Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-17


mentioned as private property, will give
variety of illustration and instruction.
PHILADELPHIA Nj. f. CONFERENCE.
The Discussion Over Ministers In Business.
On the opening of the Philadelphia
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church yesterday morning in Union church
the discussion upon the resolution offered
yesterday by Presiding Elder Paxson, rela-
tive to ministers engaging in secular en-
plOyment, was continued.
Rev. T. B. Neely said there was danger
of striking at innocent parties. Must a
minister refrain from doin. anything of a
secular capacity when his living depends
upon it A care should be exercixed how
sweeping resolutions are passed. He
offered the following as substitute,
and said he wanted it understood he
did not own foot of land, but he was
not going to interfere with those who do {:
Resolred, That we express it as our
judgment that preachers should not allow
secular matters to interfere with the faith
full discharge of ministerial duties but that
great care should be exercised to prevent
the multiplication of charges which are un-
able to give a comfortable support to pas
tors, so that ministers shall not be COM
PEELED to resort to secular effort in order to
obtain a living"
Presiding Elder Swindells said the Objec-
ton to the resolution offered on Monday
Was to the form and not to the substance.
For years there has been among the
ministers of this conference" he said, s. a
running criticism on those who divide
their time between ministerial and secular
duties. If a minister is fortunate enough
to receive a legacy in money and buys
United States bonds he has 4 perfect right,
but minister has not right to be
| connected with any secular cOrpOr-
alton; if he does that he compromises
himself as minister. It is damaging to a
church the petty pickering to see how lit.
tie they can pay minister or how much.
Those brethren affected by the resolution
are not those who have received an made
quate support. Some of them like a small
charge on condition that they are allowed
to engage in some secular pursuit. The
class who are affected by this resolution
are those who seem to have great love
for the world and go into secular Occupa-
ton so as to add to their substance. 1t is
damaging to a preacher to adopt any line
of business which is at all secular. 1t is
not mere concession to public sentiment.
When the public press brings home serious
charges to any Methodist preacher, he has
right to prove it false. No one can es-
cape the tongue of public slander, but it
is another thing for man to be charged
with violating vows he has voluntarily
taken upon himself"
DR.. A. Rittenhouse said the conference
was not as widely separated on the ques-
tion as they appeared to be.
"Besides, he added, too much is some-
times said on one side of a question. Oc-
casionally brother engages in secularities
which compromise his moral chara cter.
Again, there are innocent secularities on
which too much time is spent"
- believe" said Rev. Andrew Gather,
"that the whole discussion is entirely un-
necessary. There is the great vow beneath
it all, that ministers will not be secular.
The Discipline and the exercise of it lay a
hand on him. protest against a general
resolution in the matter"
Presiding Elder Cummins thought no
action could be formulated in this matter
to meet any one case. "Allusion has been
made, :" he said, "to the formation of
charges which cannot give the pastors
proper support, but am not here to have
a word said in reference to a brother
having caused such state Of things to
come to pass, except where it was case
of actual practical necessity. Help is just
the thing that is needed. There is a class
of charges represented not only by their
membership, but by a number of outside
friends who will contribute to their sup
port.
Rev. Mr.. Ridgway-"I want to know
how it is in reference to the churches that
are organized right over another one and
cripple it in that way?''
Elder Cummins-"That know nothing
about. I've been in the country SO long l
don't know what is going on here.
Rev. s. NJ. Cooper said the Methodist
church is secular one. There are breth-
rem receiving $4,000 a year who go about
delivering lectures at $50 or 500 night.
One man has just as good right to put out
his shingle as doctor, as another one has
to put out his shingle as a lecturer. 1sup-
pose you know am superanuated. I'm not
worn out, but played out"
"Amen ~ ''Amen ~ went out, which
created shouts of laughter.
reference has been made" continued
Mr.. Cooper, to ministers preferring small
charges in the city to charges in the coun-
try. l want it distinctly understood I'm
not of that kind
Brother Cooper certainly led me to be-
lieve," replied Brother Swindells, " that
he did not want to 60 to the country"
Il certainly never said anything which
could give out such an impression" in
sisted Rev. Mr.. Cooper.
at comes down to question of veracity
between Brother Cooper and myself" said
Elder Swindell, "but l am satisfied that he
gave out that very impression"
Rev. w. L. Mcdowell said it was an
injudicious thing to introduce this resolu-
ton at this time, as charges had been
brought against brethren, and the CON-
mittee should not be embarrassed by any
vote of the conference.
ga Methodist minister should do his
duty said Elder Paxson. 1T is a
question about which there should be no
debate. There is nobody on trial in this
conference for engaging in secular pursuits
but the charge is immortality. It would
give me great satisfaction if the parties
engaged in the trial of the brethren should
bring in verdicts of not guilty in both
cases, for know they will DO what is II ,ht.
There are some people in the travelling !
who are not thought to be pure.