The Muskogee Cimeter

BOARD OF BISHOPS MEETS IN SEMIANNUAL SESSION.

Throngs at Bethel Church—Business Meetings Behind Closed Doors.

Baltimore.—The semiannual session of the board of bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal church, which was held here at Bethel church on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 15 and 16, was attended by many prominent ministers from various sections of the country. Many of the candidates for various positions within the gift of the church were also in attendance.

At the opening session the sermon was preached by Bishop Evans Tyree. During the two days the bishops discussed behind closed doors various matters of interest to the church as well as the text of their quadrennial address to the general conference.

A big reception was tendered the visiting ministers and prelates Thursday night. Addresses were delivered by Governor Goldsborough, Mayor Preston, Councilman Harry S. Cummings and the Revs. A. L. Gaines, C. H. Stepteau, P. J. Jordan, R. E. Ford and Harvey Johnson, the latter representing the other denominations of the city.

Bishop J. Albert Johnson, who has been in charge of the work of the denomination in South Africa since 1908, delivered an illustrated address on "South Africa" at the closing session.

At the various public meetings speeches were delivered by the following prominent speakers: Professor J. R. Hawkins, commissioner of education for the denomination; Financial Secretary John Hurst, who is prominently mentioned in connection with the bishopric; Secretary of Missions W. W. Beckett, whose friends are pushing him for the bishopric; G. W. Allen, editor of the Southern Christian Recorder, who has the backing of Georgia for the bishopric; F. N. McDonald, editor of the Western Christian Recorder; R. R. Wright, editor of the Christian Recorder, for which position he is a candidate for re-election and for which Dr. A. L. Gaines of Baltimore is an aspirant; J. N. Boss, pastor of Metropolitan church, Washington, whose friends are urging that he stand for election to the bench of bishops; B. F. Watson, secretary of church extension; Ira T. Bryant, secretary of the Sunday School union; Professor H. T. Kealing, editor of the A. M. E. Review; R. C. Ransom, who is mentioned as the successor of Professor Kealing; W. A. Lewis of the Connectional Preachers' Aid society, J. C. Caldwell, secretary of the Allen Christian Endeavor league, and Bishop L. J. Coppin, whose work includes the Baltimore conference.

The arrangements were in charge of a committee of the Baltimore conference, consisting of Revs. L. S. Flagg, C. H. Stepteau, J. W. Norris, M. F. Sydes, A. L. Gaines, R. E. Ford, C. H. Murray, P. W. Wortham, J. G. Martin, D. G. Hill, pastor of Bethel church, and others.