The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-05-20
DEADLOCK ON BISHOP
Nine Ballots Taken So Far,
and No Choice.
NEtLEY Is LOOMING UP
Makes a Hit in a Speech on
Bishops Life Term.

Chicago, May 19.-The Methodist gen
eral conference is in deadlock over the
election of two members of the episco-
pacy, three more ballots having been
taken today without result. The last bal
lot announced, however, showed evidences
of landslide for a candidate hitherto
not prominent in the balloting, DR.. Z. B.
Nicely OF Philadelphia, who almost stamp
eded the conference by a powerful speech
on the life tenure of the episcopacy.
A message of fraternal greeting from
the Presbyterian general assembly now
in session at st. Louis, was read before
the general conference at the opening OF
the session today.
After the transaction of some minor
routine business the result OF teh ninth
ballot was announced. 1t follows: ]. F.
Berry, 367: H. Spellmeyer, 345; D. H.
Moore, 293; ]. w. Hamilton, 25S! T. 3.
Nicely. 80; C. ]. Little Is. Others from
one to seven votes each. Necessary to
choice. AGO.
Some surprise was caused by the big
falling off in DR.. Spellmeyer's vote, which
again put him in second place in the bal
loting The conference then proceed to
cast Ell tenth ballot. Rumors were thick
of combinations between leading candi-
dates for the episcopacy, and the belief
was general that at least one bishop
would be elected inside of two or three
ballots.
The rules were then Suspended to near
the report of the committee on episco-
pacy, presented by DR.. Buckley, on the
question of the title of missionary bish-
ops, favoring the resolution. 1t was
adopted. The committee also reported IN
favor of the election Of another mission
airy bishop for Eastern Asia, his work to
embrace China, Japan and Corea. This
report was accompanied by a written
communication to the committee from the
bord Of bishops favoring the election of
an additional missionary bishop for that
part Of the world.
Over this report unexpectedly developed
one of the most exciting debates of the
conference, involving the question Of life
tenure of bishops. Governor Shaw spoke
in favor of limiting the term of mission
ary bishops to eight years. DR.. T. B.
Nicely of Philadelphia was recognized and
In one of the most inpassioned speeches
so far heard inthe conference, favored the
report. This will be a historical day in
the conference he said. He favored
having the bishops stay on the field ana
protested against the idea of life tenure
in the episcopacy. 81 believe every bishop
here is subject to the command of the
conference when in session. continued
DR.. Nicely. 81 may never have another
opportunity to express myself on this
subject, and I do so now. 1t is not
third order A bishop who does not treat
his brethren as Brethren is an autocrat.
1t sometimes is necessary to remove a
man. and the general conference has alb
solute power to do so for malfeasance,
unfeaseance or no feasance at all"
DR.. Neely's speech was taken as a pro-
test against the excessive reverence Tor
the episcopacy, and when the Philadel-
phian divine finally sat down he was
greeted with prolonged handspring and
waving of handkerchiefs.
DR.. Hiram w. Lowery OF North China
made a plea for la gar-SfPcovsttmlipeen
made a plea for a genetral superintend-
ent for that country, with an episcopal
residence IHeTe. 1IlSltdu "a IL AlliSSlSiAebiy
bishop. Dr. J. F. Thompson of South
America followed IN the same line. Said
he: This is the second time that my an
nual conference has commissioned me TO
ask the general conference not to infiict
upon us what we consider calamity-a
missionary bishop" Mashoyoshi TakaM
of Toxic also opposed the sending Of an
other missionary bishop TO Eastern Asia.
Pending action a motion to recommitt,
the tenth ballot was announced, as fol-
lows: J. F. Berry. 337; H. Spellmeyer,
29S: D. H. Moore, 2SS: ]. W. Hamilton,
2S7; T. B. Nicely. 81; E. ]. Little, 10
Others from one to nine each.
The eleventh ballot was then taken.
DR.. Buckley then spoke in defense OF
the committee report. After further brief
debate motion to lay the report on the
table was adopted. the conference thus
bowling to the protests of the foreign dele
gates.
Discussion Of the report OF the commit
tee on itinerancy. which was presented
Yesterday. was then resumed. Frank a
Alter of the East Ohio conference, spoke
in support of the majority report. favor
ing unconditional abolition of the time
limit.
The eleventh ballot was then announced,
as follows: ]. F. Berry, Go; ]. ". Ham
ntou. Isl; d H. Moore 255; H. Spell
meyer, 23s; r. V. Nicely. 1913: E. ]. Little,
10: others from one TO eight.
DR.. Nelly's eloquent speech had appar-
emily deeply moved the conference and
the twelfth ballot. which followed imme-
diately. was taken amid considerable con-
fusion.
DR.. ]. R Day of Syracuse university
then took the platform In support Of the
majority report Of the committee on itin-
erancy. Dr.. George H. Bridgeman, presi-
dent of the Hamline university, and
Governor Shaw OF Iowa also spoke in
favor Of the majority report
Debate on the report was continued
until after 1 O'Clock. when the twelfth
ballot was announced. as follows; J. F.
Berry 2s6: J. ". Hamilton. ~: I. B.
Nicely. Is; D. H Moore, "a: II. Spell
never. Isl: ]. R, Day, q, E. ]. Little, ?
Following the announcement an attempt
was made TO indefinitely postpone further
hallo,ing for bishops. but in the midst
of an uproa- the motion was voted down
and al It's p m. the conference ad-
journed for the day.
CDCPtkI n0MMICTEE REp0P1