THE STTXDAT OKKGOISIAX, PORTLAND, NOVEMBER 3, 1907.
Methodist
PROMINENT MEN
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BISHOPS OF TUB MKTHODIST EPISCOPAL C'lll IlC-H, AS THICY APPKAKEIl AT THE CtOSK OK THE KENERAL COSreitESCE AT LOS ANCKI.K.S, CAL, I!M 10O4.
Rpadinjr from left to riclit those in the picture are: Lower row Bishop Vincent, Bishop Fowler, Bishop Warren. Bishop Andrews, Bishop Merrill (deceased). Bishop Foss, Bishop
Waldcn. Bishop Mallalieu, Bishop Fitzgerald (deceased). Middle row Bishop Joyce (deceased). Bishop Hartaiell. Bishop Neeley, Bishop Goodsell, Bishop McCabe (deceased). Bishop
Cranston, Bishop Moore, Bishop Hamilton. Top row Bishop Oldham. Bishop Scott (colored). Bishop Berry, Bishop Spellmeyer, Bishop Bashford, Bishop Wilson, Bishop McDowell,
Bishop Theburn, Bishop Robinson, Bishop Warne, Bishop Bowman, Bishop Harris, Bishop Burt.
THERE will convene in rortland
Thursday. November 14, at Grace
and Taylor-street Methodist Epis
copal Churches, one of the most notable
ecclestiastlcal gatherings ever assembled
west of the Mississippi River. It will
compriese about SO of the most prominent
men In Methodism, among whom will he
20' bishops, chief officers of the denomina
tion, whose fields of labor embrace the
globe, and under whose general superln
tendency the gospel is preached to every
nation under the sun.
The bishops will convene with the com
mittee on home missions and church ex
tension, when business of great moment
to the church in America and all terri
tory under the Stars and Stripes will be
enacted. One million dollars, representing
a portion of funds collected during the
year ending November 1, will be appor
tioned for work throughout the home
mission fields.
Organization will ba effected the first
day, as the societies are but recently
merged, and officers must be elected to
serve until the general conference meets
at Baltimore next May. Much business is
to come before the body during its ses
sions, which will continue for about one
week, morning, afternoon and night. Sun
day. November 17, there will be at least
one bishop filling every Methodist Epis
copal pulpit in Portland, and V5 services
will he held in the Methodist churches
from Eugene to Kelso, Wash., and from
The Dalles to Astoria, with prominent
members of the organization as preachers.
It will be by far the greatest day for
Methodism ever known this side of tile
Mississippi River.
All but about six of the bishops com
prising the hoard will be present, as well
as some of the noted editors of the Advo
cates and other periodicals of the church
throughout the country, including Dr. J.
M. Buckley, the famous editor of the New
York Christian Advoca'e.
Plans for Entertainment.
Elaborate preparations have been com
pleted for the reception and entertainment
of the noted churchmen during the meet
ing here. All will be guests in homes of
Portland Methodists, and will be afforded
What a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
Church Should Do in Making Appointments
Address Delivered By Rev. T. B. Ford Before the Portland Methodist Ministerial Association
THE following address was delivered
recently before the Methodist Minis
terial Association y Rev. T. B.
Ford, pastor of Sunnyslde Methodist
Episcopal Church. The topic was "What
a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal
Church Should Do in Making Appoint
ments": Mr. President and Brethren: I have
never delivered an address before any
preacher's meeting on a subject that
means more to Methodist ministers as
such, to the bishops as officers of the
church, and to the security and efficiency
of the special features of our church pol
ity, the episcopacy and itinerancy, than
the one I" am to speak on today.
I trust you will not consider me pre
sumptuous because I have - opinions on
"What a Bishop of the Methodist Epis
copal Church Ought to Do in Making
Appointments." nor lacking in respect for
the high office of a bishop, or discour
teous to any of its incumbents, because
I utter these opinions in this presence.
I regard myself as entirely within my
prerogative as a Methodist minister, and
within the rule of highest expediency,
and shall give expression to my convic
tions on this subject in language which
I think altogether respectful.
I prepared the' outline of this address
prior to the opening of the recent ses
sions of the Columbia. River, Puget Sound
and Oregon conferences, and It grew out
of my meditations pn the principles of
the appointive powr as vested In the
bishops of our church and their applica
tion in general administration.
I have not attempted to describe an
ideRl bishop, working under the most
favorable circumstances, but the exercise
of authority under tonditions which are
possible in almost etery case.
