Evening star., 1900-05-07
CHANGE IN BISHOPS
Probable Action of NJ. E. Church
General Conference.
RUMOR OF DR.. HURST'S RETIREMENT
Revs. Bristol and Goucher Proposed
for Promotion.
PETITION TO CONFERENCE
RUM0R OF DR.. HURSq'S RETIREMENT
PETITION TO CONFERENCE

'ohS up tiie SupJeCl Ol IdhlllS changes IN
the episcopacy and decide whether any of
the present members of the board of bish-
ops shall be retired, whether their number
shall be added to or whether the vacancies
created by reason of retirements or other
wise shall be filled by the election of new
members to the board.
The fact that the names Of two members
of the Baltimore annual conference Rev.
DR.. F. M. Bristol of Metropolitan Church,
this city, and Rev. DR.. John F. Goucher,
president Of the Woman's College, Balti-
more. have been sent to the general con-
ference as candidates for bishops, If any
new bishops are to be chosen, makes the
subject one Of much interest here, where
both ministers are we'll and so favorably
known.
1t is rumored that Bishop Hurst may ask
to be relieved of the duties which fall to
the lot Of bishops in active service in order
that he may devote his entire time to the
American University in Washington, for
which he is anxious to secure an en-
dowment sufficient to support it on the
scale with which it was planned. There
are several members of the board of bish-
ops from whom many of the younger and
more aggressive members of the general
conference would it is said, welcome a re-
quest for retirement, but they are all older
than Bishop Hurst and but one is in bad
health. Bishop Hurst is still in the enjoy
ment of excellent health, and 1t Is not
Claimed that he is not abundantly able to
perform his episcopal duties, but it is urged
in some quarters that if he could devote his
entire time to the university the institution
would be made much more of success and
at a much sooner period than under the
present circumstances.
Petition for an Election.
petition has been sent to the general
conference by a Methodist Episcopal min
lister who formerly resided in Washington
and who is Of Of ha }ar
churches in neighboring city, asking that
there shall be no election of bishops at this
session of the higher body, and that all the
general secretaries be reelected. The petit
ton states that there exists no reason why
there should be any changes among the
present stan of general officers, and that to
make changes will seriously interfere with
many plans heretofore devised. especially
those relating to the raising of 500. 900, 900
for church purposes and the addition of
100000 names to those now on the church
rolls. Whether this petition will have any
weight with the general conference is a
matter of much speculation among those
who have known of its existence, and the
opinion is general that 1t will not while
there are so many ministers willing to ac-
oept higher honors than they now enjoy.
While, as above stated, the name of DIR.
Bristol has been mentioned in connection
with the episcopacy, the impression pre-
walls among some of his most intimate
friends that he will be elected one of the
Il
he is regarded as admirably qualified, and
that he will get the higher office a few
years hence.
DR.. Frank NJ Bristol is one of the best
known men in the Methodist Episcopal
Church in the United States. He was born
In Niagara county, New York, in 1850 Dur
ing his boyhood his parents removed to
Evanston, ILL.,, where, in due course of time
he entered the Northwestern University,
from which he graduated in 1872 He then
became member of the Rock River con-
ference. His first charge was at Ensle-
wood, from which he went to become Das-
tor of the Wabash Avenue Church. Chica-
go. His entire ministerial life previous to
coming to Washington, two years ago, was
spent in Chicago and Evanston, where he
had charge of some of the largest churches
and in each of which he remained the full
limit of time permitted by the law of the
denomination. Dr. Bristol ranks as one of
the ablest ministers in the Methodist EDis-
copal connection and his fame as lecturer
and orator is widely extended. He is in
constant receipt of invitations to speak in
various distant cities, but Is compelled to
decline most of them because acceptance
would take him away too long a Period
from his pastoral duties here.
DIR. Goucher's Career.
Rev. DIR. Goucher, who, as above stated.
has been prominently named in connection
with the office of bishop, was born June 7,
lSi5, in WaynesborO', Pa, his father being
an eminent physician. His boyhood was
spent In Pittsburg, and, with scholarly
tastes and the foundation of a classical
education well laid, he entered Dickinson
college, graduating in 1898 taking his de-
gree of NJ. A. in 1872, and receiving from
his alma mater in 1885 the degree Of DID,
DE- Gouchers career is worthy of note in
many many directions He combines intellectual
Vlsor with great versatility and activity,
the culture of the recluse with practical
turn or the man of affairs, the ardent glow
OF the orator with fine analytic power,
RrASninR
the vastest system with master genius
for organization.
Entering the ministry of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in 1869, he rose step hy
step until he commanded the leading an.
pointments of the Baltimore conference.
His pulpit ability, pastoral fidelity thorough
church. and labors and liberality, made him
widely influential during the twenty-four
years OF his Dastorate. In Baltimore as
pastor he projected and built the Harlem
Park church and the Strawbridge Church
while the chief monument of his enterprise
and munffcence is the dignified and splen-
did First Church, erected at a cost Of a
quarter of million dollars So thoroughly
did he sustain the traditions and honor Of
the old City Station that at the close of his
pastoral term he left the congregation of
the Lovely Lane meeting house" in one of
the best appointed church edfices in the
world, with three mission churches and
nearly 1.2OO members; with four Sunday
schools and 800 scholars; with mothers
gelistic agencies, all planned and carried
on through his counsel, energy and man
agement.
Interest in Education.
DR.. Gouchers interest in the educational
work of the church has from the begin
ming Of his ministry been deep, practical
and helpful. The Morgan College of Bal
timore, which has done so much for the
colored youth, with It's classical, normal
and theological departments, developed
from the Centenary Biblical Institute, of
the board of trustees of which he was
president, at the same time serving as
chairman of the executive committee. He
was the protector and chief benefactor of
the Princess Anne Training School, Mary
land. and of a similar enterprise in Lynch
burg, Va The Martin Mission Institute at
Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany was re-
lieved OF its embarrassment and entered
upon a fresh career Of usefulness through
his substantial aid.
His educational work In Asia has been