New-York tribune., 1896-05-16
BALLOTING FOR BISHOPS
A COLORED MAN LED ON THE FIRST
BALLOT AT CLEVELAND.
PASSED on THE SECOND BALLOT BY CHAPLAIN
MCABE-How THE METHODIST CONFER
ENCE VOTED.

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TH1IuNE.l
Gle, eIand. May 15-The interest in the episco-
pal elections absorbed all other interests in the
General Conference to-day. Three ballots were
taken two without result. the third to be counted
by the telers and reported TO the Conference TO-
morrow morning. The Grst ballot was one OF the
surprises The friends of most Of the candi-
dates were astonshed at the small vote they re-
ceived, and everybody was amazed that the COL
ored candidate led the list. All the delegates
were in their seats except fourteen After de-
votional exercises and the approving Of the jour
nal the rules for the government OF the election
were read and the secretary Of the Board Of
Bishops announced the Of the tellers.
The ballots were quickly collected, and the tsllers
retired at 9:30 to count them. No nominations
are allowed for Bishops. Just before the voting
Bishop Foss offered special praise. asking that
prejudice. seifshness and all unworthy desire be
removed from the hearts Of the delegates, and
that they might be enabled to act in spirit of
wisdom and Of a sound mind.
While tire telers we're absent the Conference
proceeded with its regular business. resolution
providing for the separate seating OF the laymen
in the next General Conference. which was Of
fered for immediate adoption. was, after a brief
discussion. referred 10 the Committee on the
State Of the Church The significance of this
separate seating Of the laymen. About hun
dred Of them sit together in one block apart
from the ministerial delegates They have held
several caucus meetings trying to agree on a
policy respecting a number OF questions. but
these meetings have led to no results, and many
of the aymen who at first fell In with the idea
of separate seating have changed their minds.
They do not believe 1t is for the best that there
should be separation between the two orders.
but that lay and ministerial delegates from the
same Conferences should sit together. In the
vote to refer, which was 31S for to % against.
most OF the laymen voted in the Affirmative.
resolution offered by DR.. FraCenburgh. Of
the Erie Conference, raising the question Of con-
sttutionaity Of the section of the discipline for
bidding dancing and similar amusements.
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary for
consideration and report. Dr. swindells. of Phil
adelphia. offered resolution. which was adopt
ed, memoralizing Congress to enact law for
bidding the granting of certificates to sell In
toxicants by the Federal Government. With
Bishop Bowman in the chair the Conference held
a memorial meeting. and listened to memoirs
on DR.. J. w. Mendenhall. Editor of The Meth
odist Review. read by Professor Whitlock. and
on DR.. ]. o. Peck, secretary Of the Missionary
Society. read by Presden. George f. Reed. Of
Dickinson College Three other memoirs for
Drs Henry IAebhart. Sanford Hunt and McCrary
were postponed till tomorrow.
The tellers returned at II 80 and Bishops
delegates and visitors. with paper and pencil
in hand. waited anxiousy the reading of the
return. making note of the votes of the various
candidates. There in all some forty-fve
candidates voted for. The whole number OF
votes cast 521; necessary to a choice. 34S
Professor ]. W. E. Bowen. negro led the list
with 147 votes; Chaplain McCabe. missionary
secretary, came second with 141; DR.. Earl
Cranston. Of the Western Book Concern. third
with 115; DR.. w. Hamilton. of the Freedmen's
Aid Society. received 10I; DR.. II. A. Butte of
Drew Theological Seminary y; DR.. T. B.
Neeley, Of Philadelphia. Al; DR.. c. w Smith
of THE Pittsburg Advocate" Al: Dr. ]. r.
Day. OF Syracuse University. 30; DR.. S. F. Up
( ham. Of Drew Theological Seminary, "a; Dr.
]. c. Hartzell OF the Freedmens Aid Society
3D. Many Others including President Goucher
Of Baltimore: DR.. w. A. Spencer. of the Church
Extension Society; President Reed. Of Dickn-
son College, and Professor Little, Of North
western University got from dozen to a score
or more Of votes DIR. Buckley Of The Chris
tian Advocate" received %.
That Dr. Bowen. the young and eloquent
negro professor in Cannon Theological Semi
nary, Atlanta, Ca, would lead the ticket, no.
,sbcdy imagined. All the colored men voted for
him. and he got many votes from New-Eng
land and the West. Some Of the German dele
cations cast a solid vote for him. Several dele
gates said they voted for him because they
thought a negro Bishop necessary. more
necessary than an additional white delegate.
Secretary McCabe's friends were greatly disap-
pointed that he did not get larger vote. They
counted on $50 at the least. DR.. Spencers vote
had been estimated by some OF his sanguine
supporters at 200: 1t fell far below this figure
that II was at once conceded that he was out
OF the race DR.. A. ]. Palmer. OF New-York,
who was considered to have quite a boom, got
only three.
There being no election. another ballot was
taken Just before adjournment. One of the