We all have our1, opinions upon tills
question, and have i right to them and
to express them, aiid it Is wholesome
that we. do.
Mr. Wesley was a yefacto bishop, and
the general superlntrtident of the Wes
leyan movement in purope, though he
did not wear eitheri title. He was a
presbyter by ordlnatloh and believed him
self to be an cpiscopas, and exercised
functions accordingly. I
He may have had a bias In favor of
the episcopal form of government as held
by the Church of England, and dis
tinguished from the Ecclesiastical mon
archies of the Greek and Iatin churches
and from the Presbytejtal and Congrega
tional forms of his dai but he certainly
believed that even in t Anglican church
innovations contrary in New Testament
standards, destructive of apostolla sim
plicity and tending todangerous usurpa
tion of power, had ben introduced ,and
become common. Bui his Influence was
not sufficient to arrest the process of re
version, and the moirment of which he
was the projector an
out, into lndependcnc
leader was forced
He believed in a
Bishops Will Convene in Portland on Thursday
OF THE CHURCH WILL FORM A MOST NOTABLE ECCLESIASTICAL GATHERING
V-l '
"OS 5f
every comfort and convenience j during
their stay here. All of their expenses1 will
b defrayed by local churches, each of
which has taken an equal share of the re
sponsibility, financial and otherwise.
The accompanying photograph of the
bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church
is the only, one In existence, and was
taken in Loji Angeles, Cal., at the close of
the last General Conference. At that time
several bishops were elected, and all are
to be seen in this remarkable group. Not
all of those in the picture will be present
at this meeting, as several are located in
fields where their absence at this time
would mean a great injury to the work
under their supervision. Four whose pho
tographs appear here have since died.
They are: Bishops Merrill, Joyce, Mc
Cabe ami Fitzgerald.
Bishops AVlio AVill Attend.
The bishops who will attend and a brief
outline of their careers in the church are
here given:
Bishop Thomas Bowman, one of the
oldest of the board, is, 92 years of age.
He was retired from active service at the
General Conference of 1896. after being in
the episeopaey since 1S72. He is famed as
a simple but exceedingly forceful preach
er. Prior to his election to the bishopric
he was for 12 years president of Asbury
I'niversity, now De Pauw University, the
denominational school at Greencastle, Ind.
He now makes his home with his 6on-in-law
in East Orange. N. J.
Bishop E. G. Andrews is SO years of
age, and was retired in 1004, after serving
In the episcopacy since 1S72. In his
younger years he was a noted, preacher,
and wa"s elected to the bishopric from
the pulpit. He is famed as an ecclesias
tical lawyer, his decisions on legal points
being very correct and valuable.
Bishop W. F. Mallalleu is 7S years of
age, and was retired in 1004, after serving
in the episcopacy since 1H4. Throughout
his pastorate and continuing during his
episcopal career, he has been noted as
perhaps the greatest evangelist in the
church. He has ever been a stanch friend
of the negro, and has always championed
the cause of the black man. He lives at
Newton Center, near Boston, Mass.
Bishop Cyrus D. Foss is 74 years of
age, and was retired in 1004, after serving
since ISM. He was for years a noted
preacher, and later became president of
the Wesleyan University at Middletown,
modified episcopacy and was himself an
illustration of ills views.
When he consented to the separation of
the preachers and societies in the United
States' from the United Societies in Eng
land, Scotland and Ireland, he! selected
men in England who had Imbibed his
views, and been trained under his super
vision, and ordained them elders, and set
apart, by prayer and Imposition of hands,
Thomas Coke, a presbyter of the Church
of England, to be superintendent and to
preside over the flock of Christ in Amer
ica, intrusting him with his policies and
commissioning him to execute them, and
to ordain Francis Anbury as joint super
intendent. It was In the order of things, as we
interpret, that Mr. Wesley's views con
cerning the form of Government for the
new church in America should control the
judgment and action of the men who or
ganized the Methodist Episcopal Church
of the United States of America. He
preferred the episcopal form of govern
ment with important modifications; and
this form was adopted by our church
fathers.
Government in the Church.
