Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-05-26
RESIGNATION OF
DR.. DAY ACCEPTED
Was Recently Elected a Bishop at
Methodist General Conference.
RESIGNATION UNEXPECTED
DIR. Day is Chancellor of the Syra-
cuse University, and Desired to
Continue in the Work of
Christian Education.

Los Angeles, Cal, May 24.-The
Methodist general conference at the
opening of it's fourth and last weeks
labor found itself confronted with a
duty almost unprecedented in the his
tory Of the Methodist church, that OF
acting upon the resignation of one of
its bishops-elect. Rev. James r. Day,
chancellor Of the Syracuse university,
who on last Saturday was chosen as
the last of the eight bishops elected
by the present conference, resigned his
place in the episcopal board, and was
excused, at his request, from further
attendance on the conference.
Besides acting on Bishop Days resig-
nation, the conference heard the report
of the tellers on the vote taken Satur-
day afternoon for three missionary
bishops, which Swallowed the election
of DR.. l. B. Scott as an additional mis-
sionary bishop to Africa, and DR.. Will
lam F. Oldham and DR.. John R. Rob
inson as additional missionary bishops
in southern Asia.
Since my election, DR.. Day said, 81
have thought of nothing for scarce
ly a moment, but my duty to the
church, of which you are the chosen
representatives, and l could not more
profoundly and sincerely revere your
friendship which has placed me under
a sense of obligation that dwarfs my
powers to pay this debt of gratitude.
| have the witness within myself that !
am not influenced by material advan-
tage of honor. These are TOO uncer-
tain, evanescent and remote to be con-
sidered for a moment in a matter OF
great import. But new factors are in
every problem; they solve my duty. l
must return to the work of Christian
education. 1t has come to me within
the past twenty-four hours as never
before that | am not at liberty to lay
aside the experience and discipline
which ten years have brought to me IL
this work. If you ask me why l did
not appreciate that before ] had put
you to the trouble of my election, | can
only say that some things which for
years have hung around the circunt-
ference of our thoughts in distance ard
dim outline suddenly come to US in
revelation, forcing us to conclusions.
1, however, had my decision after open.
ing my mind prayerfully to appeals OF
duty from every side and every source
of light possible to me. | can not con-
s~cientiously say. that | believe myself
moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon
myself the office and duties of bishop
as our law requires of those who are
consecrated to that holy Office and mir.
istery, but | do feel myself deeply
moved to continue in the work OF
Christian education. Therefore, with
the greatest reverence for your wisdom
and authority, and with keen distress
that l must disappoint those who have
elected me TO this high office, and re.
GREETING to have caused a moments de,
lay in your important business, and
thanking sou without attempting the
impossible task of finding words AIDE,
quate to express MY sense of indebted
ness to you, I submit herewith, most
respectfully, my resignation of the Of
flee of bishop, to which you have elect
ed me. I venture to make one request
of You: Give me your confidence ami
belief that | have sought honestly to
find my duty in the fear of God and
my conscience"
There was a distinct sensation among
the delegates when DR.. Day finished
reading his reasons Tor resignation. DR..
Buckley was recognized, and after stat
ing that he had unsuccessfully endeav-
ored in every way possible to induce
Bishop-elect Day to abandon his in
tention to resign, said the conference
has a perfect right to nullify its act of
election. He cited as a precedent the
of ~Bishop-elect Joshua Soles, who
was chosen by he general conference
in 1920, and who resigned 5efore being
consecrated. He then moved that
Days resignation be accepted,
and the conference adopted the motion
without discussion and by a unanimous
vote.
Upon request of DR.. Day, the confer
ence then excused him from further at
tendance upon the Tessions, and he will
return at one to Syracuse.