Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-05-12
FIVE MORE BISHOPS
May Be Added to the Episcopacy
Of the Methodist Church.
THERE ARE TWENTY CANDIDATES

Opposition TO the Election OF Ooi-
ored Bishop-Movement to Increase
SIN Further the Powers of Laymen
I'm the Church Organization.
Chicago. May S.-As the time ap-
proaches for settling the question OF
how many bishops are to be elected
by the Methodist general conference
the sentiment is growing among the
delegates that none Of the present oc-
cupants Of The high Office should be re-
tired and placed on the superannuated
list.
II seems probable that, because OF
the advanced age of several members
of the episcopacy, the committee on
episcUpacy will recommend the cleo
ton of five additional bishops. Three
will be for work in this country and
two to supervise the missionary work
in Asia. There are 20 or more avowed
candidates for the high office of bishop,
notwithstanding the fact that 1t is not
likely that more than five additions
will be made. Among those most
prominently mentioned for bishops
are DIR. j. w. Hamilton Of New YORK,
DR.. ]. F. Berry of Chicago, DR.. Henry
Spelmeyer of Newark. DR.. T. b. Nicely
of Philadelphia, DR.. William +. Nc
Dowell of Colorado and DR.. w. " KEEL
ly of New York. 1t is possible that
much opposition to the election OF
colored bishop will appear when the
matter is taken up by the conference.
The southern delegates, 1t Is said, VIII
vote colidly in favor of the innovation,
but hundreds of representatives OF
northern conferences, 1t is said, Will
oppose it. The great number OF white
candidates for bishop, it is believed
will operate against the chances OF Dr.
]. Z. Bowen, of Washington. the lead
ing colored aspirant
The committee on temperance lis
tened to the reading of several mem
orials referred to it by the general
conference. One memorial condemn
ed President Mckinley for laxity in
enforcing the anti-canteen law and
another recommended amending the
book of discipline so that members OF
the church who rent property for sa-
loon purposes may be brought to trial.
They were all referred to committee.
A many sided movement to increase
still further the powers of laymen In
the Methodist church organization can
be marked as the standing commit
tees of the general conference settle
down to business. 1t Is the Outgrowth
OF the new equal representation OF
laymen and ministers and the admis-
sion of the provisional lay delegates
to the conference, and while no one
feature of the program is OF such
striking Importance as that accom-
plished on the first day of the present
session. the total of the individual re-
forms planned will mean great prog
ress toward church democracy.
These are some of the proposed re-
forms in this direction:
The admission of laymen to the an
nual conferences.
A constitutional requirement for
majority vote of the two orders sepa-
rately on all constitutional changes.
The seating of lay delegates to the
general conference in body, sepa-
rate from the ministerial delegates, so
as to secure greater independence for
the laymen.
The election of stewards and trus-
tees of churches by the church mem
bers in their quarterly conferences, in
stead of the appointment of them by
the pastor.