The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-19
DR.. Buttx's Following Has Dropped to
125, While Cranston, McCabe, Ham,
flton and Neeley Lead in Order.
I. A. GOODWIN'S COMMENTS
ATTEMPT TO RECONSTRUCT A USE
LESS CHURCH INSTITUTION.
A Preacher Who Resembles Simon
Possibilities Of q Revolutions.
pecial to the indianapolis Journal.

look as IL the attempt by the Methodist
Episcopal Conference to EJECT two bishops
had reached the deadlock stage. Thirteen
ballots have been taken and the highest
candidate lacks over LOO votes. The fifth
ballot OF the day was taken this morning
and it resulted: Cranston, 245; McCabe. 100;
Hamilton. 1S6; Neely, liz; Buttz. rs;
Bowen. "a
A most interesting squabble occurred in
the conference this morning in an attempt
to legalize and reconstruct a bastard Meth
odist institution, yc.ept in common parlance
and the Discipline. the official board, which
Is very much like Topsey, 1t was never
made, but just growed-a kind of mongrel
institution, without any well-defined field
of operation, being kind Of halfway be-
tween the old leaders and steward meeting
and the quarterly conference, and In some
sense including the functions of both. leav-
ing these ancient Institutions little to do
as such except mere routine business. The
principal new feature is it's provision to al
low it to exist in country churches. The
differences in opinion shows the absolute
necessity of a thorough revision of the
whole Discipline. The amendment prevailed,
as 1t should have done. SO henceforth there
may be an official board on circuits.
Sunday was a great day, Notwithstanding
the failure to elect bishop on the eighth
ballot Saturday, and people and preachers
attended church with becoming promptness,
all TO hear very good sermons, but none of
| such unusual character as to be remark
| able. except that delivered to $1,000 people
at the Armory by Rev. DR.. w. L. Watkin-
son, the British fraternal delegate, and that
was more remarkable for its uniqueness than
for any special ability, though by no means
lacking In sermonic qualities. The preach
er is not handsome man. and by no means
typical John Bull in his physique. Any
one who has photograph of Simon Yandes
taken twenty-five years ago, can come near
in his personal appearance. and the tones
of his voice more resemble those of the Mr.
Yandes Of the sixties than any one 1 can
think or, while his pulpit mannerisms more
resemble those of DR.. Cleveland than those
CT any other man living. With such !.
| presence 1T is easy to see that the matter OF
his discourse must have been unusually
| good 10 attract attention. He preached an
hour. and many would have been willing
to listen another hour to his sallies of wit
| and sarcasm interspersed occasionally with
| argument and theology.
| While the pending election and its possible
| results were topics of conversation every
| where yesterday, there were no caucusings
| or unseemly combinations that became gen.
| orally known. the most being conjectures as
as to the results Of a few facts. For in
| stance, when DR.. Bowen, the colored man.
received but thirty-seyen on the eighth bal
lot. having fallen from 175 on the second
ballot, had the good sonse to request his
friends to drop him instead OF prolonging a
needless struggle, as some have done, never
getting more than one or two votes, giving
color to the suggestion that they have been
voting for themselves all the time to get a
| start for something else. the question arose,
who shall be his legatee. for the coloreo
brethren would likely go in a body, but to
whom was the question, and it was evident
they were not to be coaxed. for they have
their own way Of thinking.
RAN IN PAIRS
Another element OF uncertainty was the
unusual tactics Of agreeing to stick. 1t de-
veloped on counting the ballots that in two
or three cases candidates ran in pairs. SC
that. finding the name on one ticket, tn,
o'her was almost to be on the same
ticket. BY little judicious inquiry of the
tellers these pairs became known, and tner
came the agreement Of each. of the pair.
|
following of retiring might go? If il
should go In body to any rival candidate
that would settle the hash of his pair. whe
already had those thus released.
This was the condition Of affairs wner
conference met this morning. with specula
tions as to what would first be done in al
most every mouth, for it possible. ever
possible, that question previous 10 every
thing else would be a reconsideration of TIT
rule to require a two-thirds majority; IL no;
also reconsideration of the resolution no
to go into any election at all until certain
pending questions are settled. But after som
time the election was proceeded with unde
the rule already in force, showing that 4
any combinations had been attempted the.
had been badly smashed"
The episcopal committee Is wrestling witt
Of revolution than any other question be
fore the General Conference, except tha
before the constitutional committee, whc1
| proposes a commission for rewriting and re
constructing the constitution Of the churcl
SO as to adopt It to the democratic notion
general superintendency has been losin
favor for many years. but just how to mod
ify it without destroying the correctional
The bishops themselves and those who hop
to be bishops are generally opposed to an,
We f I Sody leaf S the fS
in some modified form at least. The abl
discussion on the proposition to elect col
OrcQ DlSnOp, carried on Wholly Dy the col
ored members Of the conference, could no
| fail to convince every candid man that
there is any virtue in the episcopacy II coul
not be realized by the colored people throug
a white bishop who came around only one
a year. stopped at hotel. held confer
ence, appointed the preacher and then HE
away on an express train to be seen or fel
no more for a year. They need a ma
among them who can be with them an
touch them. 1t was such arguments whic
on one ballot gave DR.. Bowen, the colore
candidate. the lead In the race for the epiz
copacy.
AN OLD FIGHT OVER AGAIN.
But there are good reasons why a man G
DR.. Bowen's ability. which. though marvel
Gus considering his opportunities. Is IA
less than that of DIR. Buttz. or McCabe, O
Cranston or any of hundred that coul
be named, should not displace one of thes.
while so many interests are at stake vastl
outweighing the interests involved along tn
colored line. Hence after q highly compI
mentary vote tho matter OF sentiment wa
dropped and the colored man was not elec'
ed. but the conviction remained that ther
} ought to be colored bishop. II Is the dgr
} thirty years ago as to the Germans. Ever
} | argument in favor Of one II equally In fave
Of the other. but IN neither case is Il sirou
enough TO justify the voting for Germa
; or coIored man. - such, other thing
being equal This couviction that chez