The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-24
DIR. J. R. DAY DECLINES
TO ACT AS NE MbEROF THE
METHODIST EP|SCOPACY
Newly-Elected Bishop Tenders
His Resignation, and 1t Is at
Once Accepted.
SCENE AT CONFERENCE
Sensational Incident Growing Out
of Fight Against the Syracuse
Educator.

LOS ANGELES. Cal. May 23-The Meth
odist General Conference at the opening
of its fourth and last weeks labor found
itself confronted with a duty almost I'M
precedented in the history of the Meth
odist Church, that of acting upon the res
ignation of one of its bishops Rev.
James r. Day. chancellor of the Syracuse
University, who on last Saturday was
chosen as the last of eight bishops elected
by the present conference, resigned his
place IN the episcopal board and was ex-
cused, at his request, from further attend
ance upon the conference.
Besides acting upon Bishop Days resig-
nation. the conference to-day heard the
report of the tellers on the vote taken
Saturday afternoon for three missionary
bishops, which showed the election of
DIR. 1. Is. Scott as an additional missionary
bishop TO Africa and DR.. William +. Old
ham and DIR. John z. Robinson as addi-
tional missionary bishops in Southern Asia.
DR.. c. NJ Harris was elected on the ballot
taken this morning for the missionary
bishoprc of Japan and Korea, a new dis
trot created by the present conference.
Thursday, May 26. fixed upon as the
date for the conservation ceremonies of the
seven newly elected general superintend-
ents and four missionary bishops.
-Four hours of to-days session were de-
of the memory of the bishops who have
died during the last quadrennium and TO
the late President Mckinley. A motion
made by DR.. j. NJ. Buckley to proceed to
| ballot for successor to Dr. j. r. Day,
resigned. defeated. and the conference
voted to postpone indefinitely the further
election of general superintendent The
action of the conference on last Saturday,
| in excluding the representatives of news
paper from press privileges, was rescinded
upon motion of DR.. Buckley, seconded by
| Judge e. b. Lore, of Delaware.
DIR. DAYS RESIGNATION.
The resignation of Bishop-elect Day, fol-
lowing closely upon his election after
| long contest, furnished the sensation of
| the conference. The intention of DR.. Day
to resign was not known to the vast body
| of delegates, as he had confded in only a
| few intimate friends in the matter. Bishop
| Foss, who was the presiding officer at this
mornings session, gave the first intimation
| OF what was TO follow when he asked the
conference to hear a prepared statement
a6d wben Bis6op Day
| arose and walked to the presiding officer s
| table, with a written document in his
| hand, there was instant attention.
any man in the conference will charge me
with disloyalty to my conscience and TO my
God l believe that every one will con-
cede that l am actuated by honest motives
| and that l am fulfilling my duty in taking
| the action / am about TO take. l wish TO
| make it clear that there has been no CO.
ercion by the board of trustees of my uni
| versity and that material considerations
| did not in any way enter into this matter.
L am acting solely on the dictates of my
| conscience and have arrived at a conclu
a
| prayerful consideration, during which time
| 1 have left my room only for my meals,
| and did not seek the advice or counsel or
| any of my friends until 1 had fully made
| up my mind"
| Or. Day then read a formal document, adj
dressed TO the General Conference, tender
| ing his resignation as bishop-elect of the
| Methodist Episcopal Church. After thank
| ing the conference for its patient cOnSidera-
ton IN nearing ms PREDATORY remarks, ne
said in part: when l came to this Gen.
| eral Conference l was told by some of my
| friends L would be voted for and possibly
| elected a member of the episcopal board.
| determined to keep my mind open on the
| subject, and at no time reached a conclu-
sion as TO my duty in the matter until after
| the third ballot. L 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
a most unhappy incident occurred was
| astonished 90 see votes going 10 me. /
| wished then again to make public with
| drawal OF my name, but was earnestly be-
sought 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.
Il am not Influenced by material consid-
| erations. There are new factors in my
| problem. 1 must return to the work of
| Christian education. L do not feel myself
! called TO take up the work of a bishop
| hereby tender my resignation OF the office
| of bishop and ask the confidence OF this
| General Conference"
DIR. BUCKLEY'S STATEMENT.
There was a murmur of surprise among
| the delegates, which was stiIIed in a mo-
ment by the voice of DR.. ]. NJ. Buckley,
| seeking recognition of the chair. DR.. Buck
| ley began by reading the last paragraph in
a statement made to the conference by DR..
| Day on last Saturday concerning a news
raper article which had to do with an al
legged alteration between DR.. Day and
| Professor Haddox, as follows: Il stand
| upon those principles to-day, but If / did
| not after having given you this incident,
| after having appealed to your kindness
| and your fairness, l am not capable of
| permitting you to vote for me for the epis-
| copal office. l most certainly would not
| have one, by the rem0teSt hint or thought,
| feel that L would any such incident as
| this to promote myself TO that high Office
! Dr. Buckley stated that he had no con-
| Versation with DR.. Day till Saturday even
! ing, and then had endeavored in every way
! to induce him to abandon his determination
to resign But" said DIR. Buckley. when
| d man puts his action upon his conscience
| and duty TO God, argument is futile, and if
/ insisted upon becomes impertinent."
| DIR: 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, he had not
| yet been consecrated. He argued that the
| conference had a perfect right to nullify
| the act of his election. and that precedent
| was furnished i'm the case of Joshua Soles,
VINO resigned after his election at the Cen
| eral Conference of 1920. He moved that DIR.
| Days resignation be accepted. The ques-
! ton was put without debate and was car
| ried unanimously.
| Dr. Buckley theTeupOn 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 new bishops.
| Dr. Wright moved a substitute for this
| motion that the further election of general
! superintendent be indefinitely postponed.
| This was carried almost unanimously and
| means that there will be no more super
| intendents chosen by the present conference.
| Dr. J. r. Day asked the permission of the
| conference TO retire TO his home at SYRIA
| cuse and this was promptly granted.