New-York tribune., 1900-05-28

Buckley was selected and. whereas the most
sanguine laymen predicted that IT would take
three days TO win. the Conference voted IN the
laymen before adjournment on the first DAY.
This brutal frankness in the handling OF the
Board of Bishops has not by any means peen
confined TO the Conference itself In fact, the
Committee on Episcopacy has been treated even
more bluntly. and Or Buckley. who is chair-
man. has added his sharp vocabulary 10 .he
others. Charges have been openly mace OF IN
efficiency of bishops. Of their misuse or once
OF laziness on their part not cofnpauole with
the best work Of the Church and OF a dlsposi-
tion the part of some 10 collect money lot
services which should be rendered sralls.
Bishop Walden has been accused OF ar9iIrary
action contrary the Church law; Blsnop
Hurst has been charged with using his once
as a club TO secure money from ministers for
his Washington University. TO the oetrlInent Oh
other Methodist colleges ana the BISHOPS
meanwhile. have been compelled 10 pTeside over
meetings or TO remain seated on the PLATFORM
while these things have been hurled IN 'helr
faces
FIXING THE BISHOPS RESIDENCES.
The last blow to them is in the action 10 take
from them the privilege Of choosing their own
places Of residence by order OF seniority. Hith-
erto Bishops who may have special reasons Tor
desiring 10 reside in one spot have been allowed
50 10 decide Episcopal residences have been
chosen from the standpoint OF comfort; some
have chosen the seashOre and some places OF
greater Importance and fields where the reslo-
ing Bishop adds 70 the dignity of his office. The
business heads Of the Church took hold OF the
matter and determined that hereafter the Con-
ference itself should dictate TO the Blshops
where they 10 go. Thereby they have SAID 10
themselves and the voting delegates, we
shall be able send the young and vigorous
Bishops 10 the fields requiring activity ana
strength; we shall be able better 10 nj the man
the place. and shall no longer have old
men trying TO superintend districts entirely be
yond their powers. Bishop Merrill is directly
in point in this insnuation, and Will be the first
TO come under the swing Of the new order OF
things.
Another class Of Church officials who have
been made TO feel the sting Of this brutal frank
ness is the list OF editors Of 'Christian Advo-
Gates and Church papers and the agents who
have been in charge of repositories. When the
case Of The Northern Christian Advocate, To-
Gated al Pittsburg. came before the Committee
on the Book Concern. representatives from four
patrOniZing conferences brought forward prop
osition asking that the paper be turned over TO
q local commission who declared that they
were certain that the organ could be published
without the great loss TO the Church which it
had sustained. Sentiment crept in for a mo-
Inent. Albert J. Wallace. a layman from South
California. and others demanded abso-
lutte guarantee against loss in place of senti-
nent and promises, and they won in the fight.
CUTTING DOWN DEFICITS
Again in the debate over the consolidation of
the depository at San Francisco and THE Chris
tian Advocate and their control by a local
commission, laynen from the State presented
proposition fayoring the step and offering a
guarantee to cut down the tremendous loss of
over $4,000 in four years. John D. Hammond,
a minister who has been in charge. became the
object Of attack. led by Wallace and R. V.
Watt who is the Western manager for the
Royal Insurance Company. Mr. Hammond tried
TO make a stand for his own retention but
the laymen, though they tried to deal gently
with him. succeeded in taking his position out
from under him by vote Of the Conference.
Richard j. Cooke, who has been receiving sub
sidy OF $1,000 for The Methodist Journal Ad.
vocate' at Chattanooga, was cut off absolutely.
Secretaryshps which have paid 81 800 year
have likewise come under the looping off process
without regard 10 the men who will thus be
thrown out of lucrative places that they have
held for years and which they had hoped still
TO retain. The man, in addition TO all this who
brought 10 the Conference his report as an ex-
pert appointed TO investigate methods of publish
ing agents, and who included in this scathing
arraignments of the methods of some of the
agents, was elected to succeed Lewis Curtis as
Western agent at Chicago. a.. This is Samuel H.
Pye, business who has become rich
through his own business ability.
Governor Leslie N. Shaw Of Iowa has been one
OF the laymen whose heart was in this line of
work 1t has seemed to the delegates and Wis
ltors as II be had come out OF the West with
scythe TO cut down and trim and level off the
uneven places in the administration of Meth
odisr affairs. When ne started out he found
that there were of men with unusual
ability and abundance of sound business
judgment who were with him in the work one
or these, of a somewhat different type, was
found in the person Of the Rev. William F
Oldham, Of Ohio. who goes back with the title
OF previous Question Oldham" and with the
thanks Of half Of the Conference at least He
has been the man who. when every one but
a
gwen subject, would arise soemnly, as if TO
make speech. and say seriously and with
stentorian tones: L think, sir and brethren
that this matter has been thoroughly discussed
and that we are clear on il. 1 move you, sir
the previous question" At which there has
followed applause and an almost unanimous
vote.
Evidences of the liberality and independence
or the leaders in the Conference have been given
III the conduct of the individuals outside of
convention halls. a number of them have been
constant patrons of the theatres: they have
strolled the streets at night seeking diversions
and enjoyment, and they have. including promi-
nent ministers entered saloons TO partake of
brimming glasses of cool refreshing beer with
undisguised satisfaction.
Among these delegates is one character espe-
cialy unique. This is Thomas S Lippy the law
delegate from the Puget Sound Conference He
IS klondiker, and while ne is helping to make
Methodist history q superintendent and a force
or miners are digging gold for him in one of
the richest mines in the Alaska fields. Until
ne went With his wife to the Northwest he was
Young Mems Christian Associa ton secretary
Alter he had been there six months he was the
owner of Claim 16 Eldorado, for which he was
offered S1,O00,0O0 the first season. And from
New-York and the Southwest and the West
there have come many another whose personal
wealth is represented by figures up in the
millions.
Men like these are the ones who have come
INTO the Church with rather new idea Of
aIalrs They have made the assembly of 1900
take such actions as TO recall remark made
facetiously by one of the ministerial delegates.
Let's leave or two familiar features of
we meet il on the street.