The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-25
THE RETIRED LIST OF MErHoDrsM

though not the original Father TAYLOR"
we believe, whom the Methodist General
| Conference retires as "non- effective" fol-
lowing close upon the same action in the
| cases OF Bishops FOSTER and BOWMAN.
| The episcopal execution OF this distin-
guished missionary who though his career
has been conspicuous in the African field,
has travelled aud labored in many other
lands, was Performed by the conference
as summsrily and decisively as were the
other retiremenis.
The propiety Of thus disposing of the
aged and widely beloved brothers in Meth
odism depends entirely on the point of
view and as the only point OF view that is
Of any value is that OF Methodism itself,
and as il is the way of Methodism, no one
has any license to interest himself in sym
pathy and no sympathy is asked. Meth
odism, that is, Episcopal Methodism, is
organized on plan to secure efficient
forces in eyangelistic operations. IT has
all the morale OF military regulations. A
Methodist minister Is a soldier aivsys on
duty, doing what and going woneo he is
commanded. The system is never ytyran-
nical, and seems always to have produc-
ed excellent results. Every Methodist
voluntarily becomes subject to this relig-
io-military system.
In the ministry of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church are only two orders, dea-
cons and elders. AS with Protestant Epis-
copalians, Methodism has also bishops.
But they are not a third order OF the
Methodist ministry as in that OF the
Protestant Episcopal ministry. The bish-
ops Of the Methodist Episcopal church are
only dihDrent from other presbyters or
elders as to Office. They are elders or
dained, that is, consecrated, to use the
word in the discipline, to the Office of gen.
eral superintendents, to preside at annual
conferences, ordain deacons and elders,
and perform other specified duties. They,
as Bishop FOSTER said at Cleveland when
retired non-effective, "Will carry the
Episcpoate with them to their graves"
Among the ilI-informed judgments in
connection with this action of the gen.
eral conference is the charS" tbat by retir-
ing these bishops Method IS proven to
have no true Episcopacy. But as q mat
ter of the Methodist organization these
bishops have not been retired. They are
only relieved from continuous labors"
because "non-efiective." Virtually they
are being dealt with as superannuates
are, and why should they not be7 Once q
Methodist minister always q Methodist
minister, that is, during good behavior.
Bishop WALDEN said at the session Of
the New England Southern Conference
in Providence, April, 1896, "A superan-
nuate belongs still in the pastorate and
holds membership in his conference, ca
pable of performing all the functions OF
ar ordained elder" So of q bishop; he
belongs to the Episcopate, when retired
non-effective. Bishops FOSTER, Bow
MAN CAd TAYLOR, who were retired at
Cleveland as effective" will still
assemble at the sittings OF the Board of
Bishops, will doubtless be assigned light
work and be loved and honored In their
office, for their Office has not been taken
from them.
The General Conference only did as the
discipline directs, as in paragraphs 277-s:
"The General Conference shall determine
which of the bishops are effective and
which non-effeotive." The next para
graph states the provision made for their
support. So this body OF men, so freely
condemned by saint and sinner, has only
had the courage TO consult the greatest
good of the greatest number; to see that
the Methodist Episcopal Church has an
effective board or bishops, just as in the
annual conferences it is vigorously en-
forced that said church shall have effective
ministers. In this verv district are min
listers put and kept on the superannuated
list who are likely enough more effective
than these two bishops, but are super.
anuated, for the reason that they cannot
do full work. While such is the genius OF
Methodism, let bishops and elders share
and share equally. -
To declare In the outcry which con-
tinues even yet about the Cleveland mat
ter: "No bishops have ever been so de-
graded BEFORE" is mistake. True,
from frequent overmuch sentimentalism,
the law Of the discipline has been usually