Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-05-18
Debate at the Methodist Confer
ence Became Unduly Heated
In Bishop Appointments
BUCKLEY AND NEELEY DEBATE
Statement That Or. Medley Had Mis-.
represented the Views eff Bishop
Harris, Starts Fierce Personal
Dispute Eight New Bishops to be
Elected = Some of the Candidates.

Los Angeles, Gal, May 1S.-After
one of the most sharply contested de-
bates in its history the Methodist gen.
eral conference yesterday decided that
bishops constitutionally could not be
appointed to dio,3eses. The decision
was a victory for DR.. J. NJ. Buckley
and supporters. Over the element led
by T. B. Medley it was also triumph
for Rev. C. w. Smith of Pittshurg,
chairman of the Judiciary committee
whose closing speech against the con-
stitutionality of the proposed change
was surprise that has placed him be-
side DIR. Buckley and DR.. Medley as one
of the great leaders of the church. DR..
Smiths committee reported that DIT
found no warrant in the constitution or
the history of the church for the area-
tion of diocesan bishops. AS soon as
the report had been read DR.. Neeley
jumped to his feet
II have a substitute which l offer,
Mr.. President" lie cried. He proceeded
u ESdu Il IeStiutloH Liz QuSS-
ton to be one of expediency only.
There is nothing in the constitution
to prevent such distributing of bishops"
he said. The report of the judiciary
committee presents q collection of
views that are of no value compared
with the law OF today. The constitu
item states that the general conference
shall have full power to mike laws not
prohibited by the constitution. 1t is
true our bishors are itinerant but
they will be just as much itanerant If
assigned to districts as ministers are
itinerant, tho given charges for one,
two or three years"
Or. Buckley Responds.
Then Dr. Buckley arose,
Il disagree with everything the pre-
vious speaker has said" he announced.
A murmur rang thru the house. A bat
tie of the leaders evidently had begun.
Colby DR.. Buckley attacked the Phila-
delphia divine's citation of authority
DIR. Medley has totally mtsrepresen-
ted the views OF Bishop Harris" said
the New York editor. The face of DR..
Medley turned crimson ard he sprang
to the floor.
Il ask permission to correct DR..
Buckley" he said. Here" waving a
book. sis my authority fo'r--
walt till / get thru Id DIR. Buck
ley
II will never permit any man to say
ann not perfectly square" returned
DR.. Neeley haty.
The debate then became general.
~ In n ah 70. ba
sympathies OF the conference appar-
emily were with DIR. Medley, toljudge
from the applause. A change of feel
ing was manifested, however, when the
vote resulted in a large majority
against the Medley substitute and for
the report.
Eight New Bishops.
In a report presented by DIR. Buckley,
the committee on Episcupaey recon-
nended that eight new bishops be
electad-six in place of those superan-
nlated and two In place of the late
bishops Ninde and Hurst This report
was adopted and balloti,lg will begin
today. No nominating speeches will be
rnade and there was much lobbying
last night. There have been no new
candidates of seemingly great strength
since the beginning of the conference,
tho thirty to forty are in the field.
Those apparently showing the greatest
strength are DIR. Joseph f. Berry of
Chicago, President J. w. Bashford of
Ohio Wesleyan University, Dr. w. f.
Mcdowell of New York. Chancel-
lor John r. Day OF Syracuse Universe
ty and DR.. Henry Spelimeyer of
Orange, N. J.
DR. Frank NJ. Bristol OF Washington
has many admirers and DIR. William A.
Quayle of st. Louis is being pushed.
The Pacific slope probably will unite
on Rev. George F. Bovari.
The committee on the book concern
adopted the report of a subcommittee
recommending, TO the conference a plan
whereby the several printing and bind
ing plants of he church can be console
dated in one plant and by the new
scheme economy Will be effected, it is
claimed The report Will recommend
one book agency instead of four. Con-
soMdation is TO be made by special
commission to be appointed by bishops
and consisting of fifteen members, all
necessary changes are To be made as
soon as posi- BILE.