Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28
DR.. DAY ATTACKED
SCENE IN METH0-
DIST CONFERENCE.
Resolutions Of Protest Adopted and the
Doctor Promptly Elected
q Bishop.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LOS ANGELES. Cal. May u. 1904.
The great time limit" question has been
again definitely decided by the chief council
of the Methodist Church. 1t was by q very
large majority. too. The majority OF the
committee, headed by Dr. Upham. reported
against a return to the old rule or to any
other specific limit. DR.. Rice of the Balti-
more conference proposed. as an amend
ment, the form that was agreed upon by
his conference, Ave years. with posi-
bility of extension In peculiar and critical
cases. on the judgment of the presiding
bishop" DR.. Jennings proposed something
similar, but making the ordinary term but
four years. notwithstanding an impas-
stoned plea by Dr. Rice. his proposal was
laid on the table bye a decided vote. The
proposal Of DR.. Jennings met the same fate
Two speeches then decided the matter. One
by DIR. J. M. Buckley. the gist of which
amounted to this, ',that he hardly knew
what course had better be taken. There
had been some dissatisfaction with the
present plan, but nothing serious had oc-
cured and no satisfactory substitute
seemed to be proposed by any one. Perhaps
the present plan had better be tried yet
longer" Then DR.. Taylor Of Massachu-
sets, one of The field secretaries of the
missionary society, made brief but ring
ing speech, which clinched the matter. He
deprecated the idea, 'ssure to go abroad
should the conference, after but four years
trial, only go back to the older plan. that
the general conference In Its legislation was
fagrantly tickle. They could not afford that
such an impression should be made, espe-'
cially after so short & trial.
The struggle was Short sharp and de-
cisive. The conference refused to call for
the yeas and nays, and by rising vote
overwhelmed the minority. The result was
a surprise to many, but the fact seems to
have been that while for various reasons, in
certain quarters of the church great out
cry had been made against the long pas
torates resulting from the present working
OF the matter the stronger men and strong
err churches were thoroughly assured that
already much good had been secured. Min
listers were developing intellectually; plans
that required years fc: their success had
shown good results. Many churches SEEM
ed to have lost their former restlessness and
men who were possessed Of good staying
qualities for the first time in the history of
the itinerancy lad full opportunity to
come to their best through real, solid long
continued work. 1t Is believed that the
large vote by which the matter was finally
decided will be accepted gracefully by the
church as a satisfactory settlement of the
vexed question. 9e2s
A Decided Sensation.
Perhaps no general conference in the his
tory Of the church has had greater sensa-
ton over q matter not specially connected
with tho doctrines or polity of the church
than occurred this morning. DR.. Day, presi-
dent Of Syracuse University, whose friends
had been pressing him for the high office of
bishop, had suddenly been assailed, through
printed matter distributed among the dele.
gates ds well as by rumors, as unworthy OF.
their votes and not suitable for the position
of bishop, In view of asserted heretical
opinions concerning the authority of the
Bible. This morning one of the leading pa
pers of the city, the Examiner, published
sensational anonymous story to the effect
that while DIR. Day was engaged in an ar
gument over the higher criticism, he called
DR.. Hardy Of the University OF California
a liar and LANDED his solar plexus on the
Los Angeles man." Securing the floor DR..
Day called attention to the matter. Amid
breathle,s silence the Examiners publica-
ton was read by. the secretary. Then with
much dignity and moderation, but with dis
tinct emphasis, the university president de-
clared that 1t was wholly false, and but the
climax Of a series Of attacks upon him, be-
gun before he came to the general confer
ence.
81 never called any man liar since
have been In the ministry, though some
times I have thought 1t (great laughter].
He had been called on by reporter to
know If 1t was true that he had knocked
Professor Hardy down. Il told him the re-
port was not true, and supposed that that
would satisfy any honorable journalist" In
closing, DIR. Day again implored his friends
essary denial of It's truth. It was impossible
for him to allow his candidacy for the Of
flee of bishop. The itonference. as he ex-
planned and at the conclusion of his re-
marks gave him remarkable Indications of
their approval and sympathy. DR.. Buck
ley, amid cheering, read resolutions, signed
by himself and nsfhber Of leading men,
resolved, That ths publication by the
Examiner Of tbs city Of a scurriIous and
anonymous attAck upon DR.. J. r. Day, one
Of the most distinguished members OF this
general conference, Is d disgrace to journal
Ism. an insult to this general conference
indignity to our hosts In the city of Los
Angeles and asHagraht violation of cfimi-
nal law. sm BE-
Resolved, That this conference repudi-
ates all derogatpry allegations against DR..
Day and assures him Of its confidence"
These resolutions were passed by a unan-
imous vote. 4B
Dr. Buckley also offered. as a personal
motion. an addition, sthat the Examiner be
denied press privileges in the conference.
Every delegate arose in its favor
DR.. Munhail OF Philadelphia, as q matter
of privilege, then arose. and, amid MANY
loud objections declared that he had had
nothing to do with either circulating matter
or the story which the Examiner had pub
lished DIR. Munhall has notoriousIy at
tackled the professors of Methodist institu-
lions as unsound In their opinions In tho
matters referred to under the term ''higher
criticism" The crusade against DR.. Day
as a candidate for the episcopal office has
been extensively regarded as started and
kept up under the inspiration Of the Pima
delphAa evangelist.
DR.. Day Elected Bishop.
AS a ffttine climax to me extraordinary
scene described above the genaral coufax.