The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-05-26
HIGH HONORS ARE
TURNED ASIDE
BISHoP-ELECT DAY CREATES Al
SENSATION AT Los ANGELES.
TENDERS HIS RESIGNATION
Says He Believes Duty Calls on Him to
Continue in Work of Christian
Education The Resigna-
ton Is Accepted.

Los Angeles, Cal, May 24.-The
Methodist general conference at the
opening Of its fourth and last weeks
labors 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 bishops-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 ex-
cused, at his request, from further at
tendance upon the conference.
Bishop Days Resignation.
The resignation of Bishop-elect Day,
following closely upon his election
after long contest, furnished the SEN
sation Of the conference. The inten-
ton of DR.. Day to resign was not
known to the vast body of delegates,
as he had confded in only few init
mate friends in the matter. Bishop
Foss, who was the presiding officer at
the mornings session, gave the first
intimation of what was to follow when
he asked the conference to hear pre-
pared statement by Bishop-elect Day.
Permission was promptly granted and
when Bishop Day arose and walked to
the presiding officers table with a
written document in his hand, there
was instant attention. .r
After brief perfectory statement, in
which he said he was sure that no man
would charge him with acting from
motives other than those of an honest,
conscientious and God-fearing man, he
read a lengthy statement concerning
his determination to relinquish the
official position to which he had just
been elected. E
In substance the reason given by
Bishop Day, who is chancellor of the
Syracuse, N. Y, university, is that, aft
er careful and prayerful consideration
Of the subject, he has decided that he
must return to the work Of Christian
education 1t has come to him within
the past "a hours, as never before, that
he is not at liberty to lay aside the
experience and discipline which ten
years have brought to him in this
work. He said he could not consien-
tiously say that he believed himself
moved by the Holy Ghost to take upon
himself the Office and duties of bishop,
as the law of the church requires OF
those who ars consecrated to that holy
office and ministry, but he did feel
himself deeply moved to continue in
the work of Christian education. :.
Resignation Accepted.
There was distinct sensation among
the delegates when DR.. Day finishedreads
ing his reasons for resignation DR..
Buckle was recognized, and after stat
ing that he had unsuecessfully endeav-
ored in every way possible to induce
Bishop-elect Day to abandon his inten-
ton to resign, said the conference had
perfect right to nuIlify its act of cleo
ton He cited as a precedent the case of
Bishop-elect Joshua Soles, who was
chosen by the general conference in
1920 and who resigned before being
consecrated. He then moved that Bish-
op Days resignation be accepted and
the conference adopted the motion
without discussion and by unanimous
vote. Upon request Of Dr.. Day, the con-
ference then excused him from further
attendance upon the sessions, and he
will return at once to Syracuse.
No Successor Chosen.
The conference then voted to indef-
nitely postpone the election of a sue
cessor to DR.. Day on the episcopal board,
and this action was taken to mean that
there will be no balloting for an eighth
bishop by this conference, and that the
board will remain as at present consti-
tuted.
Elect Missionary Bishops.
Beside acting upon Bishop Days res
ignation, the conference heard the re.
port of the tellers on the vote taken Sat-
urday afternoon for three missionary
bishops, which showed the election OF
DR.. I. B. Scott as an additional mission
airy bishop to Africa, =. DR.. William r.
oldham and Dr. John q. Robinson as
additional missionary bishops in south
ern Asia Dr. G. NJ Harris was elected
on the ballot taken Monday morning for
the missionary bishopric of Japan and
Korea, a new district created by the pres
ent conference. Thursday, May &c, was
fixed upon as the date for the conservation
ceremonies Of the seven newly elected
general superintendent and four mis-
sionary bishops.
For four hours of the session were de-
voted to special memorial service in
honor of the memory Of the bishops who
have died during the last cuadrennium
and to the late President William Nc
.Kinley.
Miss Harris is Better.
Miss Caroline Harris, who was not