Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-27
DIR. WILSON rs BISHOP
ELECTED BY THE METHODIST
CONFERENCE.
Some Incidents of the Great Assembly
at Los -Angeles-The Colored
Delegates.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
LOS ANGELES, Cal May 20 1904.
One of the great surprises connected with
the choice of the new bishops by the gen.
eral conference of the Methodist Church,
now sitting here, was the election today, by
more than a two-thirds vote, of the Rev.
DR.. Luther B. Wilson, so long and so favor
ably known in Washington and Baltimore.
to that high Office. OF course, his name had
been mentioned as a possible candidate for
the position. But hardly any one, except
some enthusiastic friend, dreamed that
such a thing would this year really come
to pass. His election is not merely, now
ever, a surprise; 1t speaks loudly In favor
of the tone of the ministry of the church In
its dealings with such matters. Here is
man for whom 1t is not pretended by those
SO ready to attribute low political methods
and trickery to clergymen that any at
tempt of this kind. or even to secure cleo
ton. was ever made. The religious jour
nails of the church, and even the secular
papers, have for months been full OF sur
misses and prophecies of what was sure to
come to pass concerning certain prominent
men. Yet this mans name had been hard
ly referred to. He pursues the even tenor
of his career, calmly and efficiently giving
regard to the duties legitimately falling to
him. making apparently no attempt what
for special position and honors- Sud
denly, his own conference shows Its appre-
citation of him by electing him on its first
ballot as their representative in the great
council of the church. He takes his posi-
ton without ostentation among his brother
representa- tives. The time comes in the
great council for the choice of additional
chief pastors Somewhat Unexpectedly
then he looms up, on the first ballot, as the
eighth out of % voted for as candidates.
That, however. was not SO very unusual.
That number of men from the eastern con-
ferences probably knew his worth. But on
every succeeding ballot 1t was noted that
his vote was aggregating. On the sixth bal
lot he had risen to fifth place On the next
he FORCES ahead triumphantly. so that he Is
declared positively elected. That Is, as soon
as attention had been called to his high
qualities, that great body of representa-
tives, who had determined that no one but
a man of the highest worth should receive
their suffrages, began to say to each other:
Look here! This Is the man we need.
They rallied to his support with one accord.
Lifted From the Ranks.
Presently they have the satisfaction of
seeing him lifted from the ranks to take
their lead as a captain of the host in the
years to come. 1 do not hesitate to say,
too. that the action in this case is typical
of that of the conference in the whole mat
ter of the choice of men. this year, GER
tainly, to this exalted office Church poll
ticians and those Jealous in seeking office
have been simply left OUT or repudiated
by their brethren. 1t mas Deen SHOWN tT9t
the high office must seek the worthy man.
and not the man the place. 1 believe this
is true in the case of all who have been
chosen. The fact promises well for the
church. DIR. Wilson is one of the youngest
men ever chosen; but about fOrty-seven
years old. He has had a good deal of ex
perience as district superintendent"
however, is well educated, man of good
practical qualities, of sincere religious tone
and beloved generally by those who come
to know him. Not merely do his personal
friends feel some elation over his advance
ment, but the conference delegation here
express great satisfaction. There will be
the same throughout the conference, l am
sure. The old conference, mother of con-
ferences,'' as the Baltimore conference is
often called, still has a strong hold on the
great heart of the Methodist Church. 1t is
understood that some of the older bishops
of the church have often indicated that
Dr. Wilson worthy of advanced honor
and responsibility. The college of bishops
will have no purer and conscientious mem
Der. A great ovation was given him as
on motion of DR.. John F. Goncher he was
led after his election from the floor to plat
form to take his seat among the chief
pastors. These each gave him a hearty
personal welcome.
DIR. Burt of Rome.
Another evidence Of the independent spirit
of the electing body was the cleo
ton of DR.. Burt of Rome. Italy, as one
of the new bishops. No one. think, had
ever spoken publicly of such a matter pre-
vious to the assembling of this body. Who
first directed attention to him 1 know not.
Probably, as in the other case detailed it
was the first ballot that pointed to him. At
any rate, the gaze of his brethren once di-
rected to him, they found him worthy of
honor An influential evening paper here
intimates that there is special significance
in his election. The least prominent, per-
haps of all the men voted for. yet coming
from the very shadow of the Vatican,
where 1t would hardly be expected one
would look for a Methodist bishop.
DIR. T. B. Nelly of New York the great
Sunday school editor and a church author
of considerable repute. was elected on the
ninth ballot.
1t had been thought that his independent
criticism of pretensions supposed to smack
of too strong prelacy and his fearless
championship Of the rights and authority
over against episcopal position and au-
thority, had rendered him rather unaccept-
able in high quarters for this peculiar Of
flee. But this is the peoples year" Some
one has said here. The laymen are in the
saddle" This, however, may be largely dis
counted DR.. Nicely has always shown high
reverence for the occupants of the epiSco-
pal office and for the office ITSELF though
fearless in the utterance of his convictions
when principle seemed involved. He is a
man Of the highest Christian character by
admission of ALL
Dr. Day Of New York will probably, from
his present leading, be elected on the next
ballot.
The Colored Delegates.
Attention ought to be called to the fact
that the large numbers of delegates from
the colored conferences in the body have
acquitted themselves admirably during the
session. They have some well-educated
men here, men of fine practical sense and
splendid powers. Once or twice some i'm
prudent things have been presented or said
looking to the election of a colored bishop
as expedient and necessary. But instantly
their splendid leaders have repudiated SYM
patty with such utterances Quietly mat
tiers of threatening aspect have been re
ferred' or laid on the table," and all has
gone we'll These colored leaders, are gem
orally men of fine physique, with massive
or resonant voices. They have the ora
torical element largely born in them. When