Dodge City times., 1891-10-16
THE METHoDlsTs.

Spicy Debate In the Methodist Ecumenical
Council ut washington-British Politics
CreepI In.
WASHINGTON, Oct 1s.-The fifth day
of the Ecumenical Methodist council
opened with Bishop j. W. Hood of the
African NJ E Zion church of Fayette'
vile, N. c., in the chair.
The topic for the morning session
was. 1.-THE Church and Her Agencies. "
and Bishop r S Foster. of Massachu.
sets, proceeded to address the council
On THE Responsibilities and Qualifi-
cations of the Preacher"
Rev. John Bond, of the Wesleyan
Methodist church, London, followed.
Rev. DR.. Leonard. of New York. mis-
sionary secretary, closed the morning
session in . few remarks condemnatory
! Of the preachers who invited doubt by
/ delivering sermons on Darwinism and
On Huxley.
A recess was then taken.
During the recess the delegates were
received at the White house by presi-
lent Harrison.
When the council re-assembled. Rev.
IL
church, Rochdale, England, took the
chair.
The topic for discussion was THE
religious press and the religious secular
press" Rev. Hugh Price, OF London,
delivered the essay.
Rev. Thomas Shape, of Liverpool,
made q plea for closer relations be-
tween the church and the secular press,
particularly SO if clean and not pub
with the money of corrupt men or cor
rupt influences.
Mr.. Atkinson, an English member of
parliament, thought that as all political
parties had their organs the religious
press should take no account of political
things. In his opinion religious papers
had higher mission than politics. A
man should do the thing he could do
best He was proud of DIR. Hughes as
preacher, but he was not and never
should be proud of him rs an editor.
When DR.. Hughes was invited to
come down from his high place as a
preacher to aid decrepit papers he had
said he would two or three times a
week. When he got down there he
had delivered himself of q sentence that
was almost as near blasphemy as a re-
ligious man could have come.
The gavel fell at this point, but Mr..
Atkinson called out: 1T was merely a
question as to how Jesus Christ would
speak on the Irish question"
Rev. DIR. Balmer. of England, was
grateful to DIR. Hughes, and said it
might be that condemnation by some
speakers was equivalent to the praise
of others. This remark called forth
manifestations of mingled applause
and condemnation, and Mr. Atkinson.
with some spirit, interrupted to ask:
'If that sort of insinuation is to be
brought forward on another brother?"
The chairman restored order and DR..
Balmer withdrew his remark, but i'm
mediately afterward again aroused
Mr.. Atkinson by referring to remark
made by Mr.. Shape to the effect that
one of the English political parties had
ridden into power on beer barrel, and
adding: 1--WE have never learned that
their party was ever divorced from the
beer barrel"
Mr.. Atkinson replied excitedly that
the party never was married to it DIR.
Balmer rejoined that he was 60 years
or age and as competent to form a
Judgment as others. If the gentleman
were in the British parliament he would
be expelled.
At this stage DIR. Morley, of New Zea-
land, raised the point of order that it
was not competent to discuss English
politics in the conference.
Dr. Balmer replied that his illusions
to politics had been called forth by the
preceding speakers He hoped he
would be allowed to occupy his full
five minutes.
II hope you WON'T" was Mr.. Atkin-
sons parting shot But DIR. Balmer
was allowed to speak for a few MIN
utes and confined himself to his sub
ject of the proper functions of the
press. The business committee re-
ported back the memorial touching the
close of the worlds Columbian exposi-
ton on Sunday. and recommended
the appointment of the following
committee to prepare an appropriate
expression of the judgment of
the conference: Bishop C. II. Fow-
ler, ]. II. Carlyle, DIR. L. c.
Curtis, DIR. David Allison. Bishop Fitz-
gerald, DIR. T. B. Stephenson, Bishop
Gaines, Mr.. L. Morgan Harvey. Mr..
Thomas Shape, Mr. Thomas Lawrence.
The motion was carried and the com.
lnittee will meet to-day.
The council then adjourned after a
motion had been read to the effect that
the fraternal delegates from other de-
nominations. including Rev. DIR. T. w.
Chambers, Rev. John Hall and Rev. DIR.
w. N. Markland. representing the Re-
formed Presbyterian churches, would
be received at night in the church