The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1904-05-28
RESIGNATION or
DR. DAY ACCEPTED
Was Recently Elected a Bishop at
Methodist General Conference.
RESIGNATION UNEXPECTED
DE-. Day IL ChanccIIOr Of the syrA-
cuse University, and Desired TO
Continue I'm the WorIs OF
Christian EducatiOn.

Los Angeles, CAL May 24.-The
Methodist general conference at the
opening of its 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 blshops-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 DIR. l. B. Scott as an additional mis-
sionary bishop to Africa, and Or. Will
lam F. Oldham and DIR. John r. Rcb-
inson as additional missionary bishops
in southern Asia .~t's
"Since my election, DR.. Day said, u
have thought of nothing for scarce
ly moment, but my duty to the
church, of which you are the chosen
representatives, and | could not more
profoundly and sincerely revere your
friendship which has placed me under
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 ci
great import. But new factors are In
every problem; they solve my duty. !
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 II
this work. If you ask me why l did
not appreciate that before had put
you to the trouble of my election, Call
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.
I, however, had my decision after OPEN
ing my mind prayerfully to appeals OF
duty from every eide and every source
of light possible to me. l can not cor
scientiously say that l believe myself
moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon
myself the Office ard duties of bishop
as our law requires of those WHO are
consecrated to that holy Office and mip-
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 must tlisappoint those who have
elected me 70 this high Office, and re-
GREETING to have caused moments de-
lay in your important business, and
thanking Jou without attempting the
impossible task of finding words ade-
quate to express my sense of indebted
ness to you, | submit herewith, most
respectfully, my designation of the Of
uCG vi D+ouOp, " WHICH, yOu hdFO OAOSI-
ed me- l venture 70 make one request
Of you: Give me your confidence ami
belief that l have sought honestly 10
find my duty in the fear of God ard
my conscience. -
There was distinct sensation among
the delegates when DR.. Day finished
reading his reasons for 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 conferences
has perfect right to nullify its act OF
election. He cited as a precedent the
case of Bishop-elecr Joshua Soles, who
was chosen by The general conference
in 1920, and who resigned 5efore being
eonsecrated He then moved that
Bishop Days resignation be accepted.
and the conference adopted the motion
without discussion and by unanimous
vote.
Upon request of DR.. Day, the confer
ence then excused him from further at
tendance upon the 'essions, and he viii
return at once to Syracuse.
-------------
Senator Jewell on Trial