The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-08
METHODISTSINTEXAS
QuadrienuiaI Conference of Southern
Church in Session at Dallas.
ADDRESSES OF BISHOPS
And Welcoming Talks by Governor
Savers and Others We're Made.
A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE
As 10 Settlement of the Publishing
House Claim.
TWO NEW BISHOPS WILL BE ELECTED
Among Those Who Are Mentioned for
One OF the Places Is Rev. G. c.
Rankin Of Dallas, Texas.
A RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE
As 10 a Settlement of the Publishing
House Claim.
WO NEW BISHOPS WILL BE ELECTED

Dallas, Texas, May 7.--what will proba.
bly, be the most notable gathering Of the
representatives of the Methodist Episcopal
church, South, that ever assembled began
in the auditorium Mt he fair grounds this
morning. 1t Is the fourteenth quadrennial
conference and has brought together many
of the most distinguished men Of the
church. All of the bishops save Bishops
John c. Keener Of New Orleans and O. Z.
Fitzgerald OF Memphis are present and
there are noted dlynes In attendance by the
score.
Every facility for the comfort OF the dele
gates had been provided by the local com
mittee, and when the representatives
assembled this morning they found every
thing in readiness. No gavel had been pro
vded for Bishop Wilson and Bishop Morri-
son presented him with carpenters ham.
mer, which was used until something better
could be provided.
The first days session was a most pleas.
ant one 1t continued longer than / o'clock
on account Of the length Of the address of
the bishops, but there was nothing to mar
the oneness and harmony for which all
prayed.
Sayers. Mayor Cabell Judge Il. b. Perkins
and Rev. G. c. Rankin We're heartily ap.
plaudcd Each was well delivered and the
Methodsts appreciated the humor the ad
dresses contained. Bishop Gaoways elo-
quent response to the welcoming speeches
also caught the crowd. The address Of the
bishops Ito the conference what
presidents message is TO congress)
was lead by Bishop Duncan Of
spartnnturg, S. C, 1t was strong
document and u very lengthy one,
and II came very near to 4 settlement Of the
Methodist publishing house war claim that
has agtated Southern Mcthodlsm for about
six years The college Of bishops recon
ncnded that If It was found that the $500
eco obtained from the United states govern
ment was gotten wrongly that 1t should be
returned. with This recommendation came
a statement from Senators Clay and Bacon
Of Georgia wholly generating the publish
Ing house agents. Eighty senators had also
signed a statement to the effect that the
money should not be returned to the govern
ment. This went a long way towards final
~ settling the mooted issue Of the war
claim and the chances OF a heated contro-
versy over the question are greatly lessened.
II is confidently predicted that the confer.
ence will not vote TO return the money.
The address of the bishops will be care
fully reviewed by the proper committees. It
was easily the feature Of the opening scs-
sion.
BY rule adopted by the conference this
morning one session will be held daily be
tween . a. IN. and p m. for the present
1t developed late tonight that two bishops
are almost sure TO be elected at this con
ference. The talk Of tickets" is heard In
secluded spots and confidential utterances
The candidates whose names are most
! prominently cHnvassed are DR.. w. p. Pal
more of st. Louis, Dr. L. Il. Hoss and DR..
j. j. Tlgort of Nashville and DR.. G.. c.
| Rankin of Dallas. There is strong cur
rent of sentiment in all the delegations to
the conference in favor of DR.. Rankin for
one of the bishops. His friends will work
name.
| 1t was 900 O'Clock when the venerable
bishop, A. W. Wilson Of Baltimore, senior
| bishop present called the conference 10
order. lie called for the singing OF hymn
No 221, and it was sung with feryor
! Prayer by Bishop n. X. Hargrove OF
| Nashville followed. The bishop prayed for
| unity, moderation and conservatism" in
| the deliberations of the conference and
| hearty ''amens' punctuated his words.
Passages Of Scripture were read by
! Bishops Il. X. Hendrix OF Kansas City and
| W. A. Gambler Of Atlanta
Bishop Henry c. Morrison read hymn,
after which the hymn was sung by the
delegates. There was another prayer by
DR.. Arson West of the North Alabama con
ference.
DR.. John j. Tigert Of Nashville, who wa:
secretary of the preceding conference, wa,
requested by Bishop Wilson TO call the rol
Of delegates. There were many absenteet
and the Alabama conference was not rep
resented at ALL the delegates having beer
delayed In their arrival.
DR.. j. W Boswell OF the Mississippi
conference challenged the right Of II. I
Morrison of Louisville to seat as dele
gate. lie did not state the reason for TN
challenge. II developed later that tn,
challenge was made because Mr. Morrison
had withdrawn from the church once an,
had not been n member long enough sine
10 entltlc him to be a lay delegate Bishop
Wilson ruled that the matter would hav
to be referred to the committee on creden
tials
The names Of John W Heidi and w Il
Power OF the North Georgia conference
which have been lett OF the roll, were as
referred to the credentials committee.
BY rising and unanimous vote Dr. job
j. Tlgert was elected secretary OF the con
ference. He nominated for his assistant
Revs. A. F. Watkins Of the Mississippi cor