Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-05-02
Delegation to Baltimore to In
yite NJ. E. General Confer
ence to Des Moines
IOWA ENTITLED TO BISHOP
One of Six Vacancies May Be Filled
by Selection of One of Several Avail
able Men = President Storms Sus-
oests Or. Stuntz - Amusement
Question to Be Given Attention.
to Times-Republican

Special to Times Republican.
Ames. May 2. The quadrennial
meeting of the General Conference or
the Methodist Episcopal Church Will
be held during the present month at
Baltimore Md. 1t is doubtful II any
other conference in the entire history
of the church has been called upon
to consider to many great problems In
church administration. Iowa Method
ism has always taken prominent
part In these great gatherings of the
church, but the indications are that
all previous activity will be eclipsed
at Baltimore this year. In the first
place, Iowa wants the next meeting
Of the general conference and with
becoming modesty and diplomacy Will
endeavor to secure vote IN the con-
ference favorable to holding the next
session in 1912 at Des Moines. AT the
well as the religious organizations IN
the capital city, Dir. Hagerman. pas
tor of the First NJ. Il. church, will in
vite the conference to meet at Des
Mones. No ADLER representative could
have been chosen to perform SO great
a task. With truth it might well be
said that If DIR. tHagerman cannot sue
coed no one can. His efforts will be
supplemented by the entire delegation
from Iowa as we'll as others from the
west and the Mississippi Valley.
No other conference has ever con-
vened with so many vacant chairs in
the bishopric. Since each general con-
ference determines for itself the num-
Der Of new bishops to be chosen, noth-
ing definite regarding the number can
be shown until action is taken at Bal
timore.
Iowa has never had bishop selected
from within her borders. and there
are many who believe the time has
come when the church may with the
greatest propriety choose one of the
half dozen or more bishops to be Sc
lected this year from among the
churchs leaders within the state.
Among those mentioned in connection
with the general SUPPLEMENTARY OF
the church are the following: DR..
Homer c. Stuntz, formerly of Mount
Vernon: DR.. j. Il. mcfarland, former
ly president of Iowa Wesleyan Uni
versity at Mt. Pleasant, now editor of
the Sunday school lesson leaflets of
the church; Dr. Lewis, president of
Morningside College at Sioux City;
DR.. A. E. Craig. former pastor OF the
0f tf1pVr1
DR.. E. A. Schnell, president-elect OF
Iowa Wesleyan University. 1t Is not
to be understood that any of the above
named persons are seeking the office.
Their names are used by their friends
without their knowledge or consent.
President Albert B. Storms, whose
friends have frequently urged his
name in connection with the office of
bishop, speaking of the selection OF
bishops by the general conference at
Baltimore, today said:
81 believe our church never faced SO
large an opportunity as she does TO-
day. 1t has sometimes seemed that the
general conference had in some of It's
actions taken counsel of politicians
rather than of the Divine Spirit. l be-
lieye in the soundness of heart of our
people, but, if there ever was a time
for rebuking self-seekers or politicians,
it is now.
personal ambition may not be UNI
worthy in any man, but the supreme
consideration ought to be the ques-
ton of his efficiency, his breadth OF
outlook, soundness Of judgment, COM
manding personality. and absolute and
unquestioned devotion.
Concerning particular men," he
said 81 have not sufficient knowledge
to speak. Personally, I should like to
see Homer c. Stuntz elected mission
airy bishop I have had no conference
with him about the matter. He rs GER
tainly a man of proved efficiency, OF
tremendous energy, wholesome and
sane, and man who brings things to
pass
That the amusement question will
receive great attention is unquestioned
with the situation. A number Of an
nua! conferences have adopted resolu-
lions petitioning the general confer
ence to eliminate from the discipline
that provision relating to dancing,
playing at games OF chance, attenulns
theaters, horse races, etc. What the
outcome will be is a matter OF con-
lecture. The subject has been vfgor-
ously discussed, both seriously and
flippantly, in several late conferences.
One who was a member Of the general
conference in 1900, believing that the
provision was wholly unnecessary and
that If is not the business Of the
church to set forth minute rules OF
conduct for it's members but to main
tain principles Of life. introduced a
paragraph proposing to amend the
present provision by placing under
the ban and along in the same class
with horse racing and games OF
chance; foot ball base ball, one o'cat
blind mans buff. pitching quoits
archery. marbles, and chat dangerous
game of chance of casting lots fol
>Er> If your stom.