The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-06
METHODISTS In CONFERENCE.
WHAT RAISED BREEZE IN THE NEW
FORK BODY'S MEETING.
shall Ministers Use Tobacco t-what nm IT,
rcvercnt Observer Noted-A Candidates.
Unexpected Copfession of Some Douhts.


Seven candidates stepped forward and ar
ranged themselves in n row in front of the
Bishop. in response to the disciplinary ques-
ton as to who were to be " admitted into full
connection" in the New York Methodist Con-
ference yesterday. Several intcrrogatorics as
to doctrine qualifications. &C., were made by
the Bishop and satisfactorily answered by the
candidates. and then member Of the Confer
ence proposed the question whether they used
tobacco. Shall ask the question p the Bishop
inquired. vote was taken and II was decided
that the question should be propoundcd. The
Bishop then solemnly asked dach candidate, in
dividuay. DO you use tobacco in any form p
There was profound silence in the assemblage.
Six of the candidates answered No." but the
seventh mcekly replied. Il have smoked one
cigar within the past year. | did it to please n
friend, WHO invited me to smoke The Bishop
could not conceal a smile ut the meek confess
sion. Some members of the Conference laughed
and others applauded.
not ncapacitate minister for efficient Chris
tan work. and an irrevercnt lookcr-on noticed
in the church in which the Conference was sit
ting mt least dozen spttOons which the care
ful sexton had provided.
member inquired whether the candidates
favored the itinerancy, All the candidates. ex-
colt one answered in the affirmative. The dis
sentcr created some excitement In the assem-
nlN' ny Nbitlll Buying. L ndN' SnD1t Npubl OF
the wisdom OF frequent changing OF pastors
from one church to another There are in
stances in which the itinrrant system shoIld
not be- carried into effect. God helping me.
however. will obey the laws OF the Church I'M
al they are changed"
4 Brothcr-I would like to know It the candi.
dates are in tho habit of kneeling when they
pray.
Another voice-That question ought to be put
to every member of the Conference. lScnsa-
toni
The question was not pressed upon the can
dtdutcs hut they voluntarily said that they
usually knclt when they prayed.
Tho candidates having been declared duly
qualified were admitted to the Conference. They
ara George ". Smith. James J.. Buxton. OrV 10
4. Merchant William W. Peters, james II.
Cornish, Edwin Hunt. and Albert stephens.
\ brnczr was raised when tn" church indeht-
edness question was presented for discussion.
one brother said cNcitedy that IL was htgh time
the building Of costly church cditres on credit
hy congregations and then coming to Confer
cncc with an affecting story and asking aid To
pay OF mortgages was stopped. He held that IL
nchurch could not stand on It's own bottom II
should 20 down. The duty OF the Conference
was 10 look out for the spiritual. and not the
| iinnncial interest Of congregations,
There WIS long debate, at the close OF which
| all WAS cNt,nded 20 cmbarrasss ed churches.
The Rry. l.. II. King. manager ol tho " Con-
| Terence Parsunn Fund reported that many
| members and subscribers had quit the church
| without paying their substitution. He said.
They have kicked up their hcels and gone