Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-26
FELL TO WORK REFRESHED
Continued from First Page.)

(COntl0uGd rom f1r5G 9agS.)
 
 Rev. Thomas Pearnier, D. D., Hillsboro. It was decided to hold two sessions of the conference every day until adjourn ment. The conference took a ballot for missionary bishop to Africa. two thirds vote was required to elect. The result: J. c. Hartzell, 223; M c. B. Ma son, colored, S1; D. s. Monroe, 73; J. W. Hamilton, 15;eG. w. Cue, 13; scattering, 43. Necessary to choice, 301. MT. Cues candidacy Is said to be due to the fact that he is afraid to return to his home in Portland, having incurred the enmity of the women of his church by making disparaging comparisons between the bi- cycle bloomer girl and the four women delegates. sse. s1
 Col. Fred Grant received an enthusi- astic reception when he was introduced to the conference by Bishop Foss.
 Bishop Barnett of the African Method ist church,, southern manager of Me Kinley's campaign, was presented to the conference. ,.ssa The long deferred fight between the lay and ministerial delegates came up when the committee on constitution reported the new constitution. The majority re- port wanted a referendum to be com posed only of the ministers, while the minority report demanded that the lay members be given a-yoiceF in the refer endum. Dr. A.sJ. Kinnett of Philadel-
 
 of lay representation. E. Swarthout of Michigan declared that the report of the constitutional committee was a failure. What the Methodist church needs most" he said, lis a judiciary that shall decide judicial questions only and keep its hands off legislative questions. What a miserable farce was the consideration of the woman question by this body! We first considered the-question as judicial one and then compromised it by virtue of our legislative power.. That kind of work makes our conference ridiculous. am opposed to the report because it gives us nothing new.s
 A motion was made to amend the re- port of the committee on constitution so that the lay delegatesNto the general con- ference should be elected by the people of the church instead of at the quarterly conference It was received with tre- mendous applause by the laymen. An attempt to table the amendment was de- feated.
 William M. Saindells said: 'Let us give to the laiety- of the church this in creased responsibility, and it will be best for them and best for the church.
 General Ruskin said that he heartily favored the amendment, but he believed that it should not be adopted now. It would .imperil the adoption of the consti- a vote of 189 to 193.
 The committee on Epworth leagues rec commended that certain members of the board of control be appointed by the gen. eral conference instead of by the repre- sentatives of the league. Several dele gates denounced the report as taking the last vestige of authority from the league members in the control of its own organi- zation. The report was adopted.
 pr. Joseph 0. Hartzell of Louisiana was elected bishop to Africa on the sec ond ballot. He was invited to a seat on the platform. When Bishop Taylor the aged bishop who initiated the African work, congrat tulated his successor, the conference rose and applauded enthusias- tically. Dr. Hartzell is 54 years of age, and since 1888 has been secretary of the Freedman's Aid society. He was re- elected to the same position on May 21 on the first ballot. In 1870 he was trans ferred from the Illinois conference to New Orleans, and was placed in charge of Ames church in that city. While in that city he became editor of the South western Christian Advocate. He has taken a prominent part in the develop ment of the public school system of that city.