Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-05-25
N. {. MISSIONARY
/. EP|SCOPACY WILL
NOT Be ABOLISHED
Action of Widespread Impor.
lance to Church Is Taken
by Members of Con-
ference.

Saratoga Springs. n. y. May 22.-Action
of widespread importance to Methodsm
was taken to-day by the general con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. which by an Overwhelming ma
jority voted against ahollshinE the mis-
sionary eplscopacy, and later. in an
equally decisive manner, indorsed plans
that may lead to the unification of the
Methodist Church in the north and south
before the next Quadrernial session
Lively debate marked the proposal to
advance all missionary bishops to the
grade of bishops, with fun powers and
to elect no more bishops whose episcopal
authority is limited to the foreign mission
field. The office Of missionary bishops
has existed since 1858 when a representa-
tive was gent to Liberia. Africa
j. Frank IIanly of indianapolis intro
duced resolution signed 10y himself and
II others asking that a recommendation
of the delegates and missionary represor-
tatives from southern Asia he indorsed
The resolution urged that the election of
a missionary bishop for Singapore be in
definitely postponed. pending reassgn-
ment of the territory under the mission
airy bishops. The conference approved
the postpOnement.
Mr.. Hanly also asked that Missionary
Bishops John +. Robinson, stationed ut
Eangalore, India; Frank w. Warne Of
Lucknow, India; John W. Robinson os
Bombay India; and William T. Eveland
of Manila, Philippine islands, be elected
general superintendent and that one
bishop be chosen for Africa instead Of
two missionary bishops. As one reason
FOR this action he cited the fact that the
rank of missionary bishop does not exist
In the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
with which the Methodist Episcopal
Church North expects eventually t. ic
united
Ihe proposed change was character
lied as radical and almost evolution
ary' by several who spoke in opposi-
ton. William Z. Palmer of Paterson.
y. j., asserted that the conference
would regret it's action should it adopt
the resolution. Francis NJ Larkin of
san Francisco. Edward =. Dennet of
Berkeley, Cal, and William H. Craw-
ford, president of Allegheny College,
Mcadville Pa, also opposed the res
olution
Eventually the resolution was de-
feated by an almost unanimous vote.
In the selection Of two missionary bis
hops for Africa it was provided that
one, who is to supervise the work in
Liberia, must be of African descent.
\ deadlock over both offices result
ed on the first ballot. but the with
dra wal Of n number of tho negro can
didntcs. it was said, practically as
sures the election of Alexander p.
Camphor. of Birmingham. Ala, to-
morrow us bishop for Liberia.
TIE votes for tho other missionary
bishop were divided between Ebons
Johnson of Sioux city. Iowa. with 90;
j. f. Crowther Of New York. depart
mcnt secretary of the board Of foreign
missions, 2iG; and Albert T.. smith.
president of Ohio Northern College at
Ada, Ohio, 100.
The board of bishops was given the
power to decide If the present confer
ence shall meet again in 1919 to con-
slider the plan for Methodist unity,
which is to he presented to the south
ern church at that time, and which
will be prepared in the meantime by
representatives of both churches Tn
less the bishops decide to summon this
special session tho proposal viii not
reach the northern church officially
until 1920, when the next general con-
ference meets. The judiciary commit
tee reported there is nothing in the
laws of the church to prevent such a
session.
William J. Bryan. former secretary OF
state, delivered an address tonight in
which he advocated woman suffrage,
temperance and world peace. He said
that he had hoped that international
disputes might he lifted from the field
Of force to that of negotiation, investi-
cation and arbitration. The present
war has greatly increased this desire,
he asserted. 1T is surely the duty of
this country To avoid war"