The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1907-10-03
BY Il. w. Thompson!

bishops with coordinate power in
the same diocese, or operating In
dependently in the same territory.
Whether this $near-Bishop will suit
or noc, is question that will now be
threshCd out to q finish. Bishop Fer
gcson Is man of wide experience,
and Is sane and level-headed to the
last degree. tits not known where
he stands personally, but 1t Is safe
to say that his wise counsel will be
eagerly sought by those who are hon.
estly seeking to do the right thing
by the colored brethren who have
cast their lot with the Episcopal
church. The Southern wing of Ne
gro Eriscopalians will want a full
lledged Bishop but will accept a
missionary assistant, if they can do
no better. The North Is Indifferent,
as rule, and will not grow luke
warm in the faith if they are con-
signed indefinitely to the keeping of
"a wcite Chief Superintendent, and
have their expenses paid for them
out OF the general fund. Develop
ments will be- eagerly watched for
the next fortnight at Richmond. The
NJ. E. people will also sit up and take
notice. for next May at their general
Conference they will have the same
problem to face
Dr.. L. II. Reynolds, of Portsmouth,
Va, chairman OF the committee on
homes for the A. NJ e. General Con-
ference next May at Norfolk, is near
ing the safety line in his work. He
announces that there will be ample
accol., mt dations for all, and the at
tendance Of delegates and VISITORS
will undoubtedly be large. DR.. Rey-
nolds is himseRTan aspirant for the
Bishopric, and&His chances are re-
sarded as excellent by those in a pos
ition< to accurately gauge the situa-
Ion. DR.. Reynolds is personally
popular, Is man Of demonstrated
executive ability, and is closely iden-
titled with the inside workings of
Methodism. HeWould prove a valu-
able acquisitionsato the A. M. f..
Bench. and ought to be one Of, the
four elected for ths home work. Con-
ceding the electfdn of Drs E. w.
| Lam; tor and H. b. Parks, with the
special African service practically al
lotted by consents to DR.. J. Albert
Johnson. Of Philadelphia, the fight in
] the conference hinges upon the selec-
lion Of the remaining two. The field
| from which a choice may be made
grows, wider eacfr week, and there
are more to come: The people Of
Arkansas, regardless of denomina-
lion Will make strong call for DR..
| :. NJ. Conner. Norfolk and Tidewater,
Virginia, are unit for Dr. Reynolds;
Georgia won't have anything but DR..
fIlpper; South Carolina will have
| Two favorite sons In. Drs. H. T. John
son aud w. D. Chappelle, both now
| in snug berths which they will be
asked to relinquish; Roberts, Town
send, Smith, President J. H. Jones
and several others are coming into
| The spotlight, and 1T is likely that a
days halloting will be required to
bring out Clean-cut majority for
| the i've winners. = After the Bishop
rlc, the storm center of interest hoy
ers about the editorship Of the Chris
tan Recorder, for which A. l..
| Gaines, Reverdy c. Ransom, J. G..
Robinson, l.. E. Cbristy and other
skilled men are co1tending. Next in
Importance is the fight for the Sun
| day School Union Secretaryship
with the odds overwhelmingly in
| favor OF Ira r. Bryant, Of Alabama,
who came within two votes Of being
elected last time over the present in
| cumocrt. Mr.. Bryant Is business
man, aud Is making his canvas on
the basis Of making the Union a
source of revenue-to the church, not
dn a'ms-receiver from the church s
! bounty, at the expense Of the poor
missionary preachers and the fund
| For the widows and orphans. Not
| only does he purposgt to make the in
st1tution at Nashville self-supporting
| but It Is freely predicted by exper-
fenced printers and publishers that
he car have a cash credit on the
tight side of the ledger within the
first Guadrennium through the sys-
tenn ne has in mind. The Baptist are
doing over $4,000 worth Of busi-
ness each year at their Nashville
house, and the A. NJ, e. plant is not
now paying expenses. Does this not
indicate that change might be
! made for the betteT?r There Is de-
cided disposition to give Bryant a
chance to see what he can do. 1t is
| but seven months until the great
event comes off. The situation is
growing more and more critical, and
every hole is being watched for the
mouse that may run out,
| .F"1-
AproDos of church matters, it is
deplorable that dirty politics, inject
ID into the House Of God, for ma
Ievolent purpose, has resulted in the
| defeat Of Vice President Fairbanks
for the post Of hay delegate to the