The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-26
Conclusion Reached by the COM
mittee on Judiciary Of the
-E.. Conference.
The Time Limit Will Not Be Taken
Or the Term of Pas
tOrate.
Vigorous Den nunciatiOn Of the Liquor
TrAffic--The Church Does Not En-
dorse Any Political Party.

OMAHA, May 25.-Bishop Hurst presided
at Tuesday morning's session of the Metho-
dist conference. The committee OH judici-
ary reached ths conclusion that she word
laymen In the discipline where it provides
for lay representatives, does not include
women. After sharp discussion ths con-
ference decided 70 allow the Epworth league
to have its own special secretary. 1t was
decided to encourage the Young Peoples
Society of Christian Endeavor and other
such organizations to re-srganize ~
branches of the Epworth league, in order to
make the latter the only young peoples
society Of the church. This action, how
ever, was somewhat modified later on the
demands of friends of the Y. p. 3. G. Il.
who want the work of these young follow
era Of the church recognized. After fur
thor action on the rules of the Epworth
league DR.. J. A. barry was chosen editor of
the Epworth Herald.
The report of the committee on timer
ancy, recommending the abolishment of the
five year limit on pastorates, was taken up,
and after long and spirited debate the
conference adopted the minority report,
which recommended the retention Of the
time limit.
At the afternoon session the committee
on temperance reported, with a vigorous
statement of the we'll known attitude of
the Methodist church toward the liquor
traffic, which is denounced as full of
diabolicism." The report declared that
the church accepts no compromise, that the
liquor business must surrender. In con-
clusion the report said that NO party had a
right to the support of Christian men AZ
long as that party favored the license sys-
tenn. Judge Lawrence offered a substitute.
stating that the church did not propose to
take hand in politics, and every man had
| that the report of the committee was cum
| ningly worded 80 az to commit the church
! to the support Of the prohibition or third
party indirectly, and at the same time hit
the republican party a smash in the same
cunning way. In conclusion he said: The
TO endorse the prohibition rarity or any
other political party" Great applause
A motion to lay Judge Law enoe's substi-
tuts on the table failed to pass and prohi-
bitioR leaders ON the committee began to
grow anxious about the fate OF the report.
temperance. declared that the report was
not worded in man uer to lend support to
any political party. The report, he said,
simply sought to place the Methodist
church squarelv against the perpetaation
of the liquor traffic. He was warmly ap-
then defeated, 200 to 241. Then came the
vote upon the report of the committee and
it was adopted.
The conference this morning adopted a
rel ort commendinR the objects of the
Worlds fair, urging that it be closed Sun
days, and recommending the appointment
of a com mmission to make a church exhibit
! n the fnir The renOrt YPG0mmAn Il inc that
ministerial and lay delegates be seated
sepa ratelv at the next general conference
was adopted. The report of the Judiciary
committee to the effect that bishops have
veto power owe the action of the book COM
mittee in all matters pertaining to cleo
tions, but have no right to vote in meetings
OF the book committee, WAS adopted. The
committee on lay re resentation reported
in favor of equal lay and Gle lcal represen-
tation. An amendment to refer the matte'
to annual conferences was defeated by
the votes of Law delegates. The vote or
dered on the adoption of the report of the
committee resulted: Laymen, for 143
against, eleven; min iste 8, for 1877; against
1OS. The chairman held the report adopted
by concurrent vote of both orders. but OBJ
lection was made that it required two
thirds vote.
At the afternoon session the reports of
the committee on eplscnpacy touching the
actions Of Bishops Taylor and Thoburn in
ordaining missionaries and deaconesses was
adopted. 1t practically sustained the ac-
tion of this bishops. A lively contest took
place over the effort to unite the order OF
desconesses and the women's home mis-
sionary society by placing the formers
work under the supervision of the latter.
After lengthy wrnngle the matter was
left exactly where it has been the past fou
years, under the care of the conference
At the evening session the Judiciary com.
mittee repo ted on the question OF
law a. to whether it required two
thirds of a majority of botl
orders, or two-thirds of majority of the
aggregate vote of the conference, to adop
a report when clear ma jority of both or
ders was in favor of adoption. This hae
special reference to the vote on the ques
ton of equality of representation, which
had two-thirds ma jority of tho aggregate
and majority of both orders. The COM
mittee reported an opinion that tho repo'
of the committee favoring equal lay repre-
sentation had been adopted. The repor
was thereupon adopted, and the question
II now uoaa to the animal conference for con.