The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-26
METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE
DIR. Thoburn Elected Missionary Bishop.
Temperance Report Amended, etc.:

Temperance Report Amended, etc.
NEW YoRK, May 25.-Bishop Andrews
presided over to-day's session OF the
General NJ. E. Conference.
The fist business that came up was d
continuation OF the discussion on the
temperance question. The inevitable
wrangle was precipitated by the Ques-
ton Of placing the church on record as
opposed to laws licensing liquor traihc
and in favor OF complete legal prohibi-
ton. The discussion was finally com.
pleted by the passage OF the following
resolution, which was ordered placed in
the discipline OF lSSS:s
"We are unalterably opposed to the
enactment of laws that propose by Ii
cense, taxing, or otherwise, TO regulate
the drink traffic, because they provide
for It's continuance and afford no pro-
lection against its ravagcs. We hold
that the proper attitude OF Christians to-
wards this traffic is one OF uncOmpro-
missing opposition, and while we do not
presume to 9
DICTATE TO OUR PEOPLE
as to their political afliliation We do ex-
press the opinion that they should not
permit themselves to be controlled by
party organizations that are managed in
the interests OF the liquor traffic. We
advise the members OF our church to aid
in the enforcement OF such laws rs do
not endorse the manufacture and sale Of
intoxicants to be used as beverages, and
to this end We favor the organization Of
law and order leagues wherever practi-
cable. We proclaim as our motto, "vol-
untary total abstinence from all intOxi-
cants us the true ground OF personal
temperance and complete legal prohibi-
ton OF the traffic in Intoxicating drinks,
us the duty OF civil governments" The
election OF General Conference officers
was then taken up and ballot was or
dered for a choice OF book agents for
New York. Five names were placed in
nomination: JIM. Phillips and Sanford
B. Hunt, the present agents; Homer
Eaton, of the Detroit Conference; 4. w.
Durston and d. II. Carroll, Of Baltimore.
While this ballot was being counted
another was being taken for Book Agents
Of the Western Book Concern at Cincin-
natl. The nominees for this office were:
Earl Cranston, W. p. Stowe, u. S. Mon
rec, Leroy A. Bell, D. +. Barnes, DIR.
Harrington, of Oregon, ]. p. Hammond,
Robert Forbes and William Keonnicke.
The election OF j. NJ. Phillips and
Sanford B. Hunt as Book Agents for
New York was then announced. The
vote cast was 423, Of which Phillips re-
ceived 362 votes and Hunt 3j4.
Earl Cranston, OF Colorado, and w.
Stowe, OF Wisconsin, were elected West
ern agents.
Pending the count Of this vote the
question us to n missionary Bishop for
India was discussed. DIR. Lanahan
again vigorously opposed such action
and said he was suspicious OF sudden
conversions. DR.. Robinson, of India,
answered him in scathing tones. "'Wise
men, said DR.. Robinson, "'change their
minds often, but fools never This is
an old saying, but evidently n true one."
DIT. THoBURN ELECTED MISSIONARY BISHOP.
He then spoke upon the needs of the
for a commander who was
not 5000 miles away, and his speech
was eloquently seconded by DIR. J. L.
Wilson. Sia Sex Dung, the delegate
from the Foo Chow Conference, made
brief speech in his native tongue in OPP
position to the appointment Of a Mis-
Bishop. Sia Sex 0ung's remarks
were put into English by the Rev. DIR.
Sites. In spite OF the opposition the re-
port was adopted. DIR. Wheeler then
moved that the conference proceed to
ballot for the election Of Missionary
Bishop which was carried. In half an
hour the tellers returned and announced
that the Rev. ]. NJ. Thoburn had been
The election of DR.. Thoburn gave gem
eral satisfaction. There were 40 votes
cast, OF which he received 2SG. The
election OF missionary secretaries TO sue
ceed DR.. James K. Reed and Chaplain
G. G. McCabe was then proceeded with.
The conference ordered the election OF
three, and several names were put in
nomination. When the tellers had re-
tired Bishop Warren announced that the
conservation OF the Bishops.clect would
occur on Tuesday next at noon. A del
eklte uTOSe w Inls luuCtuIc huu lhONcu
to have the exercises take place in two
of the largest Methodist churches. 81
do not think" he said "that we can
afford to have our Bishops conseCratcd
in an Opera House." The brothers mo-
ton was not even seconded, and it was
decided to have the conservation take
place at the Opera House.
Rev. ]. o. Shumpcrt, n cOiored dele
gate from Columbus, Miss, offered a
resolution asking the conference to re-
affirm its decision and ruling that in the
Methodist Church the color line was no
bar to holding office. 1t was unani-
mously adopted, and after Rev. Mr..
Shumpert had served notice on the con-
ference to the effect that although the
lightning had struck all around the col
bred brethren and even the gallery,
docking ut DR.. Newman) [great ap-
plause1 the colorcd delegates were COM
ing again, the conference adjourned.
The result of the ballot will be an
nounCed tomorrow.