The government of the Methodist Epis
copal Church, though episcopal with con
siderable accentuation, is not a govern
ment by episcopacy, nor by bishops. Our
government is lodged in a delegated, gov
erning conference. The episcopacy as a
unit, though as such without specific con
stitutional, or statutory recognition, digni-
ficatlon. or prerogative and possessing no
vested rights, exerts a powerful influence
on the life, policies, movements and des
tiny of the church its cor.nectional af
fairs, ministry and membership the San
hedrim of the church without authority,
but not without power, and the little
black book which contains the rules gov
erning it severally, though not with suffi
cient detail and Infiexibleness to protect
the church against unfortunate diversities
of administration, serves to preserve the
general superintendency as a unit. And
although we have no college of bishops,
with a big C and a big B, and no house
of bishops, with a big H and a big B. the
bishops of our church have conferred
upon them great, almost unlimited au
thority. No bishop, or archbishop of the
Protestant Episcopal or Roman Catholic
Church, gowned and capped, and Invested
with greater honor, has more authority.
No prelate of the established church or
cardinal of the Romish hierarchy, though
crowned and sreptered. and held in the
highest veneration by clergy and people.
Is 'clothed with greater power. No eccle
siastic of the mediaeval church, nor the
whole apostolate of Jerusalem, exercised
greater authority over churches and min
isters, than that vested in a bishop of the
Methodist Episcopal Church his author
ity is absolute, and from it there is no ap
peal so long as he is within his preroga
tive. The Methodist Episcopal Church is con
nectionai with the general conference as
the recognized governing body. It is not
f i M A i - . ' r i -
; 1.- - - . v Si
Conn., and from that position was elect
ed to the bishopric. Since filling the lat
ter office, he has become widely known
as a strict disciplinarian in all of. his
annual conference and other work. He
lives at Philadelphia.
Bishop James M. Walden is 77 years of
age, and was retired in 1904, after having
served since 1SS0. Before entering the
ministry he was el-- school teacher and
politician. . Shortly after taking up pas
toral work, he became identified with the
publishing Interests of the denomination
and was for 20 years publishing agent for
the Book Concern, with headquarters at
Cincinnati. He was a thorough finan
cier, and because of his strict attention
to and great success in business became
known as "the business bishop."
Bisliop Warren's Career.
Bishop Henry W. Waien is 77 years
of age, and is distinguished by being the
senior bishop of his church in the active
list. He is one of the most famous of
the bishops. He was in Congress from
one of the Massachusetts districts dur
ing the Civil War, and later served as
a pastor. He is noted as a deep student
of astronomy, on which subject he has
written several works, and as a clever
lecturer and preacher. He lives In Den
ver. Bishop Earl Cranston is 68 years of age
and was elected to the episcopacy in 1896.
He was a captain during the Civil War
and later served for 12 years as publish
ing agent at Cincinnati. He has always
been noted for his common-senpe judg
ment on all matters coming under his no
tice, for his accurate judgment of .men
and for his aptitude in adapting means to
measures. He lives at Washington, D. C.
Bisliop D. A. Goodsell is 70 years of age
and was elected to the episcopacy in 1S88.
He was for many years a noted preacher,
and was later secretary of tne board of
education of the church. He Is noted for
his ability as a preacher. He lives in Bos
ton. Bishop J. W. Hamilton is 65 years of
age and was elected to the episcopacy in
19i!0. He was secretary of the FVeedmen's
Aid Society in his younger years, and for
a long time was perhaps the most con
spicuous preacher in Boston. He is noted
for his advocacy of negro rights, for his
tremendous energy and for his great bold
ness In uttering his views. He was in
charge of the San Francisco work during
the earthquake and fire, and proved him
one as the Roman Catholic Church is one,
en mass, under a vice-gerency assuming
the prerogatives of Christ, but one com
posed of many, fitly joined together, with
Jesus Christ as the acknowledged head.
The connectional character of ouf church
necessitated a general superintendency.
A general superintendency having charge
of ministers and churches, without au
thority, would be a superfluous appen
dage. Authority over the preachers and
churches without the appointive power
would impose upon the superintendents
responsibility without power to discharge
It, and the general superintendency .would
become a sinecurism.
Our form of government made neces
sary the episcopacy with all it means in
ilethodist Episcopal parlance.
1 do not raise the question of the per
petual adaptation, efficiency and suffi
ciency of the system today neither that
of the wisdom of a church, organized al
most simultaneously with a new republ!,
democratic in spirit and form, and sup
posedly in harmony with its genius, -to
keep pace with its progress, binding itself
in chains of steel, and fastening upon all
future interpreters of its constitution, its
legislators, and upon its Supreme judicial
and legislative council, restrictions which
they can neither "do away," or even
amend so as "to change." These are
questions for legislators. Jurists and con
stitutionalists to settle if indeed they can
settle them.
