The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-16
Time Has Come When One Should Be
Chosen for 1900 African Ministers.
DEBATE OVER ELECTION OF BISHOPS.
Three Reports Made by ths Committee The Ma
jorIt Want Two Nav Officials, The Second
None and the Third -Four.

Chicago. May 16.-The Methodist Gen
eral Conference yesterday declared in
favor OF negro bishop, The report
of the committee on Episcopacy on this
point which was adopted amid great
applause. read az follows:
There should be no discrimination
ON account OF race or color. Men should
be chosen because OF the worth and
fitness OF the person. We believe the
time has come when the general con-
ference may safely and wisely choose
bishop from among the 100 ministers
of African descent, and we recognize
the need of a bishop among the people
OF African descent"
The committee recommended that
James NJ. Thoburn, missionary bishop
OF India, and J. c. Hartzell. missionary
bishop of Africa. be declared effective.
and that William Taylor, missionary
bishop of Africa, remain in his present
relation.
Then came the portion dealing with
the selection OF new bishops other than
the colored official already referred to
THE committee on Eplscopacy rec
ommends that two general supern-
tendents be elected by this general con-
ference" said DR.. Buckley. II have
TO announce minority report. said
he. In fact. the division in the COM
mfttee involves the Offering OF second
minority report"
DIR. Buckley then moved the adoption
OF the report
Gov. Leslie NJ. Shaw of Iowa was
recognized TO present minority report
No. 1. Ii was that mo more bishops
be elected at this session OF the con-
ference ard in a strong speech G1v,
Shaw moved it's substitution. six
bishops can hold all the annual con
ferences in is weeks" said he amid
great applause. IF you add more
bishops they will be busy. but not with
the work OF the Episcopacy"
DIR. Robert Forbes OF Minnesota Con-
ference. presented minority report No.
?. moving as an amendment to the
minority report presented by Gov.
/. Shaw that four bishops be elected.
Y There ought to he a Methodist bishop
in every great city in this country y
said he. And they should be appoint
ed to their places not on seniority, but
for the work they may do
After considerable routine DIR. John
Handley of New Jersey introduced a
resolution which resulted I'm an uproar
1t was ''that the British colors be given
a place alongside the Stars and stripes
on the platform OF this conference"
storm OF noes" went up from the
delegates when the resolution was
read. but DIR. Handley finally secured
silence and made a passionate appeal
for the resolution. THE British flag
all over the world has given 10 mis-
sionaries the protection which en-
courages us in the great work of
preaching the Gospel. Ii stands for
the open Bible in every community
The American and the Briton have
locked arms TO close the century with
one united effort 10 destroy the cres-
cent and lift the cross in the East"
DR.. Handley's remark for the mo-
ment apparently turned the tide In
favor of the resolution but after sew
eral delegates. including w. j. Welch
Of Wyoming. had spoken against u, a
motion to lay OF the table. made by DIR.
:. Il. Cadman of the New York con-
ference. prevailed.
At the conference this morning Il
was announced that Yesterdays ballot
for the two new bishops 10 be elected
had resulted in no choice. The three
highest votes were:
DIR. j. f. Berry, editor of the Ep-
worth Herald. 213
DIR. j. w. +. Bowen. OF Cannon
Theological Seminary. ell.
DIR. j. w. Hamilton. 1S3.
AS a two-thirds vote of the confer
ence is necessary to an election, the
balloting will proceed again today and
until the choices are made.