The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-18

After a day of exciting balloting at the Methodist general conference which continued up to 1030 o'clock last night the following three new bishops were elected:
 Dr. Seth Ward assistant missionary secretary of the church.
 Dr. John J. Tigert, book editor.
 Dr. James Atkins. Sunday school editor
 Tigert was elected on the first ballot, Ward on the third and Atkins on the twelfth
 J. J. Tigert was born in Louisville November g, 1856, He graduated from Vanderbilt university and from the Southern Baptist Theological seminary at Louisville. He was licensed to preach in 1875. He received his degree of IL. D. from the University of Missouri. Tonight one of ,Dr. s11gert's friends told of the new bishop that when boy he boasted that before he died he was going to do three things-Marry Amelia McTyfere (Bishop McTyiere's daughter), be pro- lessor In Vanderbilt and be bishop, and now he has accomplished all three
 James Atkins was born In Knoxville, Tenn, April 1s 1850. He received his education in Tennessee schools and was licensed to preach In 1870 He has been president of two Methodist sehols, is the originator of the Bible teachers study circle and is the author of several books. Dr. Seth Ward was born in Leon coun- ty Texas, November l. 1858. and his boy hood days were spent on a Texas farm. He received the degree of D. D. from Southwestern university. He was mem- Der of the ecumenical conference in 1901 and has filled numerous appointments, his present position being assistant secretary of the board of missions.
 Three sesisons of the conference were held yesterday and there was great en- thusiasm when the third bishop was elect last night
 Interest Centers on Election.
 Interest in yesterdays proceedings of the conference centered in the elections and while there were several matters brought up before the taking of bal lots, it was easily observable that the minds of the delegates were not on the business under discussion, but that they were waiting the result of the count in breathless suspense.
 A happy incident of the morning which diverted the attention of the delegates for a few moments was the announce ment by pr. c. H. Briggs of Marshall, Mo-, that 1t was the birthday of Bishop Hendrix, the presiding officer for the day. and in recognition of the occasion he said the Missouri delegation wanted to present him with an embossed copy of the Meth 1. odist hymnal. It was a beautiful vol ume and Bishop Hendrix made suitable response alluding to his age as being on ''the shady side of sixty"
 The city of Savannah presented a unique invitation to the next general confer ence to meet in that city. It was in the form of an immense gavel and was made from the Wesley oak, tree under which John Wesley preached when he was in America.
 Tigert Elected on First.
 When the election of the three bishops was taken up 1t was announced that three names should be written on each ballot. The votes to which the different con ferences were entitled was as follows:
 When the tellers brought in the result of the first ballot it was found that the scattering vote had been very large, but that Dr. John J. Tigert had received 16o 137 being majority of the vote cast.
 A subject which aroused the most eX- tended debate during the morning was the resolution for an educational assess ment of $50000 year for the next four years The assessment Is divided as fol- lows: s15,00O for the educational board and correspondence school; $15000 for the extension work and $20,0O0 for the educa- tion of the colored race in the south After numerous speeches had been made the resolution was finally adopted
 Afternoon Session.
 At the afternoon sess.on, over which Bishop Candler presided, telegram was read from the Holston conference con- graduating the general conference on the proposal to restate and revise the ar ticles of religion of the cnurcn. Follow ing this the fourth ballot was taken for the election of the third bishop.
 Other items of the educational report were taken up when the tellers retired and the debate continued until the fourth ballot was announced. There was no cleo ton and the fifth ballot was at once taken. Chancellor Kirkland of Vanderbilt univer- sity was among the speakers on the edu- cational matter. The specific point at issue was whether commission should he named to decide on requirements for study in church schools. The vote fa- yored the creation of the commission with a term of four years.
 There was no election of the fifth ballot. A resolution was adopted providing for
 
 fconttnued on Eiohth Pauel