Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1903 — MERRILL MAY RETIRE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MERRILL MAY RETIRE.

Tenerable Preacher May Aak to Be Believed from Active Work, Bishop Stephen M. Merrill, senior bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, probably will be relieved from active work, according to reports in

church circles. The bishop is said to have told his friends that he had no desire to continue in the work ae an active officer of the church, and it is thought he will aak to be classed as an advisory bishop in the report of the episcopal committee to th<r general conference. Bishop Merrill is 78 years old, and has been in the Methodist ministry for more than half a century. He is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, received his appointment as a Methodist preacher from the Ohio conference in 1846, and was made a bishop in 1872. As a writer of books on religious subjects he la well known. It is said that he wishes mare time for literary work.

BISHOP MERRILL.