so striking a face. clerically
speaking, as DR.. ]. E.. Williams OF
Buffalo. DIR. Mills of Elmira and DIR. Luther
Wilson OF Baltimore have also attracted at
tention. Both part their hair In the middle,
but, spite OF this, they both have brains,
II that OF DR.. Buckley. no voice has been
aeard with more effect than that OF the
stalwart DIR. Leonard. the leader now Of
Methodism's great missionary hosts.
The most useful man In the conference,
and one OF the most genial-one whoss good
humor never forsakes him, though II Is often