Evening journal., 1889-03-27
CONFE FERENCE ADJOURNS.
The Temperance Question
ProvokeS
A HEATED AND EXCITING DEBATE,
During which Some stock Temperance
Pyrotechnics are Exploited for the
Entertainment of the Audience.


reporter was in continued scramble after
motions. resolutions. reports. etc.
The business session was opened at the
usual hour by Bishop Foster.
Revs. WIS. Robinson, J. Il. Wiley, 7.
f. Martindale and J. p. Otis were ap-
pointed committee to draft resolutions
of thanks Of the conference TO their en-
tertainers
J. 2. Ctis chairman read report Of
work done by the conference branch Of
the Women's Foreign Missionary Society.
The figures and statistics showed that
great care had been taken of this great
church auxiliary. The report was
adopted.
The following ministerial members of
the Conference Board Of Trustees were
named and confirmed: 7. E. Martindale,
Dover district; John France and r. II.
Adams, Easton district J. A. B. Wilson
and j. II. Caldwell, Dover district.
The Committee on Sunday Schools. Rev.
Vaughn s. Collins, chairman, presented
an interesting report, which was received
with applause.
Resolutions of sympathy with Rev f.
l.. Hubbard, pastor of New Castle NJ E.
Church, who is now sojourning in
Europe. seeking restoration to good
health, were adopted.
The following preamble and resolution
were adopted;
Whereas, The w. c. T. O., Of the
State Of Delaware is leading in a move
ment TO raise the age OF protection to
children, and to that end have prepared
bill, and are asking the Legislature to
enact it as law, and
Whereas, We believe the passage Of
such law would be in the interest Of
morality and social purity, therefore
Resolved, That we heartily commend
the action Of the w. c. 7. u. in this
matter and would urge the Legislature
Of Delaware to enact the law recon-
mended by it.
Committee on Temperance announced
their readiness to make a report The
conference pricked up its ears. Some
thing out of the usual order was expec-
ted, and they were not disappointed The
committee offered the following resolu-
tions:
Resolved, l. That we deplore with
shame and sorrow the fact that promi-
nent laymen and ministers, and..s'certain
religious periodicals., have given their
influences to any such effort;
H. That it is the opinion of this con
ference that the Board of Bishops aud
the General Conference knew the mean
ing OF the words that they used, and
meant that they should be understood in
their fullest and most literal sense.
Ill That as the declaration Of this
conference we reaffirm the utterance of
the bishops, that 1T, (the liquor traffic
can never be legalized without sin, and
Of the General Conference, that license.
high or low, is vicious in principle and
powerless as a remedy
". That any member of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, high OF low. min
lister or layman, who countenances or
gives support TO the principle of high
license, or any other license measures,
directly or indirectly. by his silence or by
his suffrage, is out of harmony with the
law and spirit of Methodism.
Resolutions V, vi, VII and TX are
conventional.
VIII. That in the present crisis Of the
temperance reform and political party
that does not make the prohibition Of the
liquor traffic the leading issue In its plat
form Of principles is utterly unworthy Of
the support of Christian men or good
citizens.
The reading produced a sensation, and
it became evident in a moment that the
report was launched on a troublous sea.
A motion to take the report seratiam
prevailed. It was moved to lay first
resolution on the table. and the motion
was lost A motion then to adopt
brought on warm debate its warmest
opposer being Rev. Robert Watt, and its
leading champion, Rev. G. l.. Hardesty.
There was a disposition on the part Of
many of the older members of conference
to be non -committal For awhile, how
ever. the air was charged with all sorts
of temperance logic, and as one said sew
eral sorts of illogical notions and national
intemperance The motion to adopt was
lost.
The second and third resolutions were
adopted without debate but when they
STRUCK. the fourth it was screame. r Revs.
r. II. Adams opposed the adoption and
read from the Methodist Discipline to
sustain his position, his Interpretation
being out Of keeping with the ultra tenn
perance sentiment of the conference.
Rev. j. T. Van BurSalow. with a good
deal Of warmth, fought the measure. and
said that while he believed in prohibition
if not obtainable, would compromise on
high license; this brought ont cries OF
"Nol' "Now Rev w. 3. Walton spoke
earnestly against the adoption. Rev
Alfred Smith, pronounced political pro
hibitionist, who made several speeche:
during the last campaign. made forci
BILE and eloquent appeal for the resolu
tion, and claimed that it was in direct
keeping with the utterances Of the Gsn
eral Conference The vote was taken
The motion to adopt was lost by a vot'
of As to 46.
The eighth resolution was made K
read ''one Of the leading issues" and thei
the whole was adopted with preamble b.
unanimous vote.
The report on Conference Mission
showed these distributions: To Whining
ton district, $375; Dover district, $40O
Salisbury district, 81, ,l75 The repor
n was adopted and ordered printed in Con
ference minutes
After the bishop had delivered fare
\ we'll address and read the appointments
which were published in the EvENIN
JOURNAL of yesterday, conference ad
n journed sine die.
$ Bishop Foster left Easton immediatel.
/ for Baltimore by steamer. Many of th
+ preachers left here by the 2.4O train an
tomorrow morning will witness the d.
parture Of nearly all.
Very few changes of any importanc
were made in appointments. only fe'
were returned for the fourth year.
9 The session was very harmonious. ger
orally speaking and the proceedings hay
;, been greatly enjoyed by the town reopl
S and visitors. All the sessions were we
attended.