With such authority, coextensive with
the church, - exercised usually, but not
necessarily, nor always, at a session of
an annual conference, or in connection
with the presidency and charge of such,
with only sucli limitations as the bishops
themselves have agreed upon on the
basis of "courtesy to colleagues." and to
avoid the greater confusion, there are re
lations, prerogatives, consequences and
responsibilities in which is deeply rooted
the subject. "What a Bishop of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church Ought to Do in
Making Appointments."
Obligation of the Bishop.
He is not without obligation, though
almost without specific limitations. His
obligation is deeper, broader, higher and
more tsacred because it is ethical rather
than statutory.
He ought to come to the annual con
ference over which he is to preside, by
assignment of his collegues, with the
fullest possible knowledge of the con
ference, its history, geography and con
ditions industrial, financial, social, edu
cational and spiritual, its embarrassments
and peculiar difficulties, Its personnel and
its persons.
A casual glance at maps, a trip through
the territory in a palace car, and oc
casional visits to the more prominent
churches, are not sufficient for gaining
this knowledge. But our bishops are not
confined to these as sources of informa
tion. Such knowledge as the bishops of
the Methodist Episcopal Church possess,
or may, relative to conditions in the an
nual conferences, severally, general and
-
self entirely capable. He lives in San
Francisco.
Resident Bisliop of Oregon.
Bishop Moore is 6S years of age and was
elected to the episcopacy in 1900. He bears
the distinction of being the resident
bishop of Oregon. He was e military
commander, with the rank of Colonel,
during the Civil War, and had a leading
part" in the capture of Morgan, the raider,
during the latter's expedition through
Ohio. He was for several years a pastor,
after which he became president of the
Wesleyan Female College, at Cincinnati.
He was the first chancellor of the Univer
sity of Denver, serving until 1880, when he
becam ediotr of the Western Christian
Advocate, of Cincinnati. He was then
elected to the bishopric serving the first
four years in China. He lives In Portland.
Bishop Henry Spellmeyer Is 59 years
of age and was elected to the episco
pacy in 1904. As a pastor, covering
many years, he served in charges all
of which can be seen from the City
Hall tower of Newark, N. J. Since hie
election to the bishopric he has be
come noted for his extreme caution In
utterance and decisions. He lives in
Cincinnati.
Bisliop Joseph F. Berry is 54 years
of age and was elected to the episco
pacy in 1904. He Is one of the most
popular of the Bishops, especially
among the young people, as be is presi
dent of the Epworth League, which has
about 1,500,000 members. He was a
pastor for a number of years, and at
the organization of the league he be
came editor of the Epworth Herald, the
official organ, which, through his man
agement, became one of the greatest
publications in the church. He lives in
Buffalo.
Bishop McDowell is but 49 years of
age and was elected to the episcopacy
in 1904. His career is the most re
markable of any of the Bishops. At
the age of 32 he became chancellor of
the University of Denver, at the age
of -.2 he became secretary of the Board
of Education, and at the age of 46 he
became a Bishop. He is a remarkable
speaker, being In great demand at Y.
M. C. A. gatherings. He lives in Chi
cago. Bishop James W. Bashford Is 59 years
of age and waa elected to the episco
particular, of men and churches, is not
possessed by an body of men in church
or state, charged with administration.
They gather It from many sources, the
press, general minutes, conference jour
nals, reports of presiding elders, letters
from pastors, correspondence with lay
men, in the interim of conference ses
sions; accounts given by collegues, and
personal Inspection. They meet semi-ah-nually,
are In session one week, approxi
mately: hear reports, scrutinize adminis
trations, listen to explanations, and dis
cuss men, churches and policies, form
conclusions, and make appointments. His
immediate predecessor, and all who have
preceded him In the administration of a
given conference, may be conferred with,
and their knowledge is available. He has
time usually for correspondence, and
special study of the conference to which
he has been assigned, and which he is
to administer, and though never on the
field, and possibly knows but few even
of the more prominent men, he may come
to the conference session with a fullness
and accuracy of knowledge that will en
able him to take up the work intelligent
ly, and he ought.
