The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-15
Touching scene When the Two Men
Arose i'm the Conference and BeRged
to De Allowed to Retire
DELEGATES TO VOTE TODAY
WHEN TWO NEW BISHOPS WILL
PROBABLY BE ELECTED.
Chaplain McCabe a Leading and Pcs
Victory Won by the Laymcn.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
CLEVELAND. o.. May H--The General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church retired Fathers" Bowman and yos-
ter on the ground that they had become
noneffiective bishops, and that the interests
of the church would be best served BY
younger men. Though removed from ths
board OF bishops. the two venerable pre-
lates will be supported by the book con-
Germ. The bishops made a pathetic plea
to be retired, but IL looked for time
as II the report of the committee on the
episcopacy would be defeated After
stormy discussion. however. Il went through.
Two new bishops will be elected to-day.
The Iaymen scored their first victory yes
terday. True, 1t was only along the skirs
mish line. but IL only along that line
that the battle was fought, but It was fought
with a determination that forebodes VIC
tory in the hand-to-hand fight that Is Inn
pending. In the committee on the Itinerary
to which the question Of removing the time
limit has been referred in the adjustment
of the details for tie first time IN Method
ism the authority OF the laymen was recog-
nized. Heretofore everything was TO be
done through the quarterly conferences.
which Is creature of the pastor. and which
at any time may easily be So manipulated
providing for an extension Of time beyond
the five years. the committee recommends
that the first step to be taken shall be
the action OF the members OF the church
instructing the quarterly conferences. Moth
ing like or anywhere near IKE this ever be-
fore entered into Methodist legislation. But
II is due to the ministers to say that very
many Of them are In hearty accord With this
and similar reforms, and IL Is due also to
say that the unusual interest In these re-
forms is easily traceable TO some uppre-
tentions literature sent out within year %
two, by a layman from Indianapolis. In
which the whole question OF the rights %
laymen was discussed.
THE CASE OF BISHOP TAYLOR
Yesterdays dispatches to the Journal fn-
dicated a hitch in the bishop question. A
a matter of fact the first secret sessions OF
the episcopal committee resulted In . de-
termination to retire to the nonenective Est
Bishops Bowman. Foster and Taylor. no
trouble was anticipated In this. as to Bist-
ops Bowman and Foster. other than what n
always realized on the superannuation OF
man whose life had been active and effect
i've. Very few have the grace to accept the
situation with the philosophy Of the late DIR.
w. H. Goode, of the North Indiana Con-
ference, who, when his name was called.
said: Brethren, am an old man. and J
have sense enough to know It; therefore.
ask to be put on the superannuated fst."
Most men are reluctant to 90 gracefully
acknowledge the inevitable. am very char.
liable towards old people In this regard.
for may become old myself some day.
True enough. Bishops Bowman and Foster
easily recognized the condition OF Affairs
and. with only the sigh that Is common In
such cases, they accepted the situation
Not so with Bishop Taylor His ru;.ng pas
sion asserted itself ard he was not ioath e
inform the committee that he would not
consent to It unless some provision salts
factory to himself could be made for my
mission in Africa" He modestly asks that
his SON Ross. who has been his financial
agent in America, should be satisfactorily
recognized and provided for. This blocked
the business, and the committee. which was
to have reported yesterday morning. had to
defer IT until there could be anosher secret
meeting Of the committee, and II was this
question which kept this committee In .
wrang1e TO late hour last night Those
who read the few desultory remarks on the
Bishops antecedents. which appeared In last
Sundays Journal. will not be surprised that
he claimed such proprietary right on all
Of that part OF the African mission. which
Is on the Congo. that he should personally
dictate the conditions on which It should
be transferred to the Methodist Episcopal
Church. from the so-called self-suppofting
organization which now holds title to all
or nearly all the property, and really die
tates all matters OF the mission. The ques-
ton will not be settled until Bishop Taylor
is settled. Just when or how that WIN b
fs Sff, ~ 1fa ho fr~
further than TO say that II seems probablo
that Bishop Taylor's real character win
come to light. before the question II fully
settled, well as the quasi character of
times tim sVHa as Methodist N MISSION but pp six.yt
in fact the mission or William Taylor and
company.
CONDENSED WIT AND SARCASM
The following paper Is too rich to be epit-
omized. Though 1t was presented by .
male man. there are unmistakable issdIca-
tions that II is the product OF a man OF the
feminine gender. Few men can put together
so much wit and sarcasm in 50 few words.
II was received with enthusiastic applause
and promptly referred 20 the committee on
eligibility. Of which Dr. Buckley Is chair
man. and most favorably satirizes his argu-
ment against the eligibility OF women:
whereas, This conference has decided 60
send TO the annual conferences the question
as to whether the word layman shall be
SO construed as TO include women and
Whereas. IL Is believed by many that
on Scriptural grounds women cannot bo ad-
mitted TO the General Conference there
fore.
Resolved. That we also submit TO the an
pual conferences the following questions:
"First--Are women included I'm our ar
ticles Of religion. Paragraph Z. which rcads.
Man Is very far gone from original right
eousnessr
''Second--While this question - pending n
will be the order of this General Confer.
ence that the women Of the church obey tho
Apostolic Injunction: Lex your women kov-1
silerce In the churches.
''Third--That they do also refuse TIA
knowledge that comes from books. poporH