Morning journal and courier., 1885-04-08
THE N. Y. EAST CONFERENCE.

Memorial Tributes Read I'm Honor of
Departed Brethren-A Blast For
Temperance-Protest Against Secta-
rian Discrimination BY Law.
Memorials were read at Monday afternoons
session of the conference at Hartford fol-
lows: OF Rev. Robert Cooling, born in En-
gland in 1918, died December 3, 1884; of
Rev. Julius Field, born in 1898; of Rev.
James w. Horne, LII. D., who was killed by
the cars at Southport last September; of
Rev. George W. Hughes, born at Newark, N.
J., in 1851. At this point the chairman,
Rev. Joseph Smith of Middlefeld, called DR..
AS. Hunt to the chair and in a broken voice
stated that telegram called him to tho
death bed of favorite daughter and he must
be excused. Mr. Smith has a son and two
daughters, all of whom have reached maturi-
ty and were on the previous morning report
ed in health. No details of his sudden loss
ceuld be gathered from friends in the confer
ence. The last memorial was that of Rev.
Cyrus Silliman, who was born in Bethlehem
and was licensed to preach in 1914.
The discussion of the temperance question
at the evening session was interesting. Rev.
William G. Steele presented various facts on
the subject. After citing the fact that the
Catholic and Episcopal churches were doing
a very earnest work in this direction, he in
troduced Rev. DR.. Funk, senior partner of
the publishing house of Funk & Wagnall's,
New York. The speaker said the first work
against liquor selling was moral suasion; the
next the passage of laws to help; the next to
get popular sympathy. He said that the
greatest need for this country is national
prohibition. More liquor had been sold since
the beginning of the temperance movement
forty years ago than before. Were the
amount of liquor drank now less or no more
than forty years ago we might take heart,
but there is one-quarter more. The drink
ing of liquor has increased three times as
fast as the population. The amount
of liquor sold in 1888 was over 800
per cent. of what it was forty years ago,
but the population has increased but a little
over 200 per cent. As collateral proof DR..
Funk stated that the number of bartenders
in 1870 was IA, 362, in 1880 there were over
sc, 600, adding eff for every two steps for
ward we go three steps back how long will it
take us to get to the top of Prohibition hill?"
Continuing, he said that in Germany if any
where beer drinking should drive out
whisky drinking if there is anything in the
counteraeting theory. The figures show the
exact opposite Alcoholic mastery is the
degradation of the peasantry, and we must
devise means to overthrow it or it will de-
-stroy us. He said that the local laws were
imperative in almost every instance, and in
conclusion said that the time had come for
q dropping of all lesser schemes and in devo-
ton of the best classes of society to this ques-
| ton.
The closing address was made by Rev.
Isaac j. Lansing, Of Brooklyn, whose
| caustic remarks and telling hits created much
/ applause.
Yesterdays session was opened with a
prayer meeting led by Rev. Mr.. Barnhart,
| formerly of this city. The conference ses-
sion was attended by very large gathering
| of ladies and laymen. The session began
at o'clock with prayer by Rev. DR.. Kelley,
| of Middletown.
The ministers missed the well known face
of Rev. Mr.. Pardington, pastor of the church.
| 1t was explained that Mr.. Pardington had a
| severe cold and that pneumonia was threat
| ened. At present he is confined to his bed
and physician is in constant attendance.
Disciplinary questions were first taken up
after the conference opened.
Albert S. Haggerty, Willis A. Cooper and
| Jay A. Churchill are to remain on trial.
Rev. Dr.. Beach of Wesleyan university
| made very forcibe address on the condi-
| ton of the university, and his remarks were
| listened to with close attention.
At 1890 O'Clock the order of the day
the conference endowment fund for the SUI
perannuated ministers of the Methodist
church-was taken up and thoroughly dis
cussed by Rev. DIR. Buckley. A committee
was appointed to get subscriptions from those
present. In less than twenty minutes 50, 005
was subscribed. A collection was then
taken, by which the sum mentioned was in
creased to 5000.