He ought to approach the work of
making the appointments without bias
for, or against any man whose appoint
ment he is to make. Though knowing
much he ought not to assume to know all
things about all the men whom he Is to
assign to fields of labor, and he ought to
proceed with eyes, ears and heart open,
with a receptive mind, and with his spir
it disciplined to the discernment of spir
its, that he may rightly interpret his
brethren, and weigh them In the balance
of just Judgment, that he may do no
man Injustice, but deal with all in chris
tian equity. He ought to guard against
prejudgment at the suggestion, or recom
mendation of a predecessor, or at an
ante-conference interview with some man
who "torments him before the time," or
coterie. No man's appointment ought to
be predetermined. If unfavorable repre
sentations have been made of a man,
even with the weight of a bishop's judg
ment, the bishop having the final respon
sibilty in the matter should withhold his
decision until he has had ample oppor
tunity to know for himself. If an un
favorable impression has been made upon
him concerning any brother he ought to
refrain from showing it in conference, or
in the cabinet, until such has been re
moved, or confirmed, and then without
unkindness of spirit, or harshness of
word, decide his case as in the fear of
God, opening the matter to the man him
self, if he be aggrieved. It is easy to
form, but difficult to overcome prejudice.
A bishop ought to possess his power in
impartiality.
He ought to seek and obtain the fullest
intelligence concerning each preacher,
his age, ability, experience, adaptation,
special gifts, peculiarities, efficiency and
preference. He ought to know the
preacher's family, the number and condi
tion thereof, what manner of woman he
has for a wife, and the social and educa
tional needs of his children. The
preacher's wife has rights that ought not
to be ignored, or treated indifferently.
She is full partner with him In the sacri
fices and toils of the Itinerancy, and
should share in the recompense of re
ward. His children have claims that
ought to be carefully considered In
making his appointment. No man who
deserves a place among us ought to be
forced to deprive his children of educa
3
pacy in 1904. He was a noted preacher
In Boston and Buffalo, and later became-
president of the Ohio Wesleyan
University at Delaware,. O. He is a
noted missionary now, and lives at
Shanghai.
Bishop William Burt Is 64 years of
age and was elected to the episcopacy
in 1904. He has been a missionary in
Italy, with headquarters at Rome, for
25 years, and is the best-known Meth
odist In Europe. He Is but little known
in America, but is loved for his great
work in foreign lands. His knowledge of
church history has made him famous.
Bishop T. B. Neeley is 68 years of age
and was elected to the episcopacy in 1904.
He was a noted Philadelphia pastor, and
for many years was chiefly known for his
ability to meet Dr. Buckley, the great
editor, on the floor of the annual confer
ences in debate. He was for four years
editor of the Sunday school periodicals.
He is a tireless worker and great reader.
He lives in Buenos Ayres, South America.
Bishop Fowler an Orator.
Bishop C. H. Fowler is 70 years of age
and was elected to the episcopacy in 18i4.
He is noted as a great orator. He was
president of the Northwestern University
for six years and for four years edited
the New York Advocate. He also served
four years as a missionary secretary. He
lives in New York.
Bishop John H. Vincent Is 75 years of
aRe and was elected to the episcopacy in
1S98. He was a successful pastor and
always took a great interest in the com
mon people. He is mostly distinguished
as the author of the great Chautauqua
movement. He lives at Chattanooga.
Bishop Luther B. Wilson Is 56 years of
age and was elected to the episcopacy in
1904. For 10 years he has been president
of the Anti-Saloon League, one of the
greatest of the organizations opposed to
the liquor traffic. He lives at Chattanooga-
Bishop James M. Thoburn is 71 years of
age and was elected a missionary bishop
in 1SS8. He is conceded to be the best
loved bishop and the most widely-known
one in the church, and the greatest
prophet In the world today. He has
spent his life in India and Southern
Asia. He is still on the active list, but
will be retired at the next General con
ference, his health being broken. He is
now living in Portland with relatives.
tional advantages, or to give up the
ministry, by being sent to some charge
where the educational facilities are wholly
inadequate to their needs. A knowledge
of such conditions and needs Is neces
sary to an equitable adjustment, and a
bishop ought to particularly inquire into
these things.
He ought to counsel freely with the
presiding elders, and give due considera
tion to their representations, and weight
to their recommendations.
I do not favor the proposition to
make presiding elders the legal con
stitutional advisers of the biship. a
sort of suffragan bishopric with power,
nor would I have conferred on a ma
jority, or the whole of them in any
conference, the authority to veto any
appointment; I would leave the final
responsibility where it is now, not
wholly the bishops in the process of
reaching a decision, but his in the act
that finally determines the case and
fixes the appointment.
