The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-05-31
GENERAL ALCONFERBNCE
OF METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

, AsJoura' Sine Dle-Ths Color Qa.ation AsAl'
Coma up-Ths COlor.d Brother rl.as.d-LAy
z NJ Rsprcssntatiou-rho subJ,ct Of divorce.
Blahop SimpsoA's Parting Words.
Special Correspondence Of the L,itllioeneer.
PniLADELPHlA, May 29.-The haste with
which the conference rushed through itt
business during the last week Of its session
was in marked contrast to the slow and
easy manner in which the first and second
weeks were allowed to slip away. At the
beginning time seemed 10 have no value,
whereas, ut the close, the moments appear.
ed 10 be as precious aa tho gold dts! 10
which some one has compared them.
Buslnees, toward tho laat, was done moi
only hastily, but in an obviously perfume
tory spirit. The impression made upon
the spectators was that the brethren stuck
to their work from no loveei.A, but simpl,
because q decent regard for their obligations
necessitated such sacrifice on their part.
Many, as the end approached, had impera.
tive calls to return home. 1t looked
on Wednesday morning as though
before the day was over, the body would
become deiunct for want OF 3 quor1m.
Apprehension Of this was what moved DR..
Dynett 10 present the resolution which DR..
Bingham characterized as infamous. This
motion, which was passed, provided that
the last act OF the conference should be the
calling Of the roll and that the names Of
those found to be absent without leave
should be printed as angort OF black list in
all the Church Advocates Subsequently,
when tho danger OF lacking quorum had
been safely passed, this motion was recon.
eidered and rescinded, the final result be-
ing that the conference got through with
all its work by about ton o'clock on Wed.
nesday night, the presiding bishop an.
nouncing at that time that the last report
had been considered and acted upon.
r THE COLOR QUESTION.
Contrary to expectation the Conference
did not succeed in dodging the trouble
some color question. When tho report Of
the Freedmen's Aid Committee, leaving
the matter Of mixed schools and churches
to be settled according to the sentiment
prevailing in different localities was adopted
it WAS thought that this bone OF conten-
tion had been quietly laid aside for al least
another fohr years. But, like BanQuo's
ghost, this delicate matter would not down,
and the body was forced yesterday to come
squarely up to the scratch with reference
to it. Tho vote was upon the report Of the
committee on the state OF tho church., de-
claring it to be the policy Of the denom;.
nation TO not exclude any person
from its schools or places OF worship
on the ground OF race, color or previous
condition. The ordering Of the previous
question cut of debate, but it did not pre-.
vent the chairman OF the committee, Gov.
r. E. Psttison, Of Pennsylvania, from ad.
yocating the adoption OF the report. This
gentleman, who, though a Democrat,
had, given the casting vote for the report
in the committee, spoke with considerable
warmth, and was applauded. The equal
rights OF the colored and white races. were,
be said. ne law Of both the State and the
church, and it would be cowardly in the
conference to shrink from indorsing this
principle. :.'.f', -. r r. = :. ~
GREAT EXCITEMENT.
The greatest excitement prevailed. Many
felt that the conference was on The verge
Of a calamity, but many more thoughtiit
was about to put iteeli on record in favor
Of ono Of the mcst righteoua causes Of the
age. A substitute by Dr.. Howes, OF Ken
lucky, declaring that no action WAS needed
in the premises, was laid on the table, and
motion for indefinite postponement met
the came fate. A white layman from the
South called for vote by orders, but the
call was not sustained. A minister from
the same section, Rev. 7. @. Carter, of
Chattanooga, Tenn, made a similar de-
mand, saying, with great warmth, that if
the report was adopted ''the South woulo
bleed" but this requeet also failed. Amos
Shinkle, Esq.. Of Kentucky, called for the
yeas and maya, but as less than hundred
rose to sustain this call, hand vote
was taken, the result being the adop.
tion Of the report by large majority.
;;aLEEruL coLoRRD DELEGATES. sp
The colered delegates were in high glse
over this action. One OF them remarked
to the writer that there was no disposition
on their part to force themaelvesin into white
schools and churches; it was the principle
involved that they cared for. The white
workers in the Southern field were, on the
other hand, greatly detected over what had
been done, particularly the leaders in that
section. DR.. Rust, corresponding eecre-
tary OF the Freedman's Aid Society, pre-.
eminently the friend Of the colorsd man,
took very doleiul view OF the prospect.
To the presiding bishop he was heard to
remark, at the close Of tho session, "We
were getting along nicely down there,
building up nice work., and now; |
by this action. we are thrown back in
our operations l cannot tell how much. ,,
The worthy doctor seemed utterly disconso.
late. So also did Rev. Mr.. Carter, the ed.
itor Of one Of the Southern Adrocaie.
fTo-morrow, , said he, "every daily in the
Southern States will print the news in
glowing headlines, that the Northern
Methodist Church favors mixed schools
and every form Of social equality. How
they will gloat over it! TIE action Of the
conference will cause us no end OF embar.
rassment." Other white workers in that
section, it should be stated, treated the
matter lightly. Dr. Ford, Of Arkansas,
said it amounted to ss much .'as resolution
declaring that the NJ. E. Church was in
favor ol all its members regularly saying
their prayers" -4.:,-7'';'
LAY REPRESENTATION. =,
The movement for introducing lay rep.
rooor, ok;v,r ;oko tbo o,pua1 oo,
came to griet,; The proposition was to
send six laymen to these bodies from each
presiding elders district, such delegates to
be elected annually by the distric. stew.
ards, and to have equal voice with the
miniatera excepting in three things, viz ,
the admission Of young men into the min.
istry, the passage Of ministerial character
and the election Of ministerial delegates 10
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