The Penn's Grove record., 1892-05-27
MI. Il. General Conference,

IItStIl wv lONNl lNtSSNN
members. The report presents III
amendment to the discipline providi's
for the proper recognition ard govern
ment of the League. This amendment
provided for Il Board of Control, con-
sistipg of fifteen members, of whom one
shall be a Bishop. 1t also provides 'ha'
the local leagues shall he under Tue
supervision and guidance of the annual
conferences with which they are on
nected. The amendment also proVlue0
Tor the publication of the EP'rorh her
aid, as the official organ. The eNecn'
tive office of the League is located Ut
Chicago. -,
DR.. Pullman, of New York, held
that there were nearly 2OO,OOO young
people in the Methodist Church who be-
longed to the Young Peoples Society
of Christian Endeavor. He urged that
the Conference deal gently and kindly
with these societies.
The Committee on Temperance ana
Prohibition Of the Liquor Traffic has a
report which afirms the %well.known at
titude of the Church on the saloon qaes-
ton, and declares that the Church is IN
harmony with every organization that
seeks to promote total abstinence ana
the overthrow of the liquor trailic.
The report says: ave reiterate tie
language of the Episcopal address OF
1888, which said: The liquor traffic is
so pernicious in all its bearings; 50 mi
micai to the interests of honest trade;
so repuguant to the moral sense; so
injurious to the peace and order of soci-
ETY., that the only proper attitude To-
ward it for Christians is that OF relert.
less hostility. 1t can never he legaIized
without SIM
The report further declares that men
engaged in the manufacture of and sale
of intoxicating liquors ought not to
receive the commercial patronage OF
Christians. The traffic is stOutly con-
demned and the whole licensing plan
for liquor saloons is declared TO be a
means to foster and sustain the dam
aging traffic. The report says in clos
ing that while it is not the province OF
the Church to suggest or dictate rs to
the political proclivitles of any man,
yet the committee declare that no poll
tical party has a right to expect, neitlr-
er ought any party receive the support
of Christian men 50 long as that party
stands committed to the license policy,
or refuses to put itself on record in an
attitude of open opposition to tie sa'
loon.
There was a spirited debate Oyer the
report of the committee Oh temperance
Judge Lawrence held that the report
of the committee was cunningly word-
ed so as to commit the Church to the
support of the Prohibition, or Third
party, indirectly, and, at the same time,
to hit the Republican party a smash in
the same cunning way. In conclusion,
he said: 1.-The Methodist Episcopal
Church cannot afford to endorse the
Prohibition party or any other political
party"
DR.. Evans. Chairman of the Commit
tee on Temperance and Prohibition OF
the Liquor Traffic, got the floor, and
declared that the report was not word
ed in a manner to lend support, 10 any
political party. The report, he said
simply sought to place the Methodist
Church %squarely against the perpetual.
ton Of the liquor traffic. He was warm.
ly ~applauded.
A resolution was passed by a large
majority stating the adoption Of the
committees report did not commit the
Church to any political party.
The Committee on judiciary reached
a very important conclusion upon the
meaning of the word ''laymen" in the
discipline, where it provides for lay re.
presentation. The committee is of the
opinion that the word does not and new
er has included women, but has meant
and does mean men only.
This precipitated a long discussion
and the secretary was showered witt
amendments and substitutes. The mat,
ter finally ended by the adoption of al
amendment prescribed by DR.. Hamil'
ton. 1t provided that the word "lay'
men" as applied to lay delegates must
mean male delegates, and in case thi!
Interpretation of the word is not sus
tanned Ivy two,thirds of the annual con
ference, then the word ''laymen'' shal
mean both women and men, and vii
of course admit the women as lay del
egates. DIR. Hamilton's amendmen.
was adopted by a vote of pa to 160
The result was tumultuOusly applaudet
as it was a victory for the women.
A section providing that all Presi
dents of the Epworth League must b,
members Of the Methodist Episcopa
Church and members of the Quarterl,
Conference was adopted.
After adopting the rule relating t,
the Epworth League the Conference
proceeded to elect DR.. j. +. Berry a.
editor Of the Ep'oorM Hcraid. Tn,
election was practically unanimous.
Strong efforts were made to abollsl
the time limit to pastors appointment
but it is voted down and tile five YEA
limit remains.
The Committee Oh Lay Representa-
tion reported in favor Of equal lay anC
clerical representation in the genera
conference, Il layman and one minis
terial delegate for each A. ministers il
the annual conference. 1t was carried