Duties of Presiding Elder.
To set aside a presiding elder or
ignore his representations and turn
down his recommendations based on
facts gathered from a most careful
personal examination, and after pray
erful study of all the interests in
volved, is to demonstrate the absolute
uselessness of the presiding eldership,
and the necessity of districting the
bishops, neither of which is desired by
any one of our general superintendents,
so far as I know) and put the entire
responsibility of the appointments, and
the sequences, upon the bishop who
pursues such a course. Few bishops
covet such responsibility.
The presiding cider must answer
directly to the pirachers and the
churches of his district for the appoint
ment, and he ought to be heard. No
self-respecting presiding elder will try
to shirk responsibility by placing all
the blame of "misfits" on the bishop,
who. In mo.it instances. Is beyond the
reach of the afflicted church and the
minister aggrieved. It is his business
to make representations of the preach
ers and churches under his charge, and
to give advice, and if he is not suffi
ciently intelligent to do so, and honest
enough to command the confidence of
the bishop, and his brethren, or is lack
ing in requisite courage, and adminis
trative ability, another should be found
to take his place, and fill his diocesan
bishopric, one whose wisdom, integrity
and fortitude will enable him to with
stand the bishop with all due respect,
when a brother Is in peril, and to bear
his shara of the burden of the admin
istration. The presiding elders ought
to be consulted by the bishop in mak
ing the appointments, and consulta
tiop ought to be free and full.
He ought to confer freely with the
preachers, especially when changes are
to be made involving their convenience,
support, comfort and usefulness, and
the welfare of their families. The
preachers' judgment and wishes, while
not determining, ought to be important
factors in guiding the hand that makes
the appointment.
The timid man, the man of modest
demeanor, and the men who tread the
winepress where it is hardest, who are
seldom heard in conference, ought to
find easy access to the bishop, and
made to feel comfortable in his pres
ence, and free to represent their cases,
and their reprsntations ought to have
weight in determining their appoint
ment. And if it has been so. and Jt
happens, as it often does In our econ
omy, that their wishes could not be
complied with the fact that they were
permitted to speak for themselves
without embarrassment, will go a long
way toward relieving the. strain of dis
appointment, and will be an element
of strength to them and the system In
the years to come.
If laymen are to be consulted as to
who shall preach for them, I know of
no sufficient reason why the preacher
may not be consulted as to the laymen
he is to preach to. There is as much
propriety and equity in the one as in
the either.
Voice of Laymen Should Be Heard.
He ought to receive and hear the rep
resentations of godly laymen whether
they come singly, doubly or in fours.
whether by appointment of the quar
terly conference, or the official board,
or of their own accord. He ought to
question them carefully and searching-
ly and make further inquiry to ascer
tain their Intelligence, character and
loyalty, their support of the means of
grace the public service, prayer and
class meeting whether they have fam
ily prayer and keep the rules of the
church, and whether they have any
pique or grievance or "are in lo'e and
charity with their brethren." and take
a church paper, and listen to them, and
not simply to one man who may have
wealth, or position, or perchance be
related to some dignitary of the church.
The voice of laymen ought to be heard
In making appointments, and the most
careful consideration given to their
wishes, especially when they are men
of "solid piety'" and "both know and
love Methodist doctrine and discipline,"
and such may have wealth and posi
tion, and we Inveigh not against them,
but praise them.
He ought to give all the intelligence
he can command and the time and pa
tience necessary to the study of the
plan of the work, the scheme of ap
pointments, of each church lie Is to
supply, and every preacher he Is to
appoint. He ought to be as careful in
making the appointment of one man as
another. He ought not to "make fish
of one and flesh of another." He ought
to look after the submerged man. He
ought to protect the man against whom
the presiding elder may have preju
dice, or a grudge, or wants to favor.
He ought not to be Indifferent to the
privations and sufferings of men and
their fomilles following upon their dis
appointments. Time and patience, and
the wisdom from above, are essential
to such painstaking work.
The making of the appointments is
the chief thing with a bishop, and dedi
cations, receptions, lectures, rallies and
anniversaries, all important in them-,
selves, and the presence and services
of a' bishop, almost indispensable in
connection with them, should not be
allowed to encroach and engage him
to such an extent that he must take
from his supreme work the time and
strength required to do It, and to do
It well.
The Making of Appointments.
He ought to give to each and every
man the very best appointment possible.
