The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-03

q speech. remarked that he merely
wished to say. "Amen." from which 1t
was inferred that he was pleased with
the man chosen to succeed him.
The conservation service being fin-
ished. the delegates and spectators. the
latter numbering several thousand.
filed across the platform to give to the
three new bishops the warm hand OF
Methodistic godspeed. The bishops
were assisted In consecrating their new
colleagues by ministers who are select
ed by the candidates. presumably their
special friends, some Of them very aged.
like Dr. hust, for instance. who helped
in the setting apart Of Bishop Grams
ton, and Professor McCabe, of Della
ware. who laid his hands on the head
of his distinguished relative, the chap
lain-bishop of that name. The new
bishops knelt upon footstools. Eight
years ago, when five were consecrated
at New York. Bishop Newman took
his foot before kneeling, and. by dig
nified jerk. knocked the footstool away
from him, preferring to put his mar
row-bones upon the hard floor.
NEW BISHOPS WIVES.
Speaking of the new bishops makes
me think of their wives. What a strain
these women were under during the
four days deadlock! But they sat
bravely through every session. Mrs.
Cranston. who Is less than 40, a charm
ing woman with a Madonna-like face.
was an object of special interest as she
sat from day to day in the front row
of a private box watching for the re-
turn of the tellers and listening to the
ont ,,,hf hnr
to disappointment or make her the wife
of a great Methodist bishop. After the
election beautiful basket of flowers
adorned the front of the box she occu-
pied. placed there by warm admires
from Cincinnati. Mrs. McCabe went
through the ups and downs of the bal
loting as bravely as her ssoldier-hus-
band endured the vicissitudes OF army
life. and 1t Is questionable If she was
any more pleased when the chaplain
was made bishop, than when, long
years ago, she welcomed him home from
Libby prison.
The new officials elected. other than
the bishops, were the two missionary
secretaries. Drs. A. ]. Palmer and w. 7.
Smith, the former one Of the most pol
ished products of eastern Methodisn.
prim and distinguished-loo and
the latter a full ll-bodied, whole-souled,
strong-faced representative of the type
of ministers who have planted the flag
of Methodism on the far western
prairies. The Eastern Book concern has
for Its new agent q man of the east,
and this fortunate Individual Is DR..
George p. Mains, a favorite son of the
churches Of Brooklyn, who, If looks
count for anything, will surely be quite
as successful in this business position
as he has Away been in the pastorate.
In the western book agency. Bishop
Cranston Is succeeded by DR.. II. c.
Jennings, a substantial, wholesome
looking minister, hailing from Minne-
sofa. He is slightly lame. Dr. Jen-
nings will preside over the Chicago
house, and the senior agent, DR.. Lewis
Curtis. will remove to headquarters at
Cincinnati.
This reminds me that Chicago is the
home of DR.. Luke Hitchcock, a retired
book agent of this church, and man
whose venerable and distinguished
form attracted more attention than
that of any other on the platform.
Amongst the delegates, seen and not
heard, there We're few who have so
striking face. clerically speaking, as
DR.. ]. Z. Williams, of Buffalo; DR..
Mills, of Elmira, and DR.. Luther Will
Sou' VI pditiHioiC, ttloO dtItdCtcu dllcii-
ton. Both part their hair in the mid
die, but, spite Of this, they both have
bra ms and know how to use them.
Next to that Of DR.. Buckley, no voice
has been heard with more effect than
that Of the stalwart DR.. Leonard, the
leader now Of Methodism's great mis-
sionary hosts.
One of the most useful men in the
conference, and one of the most genial
one whose good humor never forsook
him, though 1t is often sorely tried
was DR.. D. 8. Monroe. who completed
at this time his twelfth year of eff
cient service as chief secretary. The
mantle of DR.. Lanahan, as mover of
the previous question, seems to have
fallen these days upon DR.. ]. C. Little.
who, by the way, is a very clear-headed
debater, and, Of whom it is said, that
when he takes the platform you are
very likely to hear, not simply his own
views, but those of the bishops. One
of the freest Of the rich laymen was
John z. Andrus, of New York. He it
was who bid off for $500 the table upon
which the presiding officers had broken
so many gavels. That storm which
broke out on Monday among delegates
OF the African race was quelled later
by the election of DR.. Mason as a sec
retary of the Freedman's Aid sooiety.
DR.. Mason was one Of the best speakers
and had one Of the blacklist faces in
the whole body.