Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-05-16
'COLORED METHOD|STS
Pan To Federate Negro Churches
Meets Opposition.
INTEREST IN EPISCoPACy
Proposition to Limit the Term OF
Bishops to Twelve Years-Piea
for. Larger Salaries.

The colored element of the church
played conspicuous part in the Gen.
eral conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal church at the Lyric Tuesday.
Three negro ministers held the at
tention of the conference while the
question of whether or not closer
federation between the colored mem
bers of the Methodist Episcopal
church and other colored denomina-
ton of the United States should be
brought about.
Upon the proposition the colored
leaders in the conference appeared to
held widely different views. One side
apparently, thought the proposition of
the other, If adopted, would lead to
the ultimate separation of the colored
members of the Methodist Episcopal
church from that church and con-
solidation of colored Christians of all
denominations into a greet church
of their own Rev. Dr. Logan, whose
resolution brought the question before
the conference, distinctly stated that
no such idea was in his mind or had
prompted his resolution.
Those OF the negroes VINO did not
favor DR.. Logan's proposition, it II
said, believe the negroes derive great
ter benefit from contact with. their
white brethren than they do by keep
ing together. Delegate /. Garland
Penn, one of the leaders of the Ep-
worth League among the negroes, who
offered substitute for the Logan res
olution, expressed it: ''Not because
you are white, but because you are
stronger"
AS the time for the election of the
bishops approaches. interest centers
e and more strongly in the Com
mittee on Episcopacy, at the head of
which is Rev. DR.. James M. Buckley,
the brilliant and experienced leader
of the conference.
DR.. Schell's proposition this time is
to limit the term of office of a bish-
OPP to IL years. He also proposes that
at the expiration OF this period the
bishop shall not be eligible for re-
election, but shall again become an
ordinary member of his conference.
At present the bishops are elected for.
life at an annual salary of $1,000,
with travelling expenses. There was
no debate upon DR.. Schell's memorial
which was at once referred to the
Committee on Episcopacy, where, it is
believed, it will remain, as there are
not many in the conference who think
it has any chance at all of being
adopted.
The memorial is as follows:
THE life tenure of the episcopacy
and the honors and emoluments of the
office have begotten such a multiple
city of candidates for the position as
threatens the conservation and unity
of our ministerial ranks.
"The long continued occupancy OF
the office seems out of harmony with
the spirit of the itinerancy, and the
salary paid the retired seems to be
regarded as an estate earned, rather
than a proper support provided.
"The position of bishop is an Office
in the church, and not an order, and
the occupancy of the Office is plainly
detached services therefore.
THAT hereafter an election to the
office Of bishop sail be for a term of
u years only, without reelection. and
that after the completion of the term
he shall become an effective member
Of the conference from which he was
elected"