The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-23
Question is Now Left TO United
States Senate
TWO NEW BISHOPS ELECTED
Nine Members of the Nineteen Orig
inal Sieners of War Claims Re-
port Presented Paper to Ex-
onerate DR.. Denny.

lPdlldS, leX MAY EA-l llC StSSioiAS VI
the conference of the Methodist Episco-
pal church. South, today were more pro-
ductive of results than any of their pre-
decessors. Harmony predomlnated and
the burning question of the war claim
was finally settled, so far as legislation
of the present general conference.-the
highest legislative body of the church is
concerned. The questions coming next
of Importance, those of the election of the
bishops and the unifcation of the
churchs in Japan, were also successfully
concluded. DIR. E. E. Hoss of Nashville,
Tenn, and Dr. A. Goldsmith were elect
ed bishops.
The status of the war claim fund is now
that the United States Senate is the only
power which can disturb it. If the Sen
ate passes a resolution asking its return
to the general government, the church Is
bound. by the action of its general con-
ference, to comply. If no such resolution
passes the Senate, the incident is consid-
cred permanently closed.
The interest in today's work of the
conference was shown by the big attend
ance that came early. The devotional ex-
ercises was conducted by DR.. ]. S. Hutch
inson of the Baltimore conference.
After the reading and approval of the
minutes, Bishop Hendrix took the chair.
Rev. W. L. Nelms of Georgetown, Tex,
moved a reconsideration of the rule adopt
ed yesterday providing for the election of
one bishop at a time.
The motion was opposed by DR.. Paul
Whitehead and DR.. James Cannon, Jr.,
of Virginia, and supported by Rev. Hor-
ace Bishop of Texas. The Nelms substi-
tute prevailed and the old time-honored
rule was ordered followed.
To Exonerate DR.. Denny.
Nine members of the nineteen original
signers of the minority report on the
war claim issue presented a paper to the
general conference, the substance of
which was that they wished to exonerate
DR.. Collins Denny of any reflections that
the minority report might contain con-
cerning Dr. Denny's connection with the
efforts to procure the war claim appro-
priation from Congress and to clearly
state their belief that his course had
been an eminently proper one. The re-
quest was also made that the paper pre-
sented be spread upon the records of the
general conference The general confer
ence so ordered.
The report of the committee on episco-
pacy passing upon the character of all
the bishops of the church was passed
under a suspension of the rules. A sec
ond report from this committee saying
Bishop Hendrix should not be censured
for appointing a minister over the action
of the Pacific conference was adopted.
The new Sunday school board was nomi-
mated and elected as follows:
John r. Pepper of Memphis, w. e.
Washburn of Alabama, John o. Wilson of
South Carolina, B. A. Burgher of north
Texas, NJ Frank Walton of Baltim0'a =.
The report of the federation committee
on the proposition to reunite the North
ern and Southern Methodist churches was
read. 1t detailed carefully the work of
the committee at its session in Baltimore,
which was full of sentiment for harmoni-
Gus relations between the two churches.
No recommendations for the unification
were made. The report provided for a
joint hymnal and expressed the opinion
that the Southern and Northern churches
should work harmoriousy together in
their respective spheres. The report also
favored the unification of the mission in
Japan into one Japanese MethodiGm. 1t
was adopted.
IiSSh'Oh VI o'obePos
Bishop Hendrix said the special order of
the day, the election of two bishops
should be followed after special religious
exercises The conference sang Draw
Nearer and Bishop Cranberry offered
prayer. The venerable bishop prayed for
special divine guidance e. the action
about to be taken, and prayed that all
the church might accept the new bishop
as chief of the shepards of the denom-
ination.
Tellers were named and the conference
was called alphabetically for their votes.
A total of 260 votes were cast; necessary
to a choice 131.
The regular order was resumed while
the tellers retired to count. DR.. ]. H.
Wainwright called up the report of the
committee on missions concerning the
unidcation of Methodism In Japan.
A. H. Keener of Louisiana proposed
unification vigorously.
Dr. Wainwright, chief of the church
missionaries in Japan explained the OBJ
jects of the unification. He declared that
1t was impossible for Methodism to make
proper progress among the Japanese ma
tives while their status was that of six
missions which is practically six separate
churches. The report so far as 1t related
to the unification of missions In Japan.
was adopted as a separate item and after
a general discussion the report was adopt
ed as a whole.
The tellers announced that they were
ready to report on the first ballot for
bishop.
The first name called was that of DR..
E. E. Hoss.
'Hoss, 100 votes" read Bishop Hendrix
and the conference broke into applause
A. Coke Smith of Virginia came next
with 81 votes. Among others voted for
were John t. Tigert, Sc; Collins Denny,
65; James Atkins 20; j. o. Hammond, 25
Remaining Votes Scattered.
The remainder of the votes were scat
tered Bishop Hendrix declared DIR. Hoss
elected a bishop and ordered the second
ballot to be proceeded with The result
of the second ballot was: DR.. A. Coke
Smith. 76; John j. Tigert, 6s; James At
kins II; ]. C. Kilgore, o: remainder scat
tering. The third ballot was ordered.
Altar the ballot had been taken plans
for the beginning the superannuated fund
were discussed. James Cannon, Jr.,
moved an amendment TO the report 1t
provided for the setting aside of 100000
of Nashville city bonds now held by the
church and which were. it Is said. bought