The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-12-17
POWER OF A METHODIST BISHOP.
Eighteen Men Who Have Spiritual Rule
Over Many Millions.

ODuECH ECOUOII,lSt. ne MeCnOulSt
Church is one of the ost highly organ
lied. or rather is the most highly organ.
lied, of all the Protestant denominations.
But without going into minute detail
we may say briefly that the board of bish-
ops is the highest order in the Methodist
system. 1t consists of twenty-one persons
who are elected by the general conference
to fill vacancies by death or deposition
"a bishop cannot resign. 1t is within the
power of the general conference to en-
large this number if, in its opinion, the
needs of the church require The new
bishop is ordained with elaborate cere-
monies, and Methodists claim, with true
apostolic succession through the Wesleys
OF these twenty one men, eigL teen have
supreme and we'll nigh arbitrary ulisdic.
ton over worldwide Methodism and two
Of these are practically retired, thus re-
ducing the active force to sixteen. How
this supervision shapes itself into routine
may be indicate to show the extent and
character of this authority. There are in
the Methodist church l24 conferences, 1O3
OF which are in this country, while 81 are
distributed through India, China, South
America, Mexico and Europe. These
conferences may be called the grand di-
subdivided into two or more districts, and
represent from 30 to SEQ or more
"charges" or chul ches Each of these
conferences holds an annual session, at
which bishop must preside. He has
associated with him in authority on such
occasions what is known as the "cabi-
net" a body composed of the bishop end
the presiding elders of the conference.
The presiding elder, it should he said, is
the chief executive of each district con-
ference, and is himself person of great
l. - 4 1. -
in consultation with his cabiLet, deciues
upon, appoints and announces the pas to-
rates for the coming year. and from this
decision there is no appeal. a methodist
minister must either take this assignment
or disobey orders and practically quit the
ministry. Only very few exceptional rea.
sons just. fy such 1isobeuience i'm the eyes
of his fellow ministers and the public
opinion of the church.
Thus, Theoretically at least. these
twenty one bishops have in their arbi.
trary power the location and work OF the
O,O00 ministers Of the Methodist Church
"a power which cannot find II parallel
outside of the Roman Catholic Church, if
indeed it be equacd there.
1t will be observed that. the Methodist
bishops are not confined to diocese.
They arrange for the visitation of the
conferences, taking pains to observe the
ltinerant principle so thai, roughly
speaking, each bishop visits the whole
church in from twelve to fifteen years.
The bishop, however, has an episcopal
residence, though he may not be mach at
home. These residences are fixed by the
general conference, and the choice is then
made by the bishops themselves in order
of their seniority. Thus it happens that
a bishop often officially resides at great
ct hn 49, t.,x 4.
which he il most prominently identified.
Bishop Nincent's home, FOR example, is
at Kansas City, though ne is commonly
associi Ted with Chatauqua interests.
In addition TO these varied and impor-
tant tasks within the bounds of our
country, two or more of the twenty. one
bishops are chosen to visit the foreign
conferences. These men should be care.
fully Gistingu shed from what are known
as missionary bishops, tie OILY. Metho-
dist bishop corresponding to the Anglican
hishop-tha is, with sw ell-defined and
permanent diocese, and who there fore
corresponds pretty closely to II presiding
elder. though he has presiding elders un-
der him. These visiting bishops travel
throughout the whole world and are
effective everywhere.
1t will be seen from this cursory sketch
that thu group of Methodist bishops are
vested with more power than any body of
ecclesiastics in the Protestant sChurch.
AS Bishop Fallows of he Reformed Epis-
copal Church once remarked:, "a Metho-
dist tishop has more power in his little
finger than have in my Whole body"
1t only remains to he said that this group
of men exercise their enormous powers
with rare wisdom, moderation and
fidelity