Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-23
James R. DayReceives Election
as Methodist Bishop.
Bitter Fight in the Conference al
Los Angeles.
Meeting Full Of sensations-Hearsss
Paper Condemned.


faced his prosecutors on the floor of the
great Methodist conference, yesterday.
and was elected bishop on the fourth
ballot, after the bitterest fight OF the
conference.
He received IA votes, 4s4 being neces-
sary for a choice.
A sensation was sprung when the
conference took action against Hearsts
Los Angeles Examiner for publishing
anonymous communications in which
DR.. Day was accused Of striking DIR. ).
Hardy Of this city, when the two were
discussing heresy.
The attack served the purpose OF In
creasing instead of diminishing DR..
Days chances for promotion.
Sweeping resolutions were introduced
by DR.. Buckley and passed by the con-
ference ruling all Examiner reporters
from the floor and condemning the pa
per. The vote was unanimous.
1t was the most sensational incident
of the present conference and was
brought about by the publication of an
article in the Examiner to the effect
that while engaged in an argument
over higher criticism, DR.. Day called
DR.. Hardy Of the University of Cali
fornia, "a liar" and had struck him.
DR.. Day secured the floor, yesterday
morning, on question Of privilege and
asked the secretary to read the article
in question. He then said:
Nothing could be more humiliating
to me than to appear before you to
make denial Of an affair of this kind.
This Is the climax Of personal attacks.
hofnro IN thio
town.
Through my entire public life have
refused to reply to such attacks. but a
mans reputation is the guage OF the
road he is to travel.
while 1 am quite confident that no
man in this convention believes in such
things as alleged here, still this story
will spread throughout the United
States. and probably the world, and
there are persons capable of believing
1t.
"At the close Of the educational meet
Ing, Thursday, DR.. Hardy approached
me, and asked my views on the higher
criticism. He wished to know If I had
attacked colleges and church member
ship, and I naturally stated that the
statement was not true. However, he
was go excited that found it impossi-
BILE to get his attention and withdrew.
/ never called him a liar since I have
been in the ministry. although I some
times I have thought it. Naughter)
IT also am told that the doctor said
struck him. I will not even deny this
because It Is too absurd. When the re-
porter who wrote this article, called
on me I told him the report was not
true and I supposed that would satisfy
him, as 1t should have done any hon.
orable journalist
mo man on earth ever questioned my
faith in the word Of God until this man
Munhall did so.' he continued. Il am
charged with writing violent and vitu-
perative letters but the proof to the
contrary IL the fact that these alleged
letters never were published. II they
had been written they certainly would
have appeared in print.
There is no sentence in any letter I
ever wrote which I would not be will
ing to have read from this platform"
DR.. Day asked IL it was necessary
that he should be forced to go to any
individual to procure a certificate for
his Methodism or his conduct.
There were cries Of mo. No." from
all parts of the hall.
DR.. Munhall of Philadelphia, the chief
Of the heresy hunters, who has led the
crusade against Dr. Day. tried to get
the floor to reply to him, but was Kissed
down amid great excitement. A resolu-
ton of confidence in DR.. Day was
passed.
His election quickly followed. MAX
Nrs xln % 10 nI
the meeting went wild with cheers and
waving OF handkerchiefs.
Los Angeles Cal, May 22-It Is unoffi-
cially stated. today. that the ballot taken
by the Methodist conference. Saturday.
for missionary bishop, the result of which
will be announced officially, Monday
morning. has resulted in the election of
DIR. l. Il. Scott of Louisiana (colored) as
+. Oldham and DR.. X. E. J. Robbins as
Asia.
Nearly all the bishops filled pulpits. to-
day, either at the morning or evening
services. in this city and nearby towns.
Many other Protestant pulpits were occu
pied by visiting ministers.
for nsl the
1t Is believed that practically all the i'm
portant business will have been completed
usIofe TIE VI tnS Wtch.,
Some of the delegates have left for home
already. and so many more were seek
ing to be excused that the conference be-
came alarmed, yesterday. lest the quorum
would be broken, and made rule to re-
fuse further applications for leave until
a special committee shall pass upon
them.
Two subjects will doubtless cause a
spirited debate during the next few days,
namely. the amusement question and the
relations of capital and labor.
The latter was made the subject of a
special report from the judiciary commit
tee. last week, in which vigorous denun-
citation was made of the greed of cor
porations and their indifference to the
welfare Of their employees"
1t was sought to have the conference
pass the resolution reported by the Judi
ciary committee as the expression of the
body but strong opposition developed and
1t was made the special order for Tues
day morning, when it will be discussed.