The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-20
FOR TWO NEW BISHOPS
MAJORITY REPORT TO THE
 METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Tn War Claim Matter will Have the Attention of the Delegates. z, Bishop Hargrove De-
 sires to Retire.

Dallas, Tex, May 19.-The eleventh days session and the beginning of the third week of the Methodist Episcopal and continued so to the end Once or twice there was a mild show of something other than monotony, but 1t was Of short duration. The war claim matter was ad- are struggling for harmony. with the aid of Bishop Cranberry, who presided. con- serous ground had been trodden upon. woaa be eisctsd at onoe se Tss ss majority report of the Committe on Episcopacy had. after a struggle. been adopted. It provides for the election of two new bish. ops. The matter was tabled. however. and Thursday. May 22 at 10 a. m. was set as the time for election of the bishops. This next to the war claims is most impor- tant in point of view.
 Tomorrow the war claim takes prece- dence over other business at 10 o'clock and the bitterest contest of the confer ence will doubtless ensue.
 When Bishop Cranberry took the chair this morning the roll of the committees was called for the purpose of hearing re- ports.
 The Committe on Fraternal Correspond ence submitted resolutions commenting the reports of the fraternal messengers
 Rev. John Reeves, charged with fmmor- ality, was exonerated by the Committee on Appointments
 The conference voted to take up the report on episcopacy, Three amendments were presented to- the majority report of two bishops. ohe for the election of one bishop and third for no new bish- ops at all. All the substitptes were voted down and the majority report calling for the election of two bishops was adopted.
 Bisho" Harsroye requested permission to perform "a delicate duty" With great quiet all over the conference hall he read paper asking to be relieved of further duties as bishop. He spoke of his growing infirmity. his bad hearing. etc. It had bean twenty years. he said, since he became bishop and he thanked God that he had the consciousness of having done his duty.
 The question of union publishing house at Shanghai was referred to the Committee on Federation.
 Routine matters pertaining to church disci"line were considered for half an hour.
 Dr. Sanford. secretary of the National Federation of Churches, was presented and made a brief speech of congratula- tion.
 pr. James Cannon. Jr.. .sof Virginia. who submitted the minority report on the war claiys matter. arose to a question of per- sons. privilege. He denied that the mi- nority report had been prepared till after the mattsr had been carefully considered.
 pr. F. Luke Wiseman. Fraternai Mes senger from England, appeared to bid the Conference farewell. Dr. Wiseman made an eloquent and feeling talk and was heartily applauded. pr. Brecken of tho Canadian Church. also made a notable speech and Bishop Cranberry replied cor dially. Both the delegates are scholarly men and each made splendid impress sion on the delegates. According to their own statements neither was ever more graciously treated than they have been in Dallas They spoke of the cordial re- lationship existing between all the Eng fish speaking peoples and received close attention and hearty applause. Dr. Wise man told a story of two Scotch ministers in the Highland dialect with all the brogue of the heather. Its accent was its chief charm and if caused the Con- ference to laugh heartily.
 Then the calendar was reached and the first of the Sunday School Committee was reports read. It made several changes in the discipline. The whole report was adopted.
 A rather sharp discussion was begun just before adjournment on the question of the resolution that the minority of the Publishing Committec had not been print
 ssc9rng to the instruction of the that the Publishing Committee of the official organ feared libel suit.
 The remainder of todays proceeding of tame discussions over unin- reports. A point of order was made aRains. further questions and at 0 o'clock the Conference adjourned until O clock tomorrow. Tomorrow night special program will be followed bv the Vanderbilt University men. resident and in this city.
 At a meeting of several Conference Nel- egates tonight a resolution was adopted as a compromise measure on the war claim to be introduced in the Conference tomorrow. It provides for the raising of BIOS 800 the amount paid Major Stahlman which Is to be added to the remainder of the fund secured from the government. making the total equal to s2ss. 900. This is 10 be devoted to the beneffciaries of the fund and those who participated in he meeting tonight hope to bring the oppos- ng factions tosether In final settle nent and dropping the matter on this oasis