Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-16
A LIVELY DISCUSSION.
The Liquor Question Causes Considerable
Excitement In the Conference

Il
A EEMBER OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT TX
CITES THE HDIGyATIoS OF THE PRIMITIVE
| ELECTROMAGNETIC CALLS THEM DIrosTEEs AMI
| REFUSES TO APoLoGIZE--A SCENE OF DISORDER.
| For two hours and quar- ter yesterday after
neon the ecumenical conference was as staid
and respectable a body ono could wish to
see. For fifteen minutes it was much more
\ like bedlam broken loose. The session lasted
| for two hours and a half and the closing scenes
were as disorderly as any that have married any
convention held in this city in years. The
| trouble was brought about by that pugnacious
representative IF British politics, the Hon. j.
| W. Farmer Atkinson, VI. p, who has distin-
guisbed himself on u number Of occasions since
the conference convened. In the course Of an
address that he made he was called to order by
a representative o. Primitive Methodism and
this started him Little pleasantries like STU
pld donkey, and foolish man. fell from him
rapidly, while hundreds were on their feet,
some calling for adjournment. aome for the
suspension of the offending member, while
others shouted that they would withdraw from
the conference unless the offensive words were
withdrawn the Englishmau himself sus-
pended When the session adjourned all sorts
OK things were Threatened and no one could
tell what would happen this morning.
The discussion on temperance proceeded
quietly all the afternoon until the very last,
when Mr.. Lie happened to quote Wesley in
support of one Of his statements.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
Mr.. Atkinson then got the floor and insisted
| that Mr.. Lie had misquoted Wesley in that
LIE prohibited only dram drinking. As for
himself he was as good Bible Christian as
anybody. and he was a primitive Primitive
Methodist, too.
Mr.. Atkinson went on to speak OF the Prin1-
tive Methodists in connection with their name,
to which he said they were no more entitled
than any other imposters. This naturally stirred
up the indignation of the delegates from that
| church. One OF them rose to point of order
| tina. the speaker had called the Primitive
| Methodists imposters and wanted those words
| retracted Mr.. Atkinson denied that he had
| offended, and begged the presiding officer to
! knock him down." meaning to rap the in
| terrupter to order. This led TO great con-
fusion. The Primitive Methodists were all on
| their feet demanding retraction. and threat
eniEg TO withdraw from the conference.
WOULD NOT APOLOGIZE.
DR.. Stephenson and other Wesleyans were
beseeching Mr.. Atkinson 20 withdraw his re-
mark and apologize. bu: he bluntly refused to
do so, asserting that he had nothing to apollo
gize for, and that if the delegates would not
consume his time he would explain. As they
persisted in their demands for retraction he
I
| terms, and seeing no chance of restoring har-
mony, the presiding officer. who had exhausted
every effort to calm the troubled waters. de-
clared the session adjourned, and the delegates
passed out of the church after singing the
doxology.
EVILS OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
The evils of the liquor traffic occupied the
attention of the ecumenical conference at its
afternoon session yesterday at the Metropolitan
~ n Al
beginning of the meeting. but at that time,
VIXEN the devotional exercises we're conducted,
there we're not more than 100 of the delegates
present, though the portions of the church set
apart Tor the general audience were very well
flied.
bishop wayman of the A. NJ. E. church was
the presiding officer of the afternoon and the
session was opened with hymn and devotional
exercises were conducted by Rev. T. W Hender-
son OF the A. NJ. L. church of Springfield, ILL.,,
and Rev. A. NJ. Green of New Orleans, La.
Prominent among those in the audience was
eirs. George II. LaFetra, president Of the Dis
trict W. c. t. T., and many other members of
the union, who took the closest interest in the
proceedings.
The Church and the Temperance Reform
was the subject of an earnest essay by Rev. p
ii. Mahon, DID,. of the Methodist church
south. in which the speaker took the ground
that the liquor traffic was the greatest and most
prolific source of evil In modern times and said
that the church should be satisfied with
nothing less than a complete abolition OF
this ubiquitous traitic, and especially of the
loon.
There was but little business to OCCUPY the
attention OF the conference. the only matter of
moment in this line being report Of the bust
ness committee making number of changes in
the rules governing debate. These were
adopted unanimously and the conference pro-
ceeded at once to listen to the papers that had
been Presented.
Or. Mahon in his essay said that the annual
cost of liquor to the people of the United States
is $500 100000. This exceeds all that is ex-
pended in a single year for bread and meat to-
gether by S90.0O0.0O0.
The church must serve the cause of temper
ance. l. BY total abstinence on the part of
the ministry and membership of the church
from all participation in the liquor traffic and
from the use OF ardent spirits except in cases
Of necessity. The church should be satisfied
with nothing less than the entire abolition of
the liquor traffic as Ii is carried on.
But the church should assume no political
attitude with respect to prohibition. The
church In its official or organic capacity has
nothing to do with politics. Ii is to the interest
of both religion and temperance reform that
the church should hold herself alOof from all the
political and party alliances. The church must
seek to mold public sentiment by her system of
instruction, and give moral tone to society SO
as to make prohibition both possible and prac-
IL,
relations az citizens, should seek to obtain such
practical legislation on the part OF the state as
shall forever abolish the saloon.
There Is no consistency in praying the Lord
TO give US good rulers and good government
and then cast ones ballot for member OF the
saloon element because he happens to be the
nominee of this or that political party. Such
is the power and influence of Christianity in
these LANDS that if all church members would
withdraw their entire patronage from the
liquor traffic the question would well nigh be
solved.
RESULTS OF THE DRINK HABIT.
Mr.. Thomas Worthingtou, ESQ.,, Of wigan
Independent Methodist and Free Gospel
Church. followed DR.. Mahon. In character
izing the drink habit as the cause of moro evil
and vice than all other causes together he said
that he was fortunate In never having tasted
the accursed liquor. Not having 1imothy's
stomach he had never tried Timothy's remedy.
but he had noticed that those that had limo,
thy stomach did not find that his remedy
cured, but that 1t was necessary 10 keep on APP
plying the remedy.
III am not" said NJ. Worthington, lone of
those who believe in cburchmen standing aloof
from politics. for II these took more interest in
public matters we in England would hear less
of corruption on this side Of the water and of
shameful dcings in your house of Congress
house Of Senate and congress Of states" Loud
cries of Ear, Ear
From this Mr.. WOrthington went on to make
feryent attack upon intemperauce
IN the course of which he said that
tDtore-ayare refarm pneapt IN hin, ,rlo n.