The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-13
Say They Should Rest Content with
Equal Representation I'm the
General Conference.
BACKsET FOR THE AMBITIOUS
CLERICALs DECLINE TO MAKE THE
LAITY ELIGIBLE FOR BIsHOPRICs.
Report Of Committee on Episcopacy-
"Parson" Goodwin's Review and
Characteristic Comments.

CHICAGO. May 12.-The clergy gave the
Iaity a setback to-day at the Methodist
General Conference. Some of the clerical
delegates consider the laymen a rapacious
set, whose hunger for recognition should
have been appeased when they were given
equal representation in the General Confer
ence. The laymeh. however. having had a
taste Of good thing" want more. and
many outsiders think their appetite should
be satisfied. To-day Delegate Elliott, of
Philadelphia. had the audacity to propose
to make laymen eligible as bishops, but the
conference did not agree with him ano
killed the proposition on motion of another
lay brother. The clergy voted solidly
against the plan, and they and the bishops
applauded vigorously when 1t was defeated.
One of the cIericals repeated the old saw
aboGs inch and an ell an argument
against the ambitious laymen A few Of
the opponents of women were fearful that
II some day the gentler sex were admitted
as lay women. 1t would not be long after
wards before some fair creature in petit
coats hypnotized a conference into making
her 'bishopess."
The discussion on the woman question
yesterday was interesting. 1t was started
by DIR. Morris's resolution to so amend the
proposed new constitution as to admit her
to General Conference. 1t received strong
support from DIR. Leonard and a layman
from New York. the only layman that
spoke on the question during the entire dis
cussfon. though Governor Shaw tried in
vain two or three times to get the floor.
After all there was much sameness In the
arguments on the anti-woman side. 1t was,
however, amusing TO witness the air OF in
nocence and fairness with which they pre-
scented their sideeof the question. by pro-
posing TO submit il as a separate PROPOSE
ton 20 the church after this constitution is
adopted. Even DR.. Buckley had the cheek
TO say II had been submitted to the church
and the church had rejected IL. The church,
.nothingi Ii was submitted to the preachers,
but in these United States of America the
preachers alone do not constitute Protest
ant churches. Laynen and lay women are
presumed to have part in these. at times
at least. But even the preachers did not
reject 1t, for about three-fifths of them
voted for II. whereas the so-called constitu-
ton requires three-fourths when the con-
stitution Is appealed to. On another ques-
ton Governor Shaw made a point in this
subject the other day, when he said we
disregard the constitution whenever We
please and respect il only when 1t stands in
the way of some measure we do not want
to pass.
WOMAN's ENEMIES WE'RE ALARMED.
II was not difficult to see. from the tenn
per OF the conference, that Dr. Moore's pro-
posed amendment would pass If 1t reached
q vote now, hence the friends. OF the pro-
posed constitution obtained postpone
NEXT 1t viii not be reached again for sew
era. days, owing TO the press of questions
that must be settled before the elections.
The number of bishops to be elected must
first be determined. and the number Of edi-
tors and other officers.
At the meeting OF the committee on the
episcopacy, Friday. the subcommittee, TO
which the matter of retiring noneffective
bishops had been referred. reported that
none should. be retired. Il am amazed"
said one, land more amazed at the appar-
ent acquiescepce of the committee in the
suggestion" Then he went on telling why
several of them should be retired until
one brother. later on. backed by DR.. Buck
ley. the chairman. suggested that If We
are going to wash dirty linen here we ought
TO do ii with closed doors. 'It Is not dirty
linen. but only facts bearing upon the ca
pability' of certain BISHOPS to do the work.
not rejecting upon them otherwise" The
executive session was, however. ordered
and the old bishops passed under review.
Eost of the time was. however. devoted TO
Bishop Hurst, whose retirement was urged,
first, on account of his present mental un-
fitness for the work; and, secondly, on ac-
count of his domestic entanglements, but
chiefly because he is so absorbed in his
national university scheme chat he gives
no attention to episcopal work, except to a
sort OF mechanical holding of a conference
occasionally
The outcome Of all the discussion, how
ever. was the adoption of the subcommit-
tees recommendation to retire none. The
present outlook. therefore, is the election
Of two common bishops and two mission
airy bishops. but this may be changed be-
fore the election comes off, which will prob
ably not be before Tuesday. IL then, for the
committee may not be ready even then.
This matter has complications the un-
Initiated know not of. From time out of
mind IL has been the rule TO assume that
the man who receives the highest number
of votes at the election OF delegates is the
fstest person TO go on the episcopal COM
mittee. which is regarded the committee of
greatest Importance. hence the committee
Is presumed 10 be composed of only first
class men. violent presumption in many
cases.
AN INCIDENT RECALLED.
To Illustrate: i once knew a man who
led the delegation In the Indiana Con-
ference who. when he Joined the con-
ference six years ago had never looked
into a geography or a grammar and
who could cipher only to the sim
gle rule of three, and who had never read
the Bible half through consecutively. hut
he was good on the rousments and sue
ceeded fairly well as success was meas
ured fifty years ago. By adroit manip-
ulation OF forces and an appeal TO men OF
his class for support, he led the delegation
TO several conferences and by traditional
right he went into the committee on the
episcopacy. and really thought he was
there on his merits. do not know that he
pushed his claims for the episcopacy. but
do know that he applied TO Asbury Univer-
sity for the degree OF ID. ID. But IL was
before the days OF giving such degrees in
discriminatory. and he did not get IL. But
digress. The story. however. has an ap-
plication 10 the case I'm hand. The first bal
LOT for bishop at Cleveland had more than
forty names of the members OF the episco-
pal committee. and Il will probably be the
case next Monday II the preliminary bus!-
ness win allow vote TO be taken. and this
will account for the prompt attempt TO re-
ject the report CT the subcommittee. which
Recommended that bishop be retired II
none are. fewer will be demanded, you see,