The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-05-22
BOWMAN AND FOSTER,

Two Venerable and Veteran bishops Of
the "a. r. Church. Dropped ny the
General Conference >on-f Effective.
After az Exciting scene Following the
Report Of the Committee On Eplseupaey
Recommending sucn Action.
CLEVELAND. o.. May IS Tho general
conference Of the Methodist church
met at $50 a. m. with Bishop MALTA
lieu In the chair. Ii was decided that
diplomas from Methodist schools be
accepted In lien Of the conference in
Course Of study from candidates for
the ministry.
4 The reports OF the committee on
episcopacy were presented by Rev. pr.
Buckley.
Report No. recommended the re-
ti-emeDt Of the senior bishop Thomas
w. Bowman. and Of Bishop Randolph
:. Foster, on account Of non-cfrrct.ye-
ness A most impressive scene followed
the reading Of the report bishop Eos
ter arose. and, amid the almost breath
less silence. said THAT he wished to re-
lieve the conference from any dclicacy
in acting as their judgments dictated.
lie asked permission 70 retire.
Bishop bowman also asked 10 be al
lowed to retire. as II have Just
earned he said. THAT am nom
effective
Rev. George II. Bridgeman offered a
substitute. which provided that Bishop
Bowman and Bishop Foster be not re-
tired. and that the board of bishops
oe asked to give them light work.
DIR. Bridyenan said that the re port Of
the committee was unkind. VINO are
these men that DR. Buckley and his
committee say in the church. and to
world. that they are non-affective?
They are those who have done most
for Methodism. The majority report
would be exceedingly hurtful TO the
church.
Rev. DIR. James +. Chaffee. of Min
nesota, said that unless the confer
ence wanted TO be confronted with
propositions of this kind to limit the
terms of the bishops. it must pass
something this line. This is no place
for sentiment. We must &C. according
TO our conviction and retire these men,
painful as it may be.
Rev. DR. Lanahan. of Baltimore. said:
There is a great deal of honey IN the
report. The honey. however. is a very
good way 70 smooth the way the com
nit;ee aimed at There are things that
nave been left out of this discussion
that would better be said
II think, sir. that the proceedings OF
this episcopal committee have been
unparalleled in the history Of the
church. For the honor of the church
| hope it may never occur again.
This comnittee has been in Sc
,ret session. 1t was a meeting for
execution. | think that one Of the
dangers OF our church to-day is in
keeping secret what ought 10 be pub
Iished. What was there 10 be said
about these great men? Have they
been guilty of aEy impropriety? The
committee said in presence OF visitors
that they wished 10 say things that
should not be made public will ask
the chairman OF the committee on
spiscopacy to say whether it j. so or
not
DIR. Buckley arose and in a very agi-
tated manner said: Our report was
voted for by all Of our committee Of
1870. save five members These breth. 7
rem. II they are not retired. are Official 4
residents Of the great episcopal cities. /
We called those secret meetings that
we might question those beloved bish- 4
ops when not surrounded by reporters
In the interest Of the episcopal board A
! beseech you to adopt the majority re-
port"
The substitute was tabled and the
report adopted. retiring Bishops Bow I