St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-03-30
Almost Provoking a Vocal
Riot at the State Con-
vention.
The Cold Shoulder Given to
Rev. S. G. Smith, Who
Made a Call.
Having Locked Horns, the Dr.
vines Kiss and Make Up
at the Banquet.

third and last day of the Methodist state
convention, was unusually sparse to the
great disappointment of the pastors.
Rev. Peter Clare opened the exercises
with his paper on Spiritual Culture"
and was followed by Rev. J. F. Stout,
on paper Oh "How to Mai ntain Spirit
uality in the Churches"
Hon. A. G. Dunn read carefully
prepared paper on the legal status of
women in the Methodist church, and
later he was requested to prepare an
article from the paper for publication.
He thought women should be entitled
to as many privileges as the men and
saw no reason why they should not fill
any Office of the church, even that of
bishop.
It. W. Wallace and Rev. W. N. Nc
Kinley, ID. d., discussed ''Hamline Uni
versity and Our Duty Toward It." They
told OF its origin and present condition
and worth.
Rev. Arthur Edwards, editor of the
Northwestern Christian Advocate, read
paper on "Our Churches, Papers and
Literature" He said that the total
sales by church publishing houses since
1870 bad amounted to $144, 900, 900, and
the M. E. book concern had sold one
third of the total; that last year about
S2,O00,O0 worth OF business was done.
he thought the concern would soon be
bankrupt if the prices of books and pa
pers were reduced one half and the re-
tired ministers be cared for in full from
the fund.
Hon. A. G. Hickman spoke briefly ON
the subject.
Rev. Mr.. Beebe received a free will
Offering of 500 for the benefit of the
family of +. Il. Killian, who recently
died at Winona.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The crowd in attendance at the after
noon session completely filed the
church edifice, and some time was de-
voted to singing before the regular eX-
ercises began.
During a slight lull the main door
opened slowly and the familiar figure of
Rev. Samuel G. Smith, who, as every
one knows,
LEFT TIE METHODIST FOLD
same time ago. appeared in the dim
light of the church.
Under his eyebrows, left and right
He glanced. The old flag met his sight,
And DER his face expressions changing
AS queer and doubtful as the shades of
night.
DR.. Smith advanced slowly, though he
was met by no friendly greeting OF
warm hand grasp, and twas plain to see
he felt somewhat as Napoleon did on
lonely st. Helena. Many saw him, and
significant expressions were exchanged
by those i'll the vicinity of the reverend
gentleman. He stopped when half way
in and gazed about him vacantly. Spy
ing vacant corner seat very near the
entrance, he quietly slipped into it
and fiercely -strOked his mustache.
No one paid any attention to him. and
after listening for few minutes, he
disappeared as quietly as he came.
''This convention can do nothing re-
garding Mr.. Smith," said one of the
ministers at the reporters table. "The
only thing for him to do, and he will do
it in all probability, is to quietly with
draw from the church. If he does not
do this, some action will of course be
taken in the general conference
Rev. Robert Forbes, ID. d., opened the
exercises with talk on the several
questions, "Do the interests of Method
ism require any legislation in regard to
the Episcopacy?" Should bishops be
diStricted?" ''IS the transfer power
abuSed?"
81 am pleased to be permitted to say
something on this topic" he said. Il
am not supposed to know much about
transfers, for l have never asked for
one. | know l should be grieyed if l
asked for and didn't get it. The church
would also be grieved if it asked for my
transfer and didn't get it. | have
- H. 10 int,
in any state, and the church has right
to ask it. l think the territorial
BISHOPS ABUSE THE TRANSFER
powers, and few people out here have
run wild on that subject. No man can,
by unanimous consent, be appointed to
any church in the state, consequently
they look about for some person that
no one knows and cannot object
to. mean nothing personal in these
remarks. say this thing has gone far
enough and it's time to call halt. |
am not bishop. If were one perhaps
I'd make tranSferSsas often as they do
now. 1t will have to be checked and
will be some day.
''Its positive crime the way preach
erS are talked about in boards and an
outrage on common decency. Here in
church of 400 members, thirty men con-
stitute the board and elect themselves
to suit themselves. The other $40
have nothing to say-they have no voice
they are disfranehised. When the
day comes that the church elects its
own officers, then will they have right
to speak. The rank and file of our peo-
pie are not in sympathy with the thing.
The general conference will probably
legislate that the Methodist people are
capable of self-government. Then the
evil will be remedied. Every church
has right to a preference. We have
practically run wild out here.
1.-THE bishops of our church are usu-
ally good men. The Methodist church
has been a great power in the world and
will continue to be. We have reached
a point where we are compelled to face
these questions. 1t is question
whether we will keep on in the same
old rut Or meet the issues with desired
and demanded changes. There is too
much power in the hands Of bishop to
be entrusted to any one man. There
are thirteen bishops to 100000 people,
and they have the power to change the
ministers from any point to another, as
they see fit. l heartily favor the
ELECTION OF BISHOPS QUADREN-
NTALLY.
They should be elected for four years
and then go back for reelection. There
are bishops now who could not be elect
ed if they came up for election, and yet
they are there for life. They come
around occasionally and can only in a
measure know anything about the
place. They come here once in ten
years. look over the ground, and say
how many districts we shall have. What
do they know about it? They should
stay in one district and, if reelected, be
moved along to another. 1t is the great
est evidence Of greatness to have power
and use it wisely and well''
This speech, elequently delivered,
produced quite an impression on the au-
dience. Later it proved to have stirred
up quite a hornets nest.
President Wyman tpoke-''I heartily
indorse some things the gentleman has
said, but disagree with him as to others.
I. .xx@& Rx.1 4f,0