But in doing this he must take into con
sideration the ability, merit and claims
of the man. and the needs of his family,
not separately and apart from, but in
connection wittt the interests of his
brethren, and their families, and the wel
fare of the churches concerned. We be
brethren: we are members one of an
other; no man llveth and serveth unto
himself. The other man must be con
sidered. No man ought to be singled out.
and given consideration and preferment
because he happened to be a student In
some Institution when the bishop was Its
president, or a college chum, or class
mate, or Is the nephew of some high
official, or the great-great-great-grandson
of his great-great-great-grandfather,
and put into an important church, to its
great affliction, with a large salary, while
men with more ability, with a record of
uninterrupted success, with Just claims,
are sent to inferior places, and are ex
pected to go without murmuring, and to
believe that the hand of God was in the
appointments. I have found even so
great faith among Methodist ministers! I
prefer to believe, and it is more whole
some to my faith, that God did not have
anything to do with such adjustments.
He ought to give to every charge the
very best preacher he possibly can give
it, all interests Involved being considered.
This must be done in consideration of its
position, relations, needs, claims, sup
porting power and its social, educational
and business advantages, not exclusively.
but Jointly with the claims of other
churches, based on like conditions.
No church in our connection ought to
be considered separately, and provided
for regardless of others. There ought to
be no special case in any city, except
after the most thorough examination of
the entire situation by men capable of
studying and solving such problems, and
determining a policy for such that will
provide for its special needs, and bring
to it prosperity, power and influence.
without encroaching upon the rights of
other churches, and imperilment of their
Interests, if not endangering their very
existence, and at the same time en
nance the usefulness of methodlsm as a
civic and exangelistlc force.
He ought to equalize as far as pos
sible the advantages and burdens of the
preachers and their families, and promote
the welfare of the brotherhood of the
itinerancy, and the unity and prosperity
of the churches as parts of the whole.
There is no reason, or logic, or Justice
or even common worldly fairness. In send
ing one man with a wife and dependent
children to a remote field, with little
assurance of support, where he must
struggle to live, and drag his faithful
companion and uncomplaining children
through privation and poverty, and mur
mur not, while another man with the
same number in family, or less, with no
more ability, no greater adaptation, no
superior gifts, no better record for effi
ciency, no more promise, and with no
greater claims. Is sent to another field.
far more desirable, with furnished par
sonage, kind people, and good support as
sured. This Is being unequally yoked
together. Such discriminations can not be
justified on the ground that in one case
the man quietly submits, and yields
obedience, while in the other there Is
favoritism because of the well-known al
titude of .the brother who will go where
he Is sent. If he be sent where he wants
to go.
The equalization of which I speak is
not to be made without reference to the
gifts, grace and usefulness of men. and
the fitness of. their families, but with due
regard to these, and when made on this
basis the preachers will not be classified
by metallc standards, and stamped with
dollar marks, but by merit and service,
and can then, and will, fulfill, and Il
lustrate the scriptural injunction, "In
honor prospering one another."
The belief that there Is an earnest
effort on the part ' of the bishops to
equalize the hardships Incident to the
Itinerant ministry, especially where
changes are frequent, would do much
toward reducing to the minimum com
plaints against the administration, re
lieving the tension of the average Metho
dist preacher, and inspiriting the rank
and file of those who preach the gospel
among us.
. He ought to especially prepare the
preachers to receive their appointments.
The methodical and wise use of time;
solemn and yet cheerful demeanor: affa
bility and reserve: freedom and dignity;
latitude and conservatism; close attention
to business with due relaxation: kindness
and firmness: judgment matured in de
liberation and prayer; decision poised in
gentleness: the spirit of inquiry, devotion
and revival pervading both him and the
conference, 'and all crowned with uplift
ing services, inspiring the preachers and
the people with profound respect for the
bishop, with confidence in his Judgment
and administrative ability, in the integ- '
rity of his motives and honesty of his pur
pose, and with veneration and affection
for him as the servant of God and of his
brethren, will put the preachers in such
frame of mind, in such heart, and under
such a spirit of brotherliness and enthus
iasm that 'they will receive their appoint
ments "as from the mouth of God," and
with a glad will and mind go forth like
"giants refreshed with new wine," ready
to "run through a troop, or leap over a
wall," to assume the most difficult
tasks, face the greatest dangers, to "en
dure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus
Christ counting the sufferings of the
present as not worthy to be compared
with the glory of the cross, and the honor
of preaching the gospel, believing that
their appointments were made by a man
of God, after much prayer, in firm re
liance on the guidance of his spirit in the
examination and determination of each
case. Such conditions make heroes of us
rll!
