News and Notes by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 22, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 20.

News and Notes.

By Editor

RELIGIOUS.

—A prominent Jew expresses the opinion that if Christians would exemplify what they claim as Christian teaching, the Jews might soon be converted.

—The Christian Intelligencer remarks that the real work of every denomination is performed by a minority, and it will be found that of this minority nearly every family reads the denominational paper.

—The African M. E. General Conference, now in session at New York, has deposed Bishop Hilliary of California, on charges of financial dishonesty, drunkenness, and other immoral conduct, preferred by his own church in San Francisco.

—There is a Bible still preserved, written on palm leaves, in the University of Goettingen, containing 5,376 leaves. Another Bible, of the same material, is at Copenhagen. There were also, in Sir Hans Sloan's collection, more than twenty manuscripts, in various languages, on the same material.

—In the Methodist General Conference the Committee on Itinerancy have reported a resolution that direct negotiations between the pastor and churches in advance of making appointments by the bishops, are contrary to the spirit of itinerancy. The committee found it inexpedient to take action as to licensing women to preach or ordaining them.

—The Protestant churches are represented to be making rapid headway with religious work in Mexico. The Presbyterians have fifty-six missionaries, over 7,000 communicants, and 400 children in their mission schools. The Episcopalians report forty-five places of worship, 1,500 communicants, and 400 scholars in their mission schools. The Methodists have eighty-six missionaries and teachers, and a large number of members in their churches. Other denominations are meeting with equal success.

—The Mormon missionaries are said to be making great headway among the lower classes in Calhoun and other counties in Mississippi. A Chattanooga, Tenn., special of the 17th inst., says: "To-day Elder Roberts left for Mississippi to attend the first conference ever held in the South. He states that at this conference it will be decided whether annual State conventions will be held. He favors them, saying that the church is growing with such marvelous rapidity in the South that such conferences have become necessary."

—A prominent part of the business of the Methodist General Conference at Philadelphia was the election of four bishops. A motion to fix the time to proceed with the election brought out a lively discussion. The Bible Banner says: "Rev. Dr. R. M. Hatfield, of Rock River Conference, got the floor, and spoke decidedly, directly charging that unchristian and improper methods had been and were being resorted to in order to bring about the election of certain persons to the episcopacy. A dead silence prevailed as he proceeded. 'I am deeply impressed,' he said, 'when I consider how seriously the reputation of the church is assailed by what is done in the election of bishops. Time was when the delegates spent two or three hours in prayer and then cast an informal vote for bishops. Alas! those days are no more.' The speaker protested against 'caucusing, log-rolling, and wire-pulling.' Bishop Andrews, who was presiding, looked amazed, and there were cries of 'order' on every side, but the Dr., turning and facing the conference, continued: 'My brethren, the eyes of hundreds of thousands of Methodists in the United States are turned to this body, and there is nothing that will so interest all Methodists as this very subject of electing bishops. Proceed to it, therefore, in a manner that will not shame all persons who love the church. Let us take up the election at the earliest day, so that there shall be no opportunity to prolong these outrageous methods.' Cries of 'shame' and 'order' rose on every side; but the Dr., raising his voice, exclaimed: 'It is an outrage, I say, that a man can hardly get out of a car here before he is button-holed by scheming delegates and all kinds of combinations suggested.' Here was a storm, a fourth of the conference on their feet crying 'order.' When Dr. Baldwin had spoken to the question of order, the bishop quietly declared: 'The speaker is not out of order.'" The following were subsequently chosen as bishops: Rev. Dr. Ninde, of the Detroit Conference; Rev. Dr. Walden, of the Western Book Concern, Cincinnati; Rev. Dr. Mallalien, and Rev. C. H. Fowler, D. D.