Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-26
Chosen Bishop for India
Dr. ]. M. Thoburn Elected by
 the Methodist Conference.
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.
An Anti-Liquor Resolution Upheld-BoOl< Agents Also Elected-Sia Sek Ong Gives His Opinion in tho Purest Chinsse-The Color Line Voted Down.

NEW YORK. May 26-The attendance at yesterdays sessions of the Methodist general conference was notably smaller than previ- ously. Bishop Andrews presided. The dis cussion of the report of the committee on temperance and the legal prohibition of the liquor traffic was resumed. A resolution which had previously caused much discus sion, and which states that while the confer ence does not presume to dictate to its people as to their political affiliations, it expresses the opinion that they should not permit them selves to be controlled by party organizations that are managed in the interest of the liquor traffic, was finally adopted.
 A resolution which was adopted at the ses- sion of Thursday evening declared in favor of constitutional prohibitory amendments, and quoted @ committee of United States senators as saying ''to refuse such a hearing is just cause for revolution" Governor Lounsbury, of Connecticut and several other candidates wanted this clause reconsidered, as they thought no member of tho conference should be on record as voting for such a rev olutionary sentiment. The motion tn recon sider, however, was lost
 Rev. Dr. Sanford Hunt and John M. Phil lips were then elected eastern agents to man. age the New York branch of the Methodist Book Concern, and Rev. Dr. Earl Cranston and w. P. Stowe were chosen managers of the Cincinnati branch. These gentlemen are their own successors, and receive a salary of about $4 900.
 The report of the committee on missions, which recommended that missionary bishop be elected for India, was then taken up. Dr. Lanahan again vigorously opposed this, and said he was suspicious of sudden conversions. Dr. Robinson, of India, answered him in scathing tones. "Wise men, said Dr. Robin son, "change their minds often, but fools never. This is an old saying, but evidently true one" He then spoke upon the needs of the missionaries for commander who was not 5000 miles aHay. His speech was elo- quently indorsed by pr. J. E. Wilson. storm of applause broke out when the bishop recognized the Chinese delegate, Tia Sek Ong, and the celestial went to the bar to discuss the question. He spoke in bis own tongue and his remarks were translated by his official interpreter, Dr. Sites. He began with profound salaam to the stage, which was interpreted "Mr President He said that for twenty days he had been sitting in his seat, extending little by little the greet | ings with which he was intrusted, but this was the first opportunity he had had of greet | ing the conference as a body. He brought the love and affection of the little infant church in China to the great mother church and its gratitude for the gift of the gospel l His instructions from his conference were not to favor missionary bishop for China. He did 1Hs aS ng h s sS sgsh e h dn1 and ossy instructions of his conference.
 A substitute to instruct the bishops to make annual visits to India was laid upon the table, and then the report was adopted by a vote of | 2S2 to 151. The election of a missionary bishop for India followed, and Dr. Thoburn was elected, receiving 2S6 votes out of 40. The election for secretaries of the Mission ary society was taken up. While this was in progress Rev. J. NJ. Schumber, a colored delegate from Columbus, Miss, caused a good deal of laughter with speech in which he said that the lightning had struck all around the colored delegates on the floor, but none of | it had struck the colored troops. Some men know how to catch lightning, he said, and the colored delegates wanted to learn how to catch it, too. He then offered resolution setting forth that color should not debar a member of the Methodist church from any of its offices, which was adopted. The con- ference then adjourned.
 James M. Thoburn, D. D., who was elected missionary bishop for India and Malaysia, was born in St. Clairsville, O., on March 2, 1886. He was graduated from Allegheny college, at Meadville, Pa, and began preach. ing in Ohio at the age of 2l. He went to India twenty-nine years ago as a missionary, and, in conjunction with Bishop Taylor, did much to build up the church among the native tribes. He built the largest church in
 India at Calcutta, and preached for five
 years at Simia, the summer capital He was editor for time of The Indian Witness, pub lished at Calcutta, and is the author of s'My
 Missionary Apprenticeship: A History oi
 Twenty five Years Experience in India, 1" and
 of a volume of Missionary Sermons" IT
 consequence of an accident which temper
 arily unfitted him for his work he returned
 to America two years ago.