Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-14
PAVING THE WAY
FOR NEW BISHOPS
M. E. General Conference De
ferred Until Today Action on
Committees Report.
DEs MONIES. IA. Nav Il.

n Wpiiu-Wilt DilfllStINs duCphiNN.iS
supervised, was the embodiment OF the
report of the Episcopal committee when
it recommended TO the General Confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
yesterday the election of II new bishops
and the establishment of seven new
Episcopal areas.
The election of II bishops would m
clude the two Negro bishops whose elcc-
tion was ordered by action of the confer
cnce Tuesday, but does not include the
election of the three men who are now
missionary bishops and who, by reason
OF the abolishment of that office, were
recommended for election as full-slzcd
bishops Thus, technically, the number
to be elected Is Il.
Indianapolis is the only new area to
be created in the United States under
the report of the committee. Requests
and arguments were made before the
committee for an Iowa area, but the
committee did not grant the appeals.
SIN NEW FOREIGN AREAS.
The six new foreign areas recommended
arc Mexico City, Foo Chow, Calcutta,
Singapore, Paris and Copenhagen, and
SIN of the bishops To be elected will hc
chosen for foreign residence and super
vision.
The report of the committee on esplco-
pacy, which recommended ii new bishops
and new episcopal areas, failed OF
adoption. although the conference had
previously voted to suspend the rules
To hear the report III order that no della
in balloting should result.
TAKE ACTION TO-DAY.
DR. ]. c. Nicholson. Of Baltimore, in
a forccful plea for deliberation. turned
the tide and action was deferred until
TODAY
Balloting for bishops was consequently
postponed, although much canvassing
was carried on during recess and after
adjournment at noon.
Conference dopesters predict that the
adoption of the report will he accom-
pliShed today and that the election of
bishops Will be begin at once.
CANDIDATES ron BISHOP.
Working upon the theory that selection
nf bishops NAV not be confined 10 as small
number as obtained four years ago,
delegations and candidates themselves are
renewing their efforts 4 large number Of
names have been suggested Dr. l..
Birnev, president Of Boston School Of
Theology Is prominently mentioned. Not
many are predicting an election on the
FIRST ballot. but such is not entirely inn
possible. Dakota delegates are solid for
81 the Sioux Falls District. Fred b. Fisher
Of the Chicago area is mentioned. DIR.
John l.. Hillman, president of Simpson
College, is growing IN popularity. DIR.
John Thompson has considerable support
in the Chicago area. DR. +. ;. IIpple
president Of Drew Theological Seminary
.hairman of the commission on entertain
ment, has been mentioned from the first
DR.. James NJ. Melear, leader Of the Hol-
ston delegation, is being prominently
mentioned Others include Ralph G.
tTrrny, Edgar Blake, d. G.. Downey, ]. NJ .
NJ. GRAY, Titus Lowe, Ralph Ward, ] ".
Hancher. d. d. Forsythe c. W. Flint,
:. E. Locke. c. W Burns, {. L. Mead.
The subcommittee on recreation made I.
40 report at the last meeting. The com
nittee had, however, granted a hearing to
]. Henry Smvthe, Jr.. OF New York, who, /
il has been reported, IS endeavoring TO in !
nuence the general conference 10 modify
he ban invoked by paragraph $50 Of the
discipline, relative to dancing. Members
of the subcommittee refused to discuss
Mr.. Smythes presence at their meeting
except to admit that he had been granted
the courtesy Of an appearance before
them.
INTERESTING EXHIBITS.
In the Board of Conference Claimants
there are drawings ana photographs snow
ing the obligation OF the church TO take
care OF its retired pastors, and the relative
IL small tax its discharge Is upon the
organization Of the church A section de
voted to hospitals and homes, shows pie
lures and figures upon the numerous
institutions maintained by the Methodist
Episcopal Church throughout the world.
The commission on finance exposes to the
public In many forms the monetary and
other phases of the church activities, lay
ing bare to the casual glance all the IN
Vulnerable statistics of the organization Of
more than 1000, 900 Methodlsts..
There IS also an extensive exhibit of
Alaskan and American Indian curios.
The first week Of the general conference /
saw practically all of the preliminary work
OF the session completed. Hundreds Of
resolutions, memorials and appeals were
received and distributed 10 the standing
committees for report. During the coming
week a number of these committees viii
make preliminary reports TO the con-
ference.
Predictions are made as follows:
The proposed plan OF unIhcation with
the Methodist Church. South, will not be
accepted, but a commission on unification
Will he continued.
All resolutions pertaining to enforce
ment Of prohibition will be favorably re-
ported and adopted by the conference. as
well as those affecting the moral political
and labor situations.
Industrial Accident Roard TTaheId