Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-05-18
FIVE BISHOPS
ARE RETIRED
Methodist General Conference Place
the Seal of Supersnnuation on
Venerable Workers.
TEN VACANCIES TO BE FILLED
Senior Bishop Stephen M. Merrill Re.
tired at His Own Request-Foss
Pleads Against Retirement.

Los Angeles Cal. May 1.-THE
Methodist general conference today
performed one of its delicate as well
as its most painful duties. 1t retired
from all active participation in church
work five of its venerable bishops.
They are Bishop Edward G.. Andrews,
of New York; Bishop John NJ. Wal.
den. of Cincinnati; Bishop John H.
Vincent, of Zurich, Switzerland; Bish-
op Willard F. Mallalieu. of Boston,
and Bishop Cyrus d. Foss, of Phila-
delphia.
The vote on the retirement of these
high officials was taken at noon to-
day, and while the result is closely
guarded and will not be made public
until the tellers report to the confer
ence next Monday. il can be stated
with every assurance that those above
will be placed on the superan-
nuated roll.
The committee on episcopacy whose
duty II was to consider this imper-
tant matter and make recommends
tions to the general conference did
not include the name of Bishop Foss
among those to be retired. 1t was
thought that this action would result
in Bishop Foss' retention as an active
general superintendent. put it is learn
ed from reliable sources, that the
vote In favor of Bishop Foss retire
ment was more than two-thirds of
the accredited representation to the
The vote on the other
bishops resulted 500 to 600 in favor
OF retirement. The conference also
accepted the request of Senior Bishop
stephen NJ. Merrill for retirement.
The action of the conference to.
day created six vacancies in the
board of bishops. These, together
with two resulting from the deaths
of Bishops Ninde and Hurst during
the last quadrennium. makes neces-
sary the election of eight bishops by
the present conference. 1t is said al
so two missionary bishops will be
chosen.
In presenting the report of the epis-
copacy committee DR.. Buckley stat
ed that the subcommittee appointed
to consider the names of those who
were ineffective brought in the names
of Mallalieu, Waldron, Vincent and
Andrews. After four hours consid
Grafton Of Bishop Foss effectiveness
the subcommittee decided, to omit
his name from their report.
DR.. Buckley's report was present
ed at the moment the conference was
about to adjourn for the day and
came as surprise to the delegates.
There were numerous attempts to
postpone consideration by raising pre-
liminary technicalities but in every
case these failed owing to the prompt
and decisive action taken by Bishop
McCabe who was presiding. Although
the delegates had accepted an invi-
tation to visit Riverside this after
noon and had fixed 11:45 a. m. as the
hour of adjopt timent they wished to
hear DR.. Buckley's report.
DR.. Buckley after reading his re-
port made very impressive state
ment in which he took occasion to
say that a man whose duty it was
to present a report of this kind was
to be pitied but he was doing what
he had been instructed to do by the
committee. He sympathized with the
aged bishops and believed that ev-
cry other delegate in the conference
felt as he did.
But" said DR.. Buckley, while we
love them from our hearts we love
the church better than ourselves. Ii
is for the interests OF the church that
we take this action
The general conference officers"
continued DR.. Buckley, ARE never
They are simply lett
out. II you want to get rid of them,
vote for some other men. Not so with
persons who hold a life estate. There
fore, when a bishop reaches a point
when he Is too feeble, the wisdom and
the best interests of the church de-
mand that he be retired.
The circumstances now apply, and
il you do not retire the bishops at
this conference, you will not retire
them at any future conference, and
you will have aged men In all the cen
ters of church activity. Having fall
ed to take action at this time, you
will at future time fall back on that
plea of the weak and defensive, the
time limit"
At this point DR.. Buckley was in
terrupted by Bishop Foss, who rose
from his seat on the stage and ask
ed whether the conference would
grant him permission to put a ques-
ton privately to DR.. Buckley. There
were cries from the floor OF Let II be
granted" Bishop Foss rose from his
chair on the stage, and coming to the
edge of the platform whispered mo-
ment with DR.. Buckley, who already
had replied that he would gladly lis
ten to the question il the conference
was willing. The white-haired bish.
Cd and DR.. Buckley stood and whis-
pered together while the great assem-
bly, watched in absolute silence. 1t
was a critical moment. Bishop Foss
turned and walked slowly back and
resumed his seat. Buckley turned
and faced the conference.
Il feel" he said that II Is entire
ly within the bounds OF propriety that
| should state to the conference the
question Bishop Foss asked me and
the answer | gave, He asked me
whether a legal vote on his retire
ment had been taken in the commit
tee after he had appeared before that
body and spoken in response TO its
invitation. replied In the affirma
tive. After Bishop Foss had depart
ed from the committee, legal vote
was taken, and, by the majority oi
l67 members. 1t was decided to con
tinue his name"