The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-05-23
PROPOSED CHANGE IN
BISHOPS IS DEFEATED
Business OF Entire Session Of
Widespread Importance To
Methodism
MISSIONARY BISHOPS

/ SARATOGA SPRINGS. ". Y. .May2s
ACTION OF widespread Importance to
MethOdism was taken today by the
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church which by an over
whelming majority voted against aboi-
lshing the missionary episcopacy and
later decisiyely indorsed plans that
may lead To the unification of the
Methodist Church in the north and
south before the next quadrennial ses-
sion.
Lively debate marked the proposal
10 advance all missionary Bishops to
the grade of bishops with full powers
and To elect no more bishops whose
foreign mission field.
j. Frank Hanly. of indianapolis, in
troduced resolution signed by him.
self and eleven others asking that "A
recommendation of the delegates and
missionary Representatives from
southern Asia be indorsed. The res
olution urged that the election of "A
missionary bishop for Singapore be
indefinitely postponed. pending reas-
signment OF the territory under the
approved the postponement.
Mr.. Hanly also asked that mission
AIRY bishops John T.. Robinson. sta
toned at Bangalore. India: Frank w.
Narne. OF Lucknow. India; John w.
Robinson, Of Bombay. India, and Will
lam Z. Eveland. of Manila. Philippines.
be elected general superintendents
and that one bishop be chosen for AT
rica instead of two missionary bish-
ops.
The proposed change was character
lied as radical and almost revolu-.
tionary' by several delegates.
Unanimously Defeated
me resolution was defeated by an
almost unanimous vote.
in the selection of Two missionary
bishops for Africa. 1t was provided
that one. who Is to supervise the work
IN Liberia, must be of African descent
deadlock over both offices resulted
on the FIRST ballot. but the withdrawal
OF "A number Of negro candidates, il
was said, virtually assures the eelc-
ton of Alexander =. csmphor. of Bir-
mingham. Ala, tomorrow as Bishop
for Liberia.
The votes for the other missionary
biShup were divided between Ebons
Johnson, Of Sioux city. la. with 2g5.
-. +. CrOwther of New York. depart
ment secretary of the board of foreign
missions. 2l6. and Albert r.. smith.
president OF Ohio Northern college, at
Ada, o. with l22.
The board of bishops was given the
power To decide II the present CON
ference shall meet again in 1918 10
consider the plan for Methodist unity.
Otherwise the proposadl will not reach
me northern church officially until
1920. when the next general conference
meets
Almost the only obstacle 10 the pro-
posal was Immediately removed by the
action Of Bishops Earl Cranston John
W. Hamilton and Joseph =. HartzeIl.
who are 20 be retired al the end Of this
session. II the session were pro-
longed until 1915 they could not be
legally retired until that time.
Created Enthusiasm.
The three bishops in turn appeared
before the delegates and asserted that
~ the movement for the union of
Methodism would thereby he advanced
ihey would willingly ask TO be retired
az once. The conference received the
ahmoHncement with great enthusiasm
William j. BRYAN. former secretsrv
or state. delivered an address TODAY
in which he advocated woman suffrage.
temperance and world peace He said
that be hoped that international dis
putes might be lifted from the field OF
iorcc 10 that Of negotiation. investiga.
tion and arbitration