The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-09
COUNTRY CLERGY IN REVOLT.
THE REV. MIR. THOMPSON STIRS
UP METHODIST CONFERENCE.

Declares New Workers influence All Inn
pOrtAnt Appointments and That No
One Else Has q ChhnOe-Demands q
Committee on Rights OF Ministers.
The Rev. Arthur Thompson, treasurer
Of the New York Methodist Conference,
led a revolt OF the country pastors at yes
terday's session against conditions in the
conference which. he said, were intolerable
and Of long standing, He explained that
four churches and three aymen In the Con-
ference constitute practically dominating
influence in the making Of appointments.
The New York churches he said, CON
stitute a deterring force. Only one class
Of men is allowed 10 reach the top; the
gate being through the New York churches.
The New York churches dictate the Pre-
siding Elders appointments. No man can
get to the General Conference unless he gets
there through, or through the influence Of.
the New York churches. Every Bishod
who has presided over this Conference In
the last fifteen years has carried this I'M
written agreement into effect. They have
declared their impartiality and their desire
70 be fair, but each In turn has been obliged
to uphold the system
"Or country pastors get no chance even
at the middle grade appointments until
after ten years service at least. Men are
transferred In from ether conferences. and
our country men get no chance, 1 say, at
even the middle grade places.
i do not hesitate TO declare that four
churches and three laymen say which Of
our country boys shall enter this privileged
class; Icharge this without selfish interest,
for am not yet driven 10 the wall
protest against this conference being left
defenceless. protest also against the
necessity Of any back stairway TO the
throne Of the king (the Bishop, where It
may be possible for one 10 60 and mutter
ISLANDERS against presiding elders and
others. The system Of control Is cast iron
Men Of nv class have demands: It should
be possible for US 10 60 TO the Bishop freely
At the conclusion Of his speech, in the
COURSE Of which there were frequent inter-
ruptions Of You're right and Amen,
brother the Rev. Mr., Thompson pre-
sented this resolution:
Resolvsd, That there be appointed a stand
ing committee Of four men known ~ the com
mittee on the rights Of the ministry. This
committee shall consist Of one min tster from
each Of the presiding elders districts. 20 he
elected by ballot Of that district. II shall be
the DUTY OF Alab committee W Aahb SUN nNNpd
as shall be needful 20 safeguard the rights
of the members Of our conference as body,
or of Individual members when they shah
have need Of such represe ntation.
The resolution provoked much discussion.
After il had been seconded, the Rev. DR..
James r. Day, chancellor OF Syracuse
University, said:
This carries a serious implication, more
serious than / have ever heard brought for
ward in a conference before. We must
learn the facts. This Is no time for i'm
promptu action.
There were motions that the matter be
made an order Of the day for Monday,
and that the Conference also go into eNecu-
tive session to discuss the resolution at that
time II was finally decided 10 discuss the
matter in open conference on Monday,
after Treasurer Thompson had explained
that be wanted TO correct the impression In
his speech that he Implied crooked work.
I do not make that accusation he said,
but do enter my heartiest protest against
the policy now obtaining
Two former Roman Catholics, one, Gaze
tano Vital, an eX-priest and monk, were
received on trial by the Conference. The
other Is Antonio Zaoerra, and both desire
TO become Methodist ministers. Both came
into the Methodist Conference under the
tutelage Of the Rev. Joseph Vital, another
former Roman Catholic priest.
The Rev. DR.. W. j. Dawson talked TO the
ministers yesterday morning at their do.
votional service on the fundamentally oil
A contest for the presiding eldership
OF the New York district Is engaging the
members Of the Conference according TO
a member Of that body, Though quiet,
the contest Is, nevertheless, spirited II
he practically settled, and II was believed
that the Rev. DR.. Ezra Squier Triple stood
directly in line for the appointment, The
Office Is not elective, the appointment being
made by the Bishop presiding. ,.
The contest " caused by the retirement
from Office Of the Rev. DR.. c. W. hillard,
the present incumbent. The three men
from among whom the Presiding Elder
will In all likelihood be chosen are declared
10 lie: DR.. Triple, the Rev. DR.. q. p. Eek
man. pastor Of st. Paul's Church, West
End avenue, and the Rev; DR.; A. = Palmer,
now Presiding Elder Of the Newburgh
district. ,.,-.
A contingency which may initiate against
DIR. Triples appointment u that he s In
nomination for the vacant protessorship
Of practical theology in Drew Methodist
Seminary. at Madison, n. j. The election
10 this post will take place within few
months, and DR. Triple will probably be
selectAd In the meantime there IA some
hesitancy about naming him for presiding
eldership. as be could hold the post for only
q brief period -,
urobably 20 TO a rural pastor. Poltice In
the Conference seem 70 indicate this. The
uastors In the country are just now LOUD
Ia their denunciations Of the way city pastors
and prominent local Methodists run affairs
TO placate these interests II is not unlikely
that n Kingston, Newburgh or q Pough-
keepsie pastor, OF perhaps one hon a
smaller town, may be appointed. II viii
probably become known not later than
tomorrow who the successful man VIII
be.