The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-16

The Methodist general conference yes- terday morning formally decided to elect three new bishops Thursday morning al 10 o'clock, and in addition to this the various "connectional'' offices of the church will also be filled. These include: Editor of the Christian Advocate. book editor of Review Sunday school editor. secretary of Epworth League board, book agents, missionary secretary. church extension secretary and secretary of education.
 The conference also listened to an ad- dress yesterday by the Rev. G. c. Rawles- ton of Gainesville, Tex, fraternal delegate from the colored Methodist Episcopal church in the United States. An interest ing and unusual feature of the morning was an address in Spanish by Cicente G. Santin of Mexico City. editor of the Mex leo Evangelista. His words were trans lated to the conference by an interpreter and were heartily cheered.
 The plan to elect three bishops was not adopted until after there had been some spirited rivalry and considerable excite ment. The episcopacy committee In its report recommended the election of three bishops in spite of the fact that the Epis- copal message had set forth the necessity for but two new bishops. The action is said to have been a compromise in view of the fact that petition was present. ed to the committee by a number of lay men of the conference asking for the elec- ton of four.
 Amendments are Offered.
 When the subject was made the special order yesterday the Rev. c. H. Briggs of Marshall Mo-, offered an amendment pro- vidng for the election of two instead of three and George M. Napier of Monroe Ga, offered a substitute providing for four Then the speaking began. Those speaking in favor of four bishops were MT. Napier, John R. Pepper of Memphis and John O. Wilson of South Carolina Those who wanted three were F. G. B. Mann of Kentucky and Dr. Paul White head of Virginia. while the advocates of but two were Rev. Briggs, James Can non Jr., of Virginia. B. r. Lipscomb of Virginia and w. B. Palmore of St. Louis.
 stIrs Up Hornets Nest.
 When the vote was taken James A. Anderson of Little Rock stirred up a hornets nest among the lay delegates by asserting that there was a strongly or eanized group favoring the election of four bishops and he demanded that the clerical and lay vote be taken separately. A dozen anen were on their feet at once demanding recognition a question of nersonal privilege. A number of them stated there was no organization among the laymen. that the imputation was an injustice and that no clerical member had any ground for making such charge. Anderson continued to SUIT lHlfSS up ana when a vote was finally taken on his proposition to separate the vote he was the only one who voted in favor of it. The main question passed by vote of .1s1 to T.
 ReoIution Warmly Received.
 When the Rev Rawleston. the colored fraternal delegate, was introduced he had the sympathy of his hearers from the start and most of the time had them laughing He combined some very shrewd observations with humorous side remarks and put in just enough fattery to keep up the good humor. In opening, he said the colored church is not bothered by too much learning. charge which has been brought against some of the others He said that the work that has been done by the Southern Methodist Episcopal church among the Afro American slaves since the war is of far more import ance than all the work that has been done by the church in foreign lands.
 'sWhatever advance the colored race may make" he said, The will always look back with profound gratitude on the work of the fathers of Southern Method ism.
 'The negro must be educated. If you let him grow up in ignorance and vice fl will undermine your own future and that of your childen. The greatest mis- take ever made was when the negro at
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