Evening journal., 1908-06-30
PASTORS HAVE
A FINE OUTING
6cOntInued from FIrst Pars.l

ANcANAAuut rum EAEbl EdHo.l
Mr.. Northrup for the negative the speak
ers of each side thereafter alternating
Each was allowed ten minutes. Mr. North
rup presided.
No discussion so interesting. perhans
has come before the local ministers since
the annual conference. The arguments on
both sides were very seriously and studi.
ously presented. There were no judges
judgment being left TO the audience. The
question Of the general superintendeacy
or episcopacy was given most attention
the presiding eldership practically escap.
ing attention in the prominence Of fhe
more important issue.
In general, the affirmative sought to
prove that the present system Of elecs!n
and maintaining bishops in the Methodist
Episcopal Church was tending toward
Capitalization Of power and the creation
OF a class distinction, ending ultimately
in aristocracy. Specific instances Ct
bishops who had grown surprisingly auto
cratic were cited. Mr. Carpenter especially
emphasized that bishops were inclined 10
patronize the large church and influential
clergyman and layman and to ignore the
obscure church and the ordinary pastor
and layman. Mr. Keen aroused general
merriment when he alluded to one Of his
own experiences at General Conference
With latent indignation. Mr.. Keen who
Is the youngest pastor in Wilmington dis
trict related that he had conferred with
a certain very eminent bishop at the Gen.
eral Conference, who, on meeting him a
few days later, did not recognize MIN.
Asserts Church is Democratic.
The negative side took the general
ground that although the opportunity TO
foist an aristocracy into the Methodist
episcopacy might exist, that did not neces.
sarily establish the principle that that
opportunity would be grasped. The negative
debators insisted that a distinction should
be made between the opportunity for
aristocracy-which they did not doubt was
created by the Methodist Church eson
omy-and any movement actually toward
aristocraey. The Methodist body was in
deed most democratic it was argued and
this very democracy defeated any ten
dency toward aristocracy, notwithstand
ing the fact that individual bishops might
be tempted to become autocratic. 'rheI
democratic spirit Of the church was a
most powerful restraining influence in
eliminating autocratic tendencies and tnis
spirit was becoming more powerful with
the growth of the hurch. Every General
Conference, it was insisted, was now tax
ing away the power of the bishops; they
We're transferred here and there at 'he win
Of the church body they had no choice
as to where they should go and in tn slr
old age, the control of the bishops by tile
clergy and laity was positive.
General Discussion.
Following the last argument I'm the dc
bate. the discussion was opened to all.
and many other speakers participated
Distinguished among these was the Rev
j. d. Blake, pastor of the White Gay
Creek Presbyterian Church, who IVES
granted the courtesy of the floor Others
who spoke were Former Presiding Elder
L. e. Barrett, the Rev. G. T. Aldersoa, of
Perryville, formerly of New Castle and
several others. The majority of these in.
formal speakers supported the negative
although one speaker emphasized that the
bishops at the last General Confersae
had endeavored 20 force measures that
were opposed b the majority Of the de e.
gates.
So interesting did the debate prove. that
it was after o'clock before the fniniA ers
were ready for luncheon. This was ser ed
on the church lawn on long white tables
heaped with all the good things that
country folk can afford. All these good
things were set upon with good will. a. d
given sweet hay scented summer breez
and bright sunshine as condiments. the
ministers paid fun tribute to the refresh |
ments
After the luncheon there were quoit
games on the lawn and nothing could haze
been more exciting. Heroes in the strife
were the Rev. II. A. c. Westerheld and
the Rev. II. w Kellogg, who won three
games out Of FIVE from the Rev r. X