The Saint Paul globe., 1900-05-16
T0 INCREASE THE BOARD
81. e. GENERAL CONFERENCE De
CIDES 10 ADD TWO GENERAL
UPEIENTENDENT
PLEA FOR BRITISH FLAG
One Member wanted It Placed on
Platform Alongside OLD Glory
Selection OF bishops
Causes Debate.

CHICAGO, May 15.-The general con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church
voted today to increase by two its board
Of general supeTintendents, thus adopting
the majority report of the committee on
episcopacy. This was the result of
vote taken after one Of the most exciting
md eloquent debates or the quadrennial
conference, in which many of the most
promiLCut members of the church in both
homispGeTes took part. The proceedings
We're watched by a crowd that taxed the
capacity Of The Auditorium to its utmost.
The majority report, which was con-
s.dered as being in the nature of a com
promise, was adopted, after two minority
reports, one resolving that 10 bishops be
elected, and another providing fer the
election Of four additional members Of
the board OF general superintcn3ents had
been voted down. Previous to the voting
the committees report favoring the cleo
ton Of a colored bishop was adopted by a
large majority.
One ballot on the election of the two
general supoTintendents was taken just
before the close of the session, but it's
result VIII net be announced till tomor-
row.
The programme for todays session In.
cluded the report of the committee on
episcopacy and balIotng for election Of
bishop and resulted in an unusually large
attendance.
Bishop Isaac ". Joyce was the prcsid-
ing officer at today's session, the devo-
uanal exercises preceding the regular Sc $
sion being led by Prof. s. T. Upham, of
Drew Theological seminary After con-
siderable routine, DR.. John Handley. OF
New jersey, introduced a resolution
which resulted in an uprOar. 1t was that
the British c0lors be given a place along
side the Stars and Stripes, on the plat
form of this conference"
A storm of noes went up from tho
delegates when the resolution was read
but DR. Handley finally secured silence.
and made passionate appeal for his
resolution
Their flag all over the world has given
to missionaries the protection which en-
courages US in the great work of preach
ing the gospel. 1t stands for the open
Bible in every community. The American
and the BritOn have locked arms to close
the century with one united effort to
destroy the crescent and lift the cross in
the east"
DR.. Handley's remarks for the moment
apparently turned the tide in favor Of
the resolution, but after several delegates.
including w, J. Welsch, Of Wyoming,
had spoken against it, a motion to lay Oh
the table. made by Dr.. S. 2 Cadman, of
the New York conference prevailed
CALL FOR RESOLUTIONS.
AT 10 o'clock the roll call for resolutions
and memorials was laid aside and DR.
Buckley took the platform to read the re
Fort of the committee on episcopacy.
Report Nc S, on the effectiveness of
bishops, recommended that James NJ.
Thoburn, missionary bishop of India. and
J. c. Hartsell, missionary bishop of At
rica, be declared effective, and that Will
iam Taylor, missionary bishop of Africa.
remain in his present relation. ReDori
No was then read This was on the
election of bishop of African descent
Ii read:
There should be no discrimination on
account of race or color. Men should he
chosen because of the worth and fitness
Of the person We believe the time has
come when the general conference may
safely and wisely choose a bishop from
among the 1,7G0 ministers of African
descent and we recognize the need of a.
bishop among the people of African
9esCeut"
This, too. was adopted, amid great ap,
clause
DR.. Buckley then read the report on
the election Of additional general super
intendents.
The committee on episcopacy recon-
mends that two general supeSntendenta
be elected by this general conference -
Said Dr. Buckley. 81 have to announce a
minority report" said he I'm fact the
division In the committee involved the
offering Of second minority report
DR.. Buckley then moved the adoption OF