I have used the word "ought," Instead
of the word should, because It expresses
more fully the thought of obligation which
I wish to emphasize.
The obligation of a bishop to do these
things is grounded In well known and
conceded facts.
The church has Invested him with full
uthorlty to make appointments, not de
signedly initiative, but always final.
Bishop Is the Chief Pastor.
He is the chief pastor, and has the care
of the undershepherds of the flock, whose
success In caring for the flock depends
so largely on his care of and for them.
He has the supreme care of the
churches, whose condition, growth and
productiveness depend so much upon the
spirit, power and effectiveness of the
pastors whose assignment is in his hands.
The condition and prosperity of the en
tire connection are Involved in his dispo
sition of the men, and provision of the
churches under his immediate super
vision.
He holds In his powerful hand not only
the destiny of the preachers, but also
that of the families, their wives and
children, for the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in conferring such power upon
her bishops, did not enforce celibacy upon
her ministers, and they usually have
Rooseveltian families, and one of the
most sacred obligations of a bishop is the
care of the wives and children of the
preachers.
The success or failure of our system of
supply Ink churches with pastors, and
providing pastors with churches, is so
largely dependent upon the spirit and
manner in which the bishop exercises the
appointive power, and the whole
scheme of the itinerancy is involved.
He must give account not only to
the general conference, but also to the
Supreme Shepherd and Bishop of all
souls as the Judge over all.
I have not referred to instances as
illustration. I have not said "as has
been the case," or "as I have seen," or
"as you have known." I make no odi
ous comparisons or disparaging refer
ences to any bishop or particular ad
ministration. If the suit I have made
fits too loosely. It is because I had
plenty of cloth and it was a yard wide,
and it is better to fill it out than to
cut it down; we have men who fill It
and others who are capable of filling it.
I would think independently of some
traditions, but would not engage In a
mad search for noveltfes. I have some
visions, but 1 am not a dreamer. If
you think my position is too liberal
and that I am unduly sober and earnest,
I beg you to remember:
That no church with a centralized form
of government has gone on the rock of
disaster by becoming too democratic in
administration.
That great apostacies have followed in
fhe wake of usurpation of power by pam
pered ecclesiastics, an effeminate ministry
and unrestrained worldliness of the peo
ple. That no church in all history when once
well in the process of reversion has ever
recovered, and swung forward into leader
ship among the moral and spiritual forces
of the world.
That while the trend in the Methodist
Episcopal Church is In the direction of
a larger distribution of power, and greater
freedom of preachers and churches, there
is a powerful tendency to revert to the
original type and condition that of the
Church of Englsnd In Mr. Wesley's time.
That if we (heck this tendency, and re
cover, and take our position as the great
evangelistic movement of the 20th cen
tury, marching to the conquest of the
world to Jesus Christ, we will prove the
exception in Christian history, and dem
onstrate our right to live and do busi
ness for the king of kings.
That Judgment must begin at the house
of God, and extend from the bottom to
the top, and from the top to the bottom,
if there be any top or bottom in the
church of Christ, and extend throughout
the entire system, in a more liberal con
struction of the constitution, wiser legis
lation, lessening the aparltles of power,
higher standards of measurement for men.
requiring souls rather than- shekels, a
greater sense of security among minis
ters and churches, and a higher type of
religious experience and life among our
people regardlss of yalth, position or
social distinction.
Big Men Need of the Church.
One of the greatest needs of the Metho
dist Episcopal Church today is more big
men in the bishopric.
You can not put a big bishop in a little
man.
One of the most pitiable nights that
any body of Methodist ministers ever be
held is a little man trying to play a big
bishop.
One of the most heartening, inspiring
and commendable things ever witnessed
by preachers Is a big man filling the big
office of a bishop, not a lord over men.
but as a servant of all In his name.
The Methodist Episcopal Church can
stand more such men and such bishops.
Such men and such bishops would mean
like presiding elders, and euch would
mean more to our ministry and member
ship than any man can conceive.
My plea is for a greater temple, and
we cannot build It of cobble-stones and
two-by-twos. I plead for a great church,
and we can not build it of little men in
big offices whether In the pastorate, pre
siding eldership, or bishopric. We have
homes, altars and schools for producing
great men, and we produce them. Let us
hold them, lay hands on them, and givo
them leadership!
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