The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-23
DAY RESIGNS.
Newly Elected Bishop of the
Methodist Church
Tenders His Resignation to the
General Conference.
1T CAUSED SURPRISE.
His Intentions Were Only
known to a Few Friends.
No Successor Will Be Chosen by
This Conference.

/ Los Angeles, Cal, May 23.-Bishop J.
R. Day the eighth and last bishop
elected to the episcopal board by the
present Methodist general conference
resigned his place upon the board this
morning and asked permission of the
conference to retire from further at
tendance.
The resignation of Bishop Day came
as a profound surprise to every one ex-
cept a few friends with whom he had
! consulted regarding this determination,
and his statement which preceded his
resignation was listened to by the del
egates and crowded galleries with in
tense interest.
When Bishop Foss, who was presid-
ling, asked the conference to hear
statement from BishOp-elect Day, as
a matter of personal privilege, the as
sembly appeared to divine that some
thing out of the usual order was about
to happen, and Immediately granted
| permission.
DR.. Day, who occupied a seat among
! the bishops on the platform came to
| the front of the speakers stand and in
a tense and impressive tone of voice
| began his statement.
4 do not believe said DR.. Day, that
any man in the conference will charge
me with disloyaIty to my conscience,
one will concede that am actuated
by honest motives and that l am full
filling my duty in taking the action l
am about to take. l wish to make II
known that there has been no coercion
by the board of trustees of my uni
versity, and that material considera-
tions did not in any way enter into
this matter. am acting solely on the
ditateS of my conscience, and have
arrived at a conclusion only after two
days of earnest and prayerful consider
ation during which time 1 have left
my room only for my meals and did not
seek the advice or counsel Of any OF
my friends until I had fully made up
my mind"
DR.. Day then read a formal docu-
ment, addressed to the general confer
ence rendering his resignation as bish-
op-eIect of the Methodist Episcopal
| church. After thanking the conference
for its patient consideration in hearing
his PREDATORY remarks. he said in part;
when came to this general con-
ference 1 was told by some of my
friends that would be voted Tor ana
possibly elected as a member of the
episcopal board. 1 determined to
keep my mind open on the subject and
at no time reached a conclusion as to
my duty in the matter until aIter the
third ballot. 1 then felt at liberty to
withdraw my name and did So In
spite of this my friends kept my name
before the conference and when on
Saturday morning, most unhappy
incident occurred, I was astOnished to
see votes going to me. 1 wished then
again to make public withdrawal of
my name, out was earnestly DeSOuS III
by my friends not to do so. Since my
election have thought of nothing but
my duty to the church of which you
are the representatives.
II am not Influenced by material
considerations. There are new factors
in my problem. must return to the
, work of Christian education I do
not feel myself called to take up the
my resignation of the office of bishop
and ask the confidence of this general
conference
among the delegates which was stilled
in moment by the voice of DR.. J. NJ.
Buckley, seeking recognition of the
chair. DR.. Buckley began by reading
the last paragraph in a statement
made to the conference by DR.. Day
on last Thursday concerning a news
paper article which has to do with an
alleged alteration between DR.. Day
and Prof. Alex. Haddie, as follows:
4 stand upon those principles to-
day. But if I did not, after having
r given you this incident, after having
appealed to your kindness and fair
ness, am not capable of permitting
. you to vote for me for the episcopal
: Office. 1 most certainly would not
have any one by the remotest hint or
, thought feel that would use any such
incident as this to promote myself to
that high Office"
DR.. Buckley stated that he had had
no conversation with DR.. Day until
- ! SaluIQdy evening" ana IQen naQ en-
, deavored in every way to induce him
to abandon his determination to re-
a sign. But" said DR.. Buckley, when
, a man puts his action upon his con-
science and duty to God, argument is
futile, and. if insisted upon, becomes
impertinent."
DR.. Buckley then quoted a paragraph
of the discipline to show that DR.. Day
was not resigning the office of bishop,
but only the eligibility to that office, as
ne had not yet been consecrated. He
argued that the conference had a per-
feet right to nullify the act of his cleo
ton and that precedent was furnished
signed after his election at the gen
4 eral conference of 1920. He moved that
I DR.. Days resignation be accepted.
The question was put without de-
I bate and was carried unanimously. DR..
Buckley thereupon moved that the
conference proceed to ballot for a
bishop to take the place of DR.. Day in
order to carry out the recommendation
= of the episcopacy committee for eight
y new bishops.
: DIR. Wright moved as a substitute
y for his motion that the further cleo
$ ton of general superintendents be in
i definitely postponed This was carrie ed
= almost unanimously, and is taken tc
L mean that there will be no more gen
eraI superintendents chosen by the
present conference
DR.. j. R. Day asked permission OF
the conference to retire TO his home
at Syracuse, and this was promptly
granted.
The vote for three missionary bish-
ops was announced today as follows
For Africa, Rev. I. B. Scott fol-
southern Asia William Z. Oldham ano
= John E. Robinson.
The conference rescinded its actor
Of Saturday hU which the IA