The San Francisco call., 1896-05-15
One of the Aged Leaders Asks
Pathetically to Be Relieved
From Duty.
ERAsING THE COLOR LINE
One of the New Bishops to BIZ
Elected Will Be of African
Descent.

| eral conference OF the MeLNOulSt cnurCn
met at s o'clock this morning, Bishop
Mallalieu in the char. The reports OF the
committee on the episcopacy were pre-
sented by Rev. DR.. Buckley. Report No.
recommended the retirement of Senior
Bishop Thomas w. Bowman and Bishop
Randolph S. Foster on account of non
effectiveness.
A most impressive scene followed the
reading of the report. Bishop Foster
arose, and amid almost GREATNESS silence
said he wished to relieve the conference
from any delicacy in acting as their judg-
ment dictated. He asked permission to
| retire. Bishop Bowman also asked 10 be
retired, 'as 1 have just learned" he said,
81 am non-effective.
| Rev. George H. Bridgeman offered a
substitute which proviued that Bishop
Bowman and Bishop Foster be not re-
tired, and that the board of Bishops be
asked to give them light work DR.. Bridge
man said the report of the committee was
kind.
| DR.. Sawyer said he hoped the substitute
would be adopted.
Rev. Chaffee said that unless the confer
ence wants to be confronted with PROPOSE
tions of this kind to the limit of the terms
of Bishops it must pass something along
| this line. 1t was no place for sentiment.
| The discussion of the report was the fea-
| ture of the conference. All who partici-
pated in it spoke earnestly. During the
| debate Bishop Mallalleu had much diff
Guilty in keeping the delegates from ap-
plauding. He said that the matter under
discussion was delicate, and he hoped the
| conference would refrain from applauding,
| at least until this particular matter was
disposed of. The substitute was tabled,
| and the report adopted retiring Bishops
Bowman and Foster.
DR.. Buckley read report 2 of the COM
mittee on episcopacy. 1t said that in the
| selection of Bishops there should be no
| discrimination on account of race and
that the time has now come to elect a
Bishop of African descent.
Rev. DR.. Brooks of Washington, a col
ored delegate, said: 1.-THE desire for col
ored Bishop comes from all the colored
people of the church. What we want is a
black Bishop, not because he is black, but
black Bishop, nevertheless"
Rev, DR.. +. w. S. Hammond of Lexing-
ton, one of the leading colored divines in
| the church, said: 81 favor the selection OF
Bishop of African descent because his
work is needed among the blacks OF the
country"
| Rev. DR.. Wilson of Baltimore offered the
| following as substitute for the report
THAT in the selection of Bishops the dele
| gates should be untrammeled and, there
fore. the race or nationality of a Bishop is
not proper subject for legislation"
| The previous question was ordered and
the substitute tabled. The committee re-
port was then passed.
| DIR. Buckley read report on episcopacy,
which declared that there should be three
| more Bishops selected.
| Rev. John D. Walsh of Kentucky moved
| to amend the report by adding another
| Bishop, providing one of those selected is
| a colored man.
| DR.. Little moved as a substitute that the
number OF Bishops to be elected be two.
| DIR. Bristol of Chicago moved to amend
by declaring that there should be no more
Bishops elected. He said the Bishops had
little work to do.
| ut is to the ambition of men who would
| be Bishops" he said, "that this report is
| to be credited. They have already figured
| out when these noble men are to die and
oiC hOW he oiiiiS oi ilOW tDty CdU get IUelI
| places. hope this conference will smother
this ambition that we may have more
money for necessary purposes"
The previous question was ordered. Dr.
Buckley was given the floor and said i:
''Most of the Bishops are old and are liable
| to die or become incom petent at any time.
! Therefore l hope you will add at least two
| Bishops to the board"
The report was amended by making the
number of bishops to be elected two in
stead of three. The report was then
| adopted. The two new Bishops will be
be elected at $40 o'clock tomorrow.
| Politics are rampant tonight among the
conference delegates. The election OF Bish-
ops tomorrow will be field day. Trades
OF ali kinds are being proposed. AS one
brother stated in the lsymen's meeting !:
"a sharp, shrewd minister can give point
ers in political methods that any politi-
clan would do we'll to heed" And so it
was to-day, and so it has been for week.