Methodist Bishops Declared Non-Effective
Methodist preachers of Philadelphia at a recent weekly meeting entered a unanimous protest against the enforced retirement of Bishop Foss by action of the Methodist General Conference at Los Angeles, Cal. By a secret ballot of the conference, Bishop Foss and four other bishops — Andrews, Liallalieu, Vincent, and Walden — were declared “non-effective,” in other words, superannuated, or to have outlived their usefulness. One other bishop — Merrill — had the prescience to be retired by his own request; but it is usually the case that the victims of this turning-down vote come to the session without any consciousness that they have become “non-effective,” and the decision of their brethren to that effect is a painful surprise, which must often carry with it a deep sense of injustice. It is stated on seemingly good authority that the Methodist Church is coming under the rule of “young blood,” which demands young preachers and youthful church officials. A significant feature of the conference was the proposed lowering of the standard of church discipline touching worldly amusements, making abstinence from these hereafter to be only advisory instead of mandatory.