Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-07
THE PASTORAL LIMIT QUESTION.
An Unfortunate Scandal Involving the
Integrity Of Rev. DR.. Amber.
THE APPOINTMENTS FUR TO-DAY.
4 General Resume Of the Proceedings
Personal Sketches OF Prominent
Attendants.
Mornina Session.

| l. ne morning OF Lh6 0IIn Jay (Soatur0ay
OF the session Of the II. E. Church confer
ence for tie state of Minnesota, dawnet
auspiciously. The preachers, lay dele
gates and members of the church in st
Paul and abroad, gathered early in thc
vsstry of the Jackson Street church anG
discussed thu progress and quality of the
work in little groups here and there. The
progress CT the routine work OF
| the conference was satisfactory
to all. Bishop Simpson was warmly
praised for his celebrity and pronptness
in conducting the services. The brethren
regard his presence at this conference
| with peculiar satisfaction. The fame of
this wonderful man has spread in the
church everywhere and many were anx-
| ious to see and hear and come into contact
with him as they now have the opportuni-
! ty. He is regarded as the foremost ore
| tor and preacher on this continent, and is
certainly the leading man of Methodism
in the world. He is nov getting to be an
old man, as can plainly be seen by his
physical demeanor, but his activity and
strength of mind has not abated one
whit from the full vigor of his
euliar sweetness and capacity, and
it is a pleasure to listen TO him. This
will more than likely be the last confer
enos in Minnesota that the good bishop
will presids over, and the brethren are
making the most OF his presence to gather
from his great store Of experience and
learning.
The election of the delegates to the
general conference of the Methodist
church of the world to be held at Phila-
delphia next May, still continues to be
subject OF comment. There was consider
able pulling and hauling under the sur
face to effect the result wished over which
some feel disappointed no doubt, because
their particular candidate did not obtain the
prize. But al acquissce in the choice and
are compelled to admi. that the men
chosen were as good as could be OBJ
tanned.
The matter Of clerical Limitation to
three years, as the discipline now provides,
still proYokes animated discussion. Par
ticularly since the laity at their meeting
on Friday elected two delegates to this
same general conference and instructed
them, iron-clad, against any change in the
itineracy. The clergy, on the contrary, as
has been recorded in the GLOBE, instruct
ed their delegates TO work for
unlinitation, with certain restrictions.
Tbs good brethren when they have
a first class charge want to have it as long
as possible. 1t is very disagreeable after
one has fairly gotten the ropes IN his
charge, got acquainted, and then to be re-
moved to q strange place. All this, the
friends Of unlimitetion claim, and, with
considerable show Of reason, is detrimen-
tai TO the progress and interests of the
church.
AMBLER DENIES.
The trouble the Rev. re. Amber, of
Sank Center, has gotten Into has raised
considerable CONSERVATION among the
brethren, who do not wish to sully the
records of their public proceedings with
any matter of the description
entailed in such vile scandal
The GLOBE reporter ha. been at some
pains to collect the opinions of the various
members of the conference in this matter
and he has not found one man among them
all who credits the story against the Rev.
Mr.. Amber. That gentleman has been
connected with this conference for years
| and has the reputation of being an honest,
upright, conscientious Christian gentle
man and a preacher of the Gospel. The
man Keith who makes the charge is known
as crank, who has been known to some
of the members for years who
know him to be unreliable. 1t is con-
sidered to be a case of blackmail. Never
theless, thorough and exhaustible inves-
tigation will be made, and if the charges
have the least color of truth the Rev. Mr..
Amber will be seriously disposed of. Mr..
| Amber courts the fullest inquiry and is
certain that charges cannot be sustained
in the least
At o'clock the bishop called the confer
ence to order and the Rev. John Lander
son led in the devotional exercises. The
| following visiting brethren were then in
| troduced: Chaplain McCabe, DR.. Weldon,
DR.. Dana of the PIymoth, Gong. Church st.
Paul, and DR.. Bridgeman the new president
! of Hamline university.
| The Rev. r. c. Amber, of Sank Center,
then obtained the floor, and amid the pro-
foundest hush said that On Thursday last,
| about o'clock IL the evening, charges
| had been preferred against him supported
| by afidaYits to the bishop, accusing him
| OF gross immortality in the light OF God
| and the laws of the land. He asked that
this matter be taken up Immediately and
his character cleared from the dark cloud
which hung over it. Before Gcd he was
Innocent, and would fully vindicate him
self of these foul charges when the confer
ence gave him an opportunity.
It was moved that i committee of five
be at once appointed as committee of
inquiry to find out where and how these
charges originated. If there was any thing
IL them, 1t was time enough then to ap-
point a committee to try the case. The
conference evidently not believing there
was anything but attempted bleokmil or
revenge for fancied INJURIES at the bottom
OF the whole affair.
The committee appointed were: E. R.
Lathrop, .. w. Martin, DR.. z. Miller, Rev.
Mr.. Bilbee and DR.. Van Anda.
In this connection the bishop stated that
he had received certain charges against
the brother, in an envelope, but they were
not supported by afhdayits, but the writer
promised them if necessary.
The committee on Sunday schools made
their report, which did not suit all and an
amendment was added, giving the privi-
lege of using other Sunday school litera-
ture when it was found better than that of
the church. The following is tbs report:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SUNDAY
SCHOOL AND TRACT CAUSE.