St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-25
Opinion OF the Methodist Con-
ference Committee on 5
Judiciary.
A Minority, by a Shrewd
Move, Secures Retention
Of the Time Limit.
Wild. Scenes Follow Adoption
Of the Report on Tenn
pepanee.
DR.. Mcpherson Quietly Lee
lures the Presbyterian
Assembly.

OMAHA, May 24.-Bishop Hurst oc-
cupied the chair in the Methodist gen.
/ on judiciary reached a very important
conclusion upon the meaning of the
work ''layman" in the discipline where
it provides for lay representation. The
committee is of the opinion that the
word does not and never has included
women, but has meant and does mean
men only.
The Epworth league matter was dis
cuSSed at length, lively debate ariS-
ing over an effort to deprive the league
of secretary of Its own. The special
secretary wing of the conference, how
ever, won the day.
A section providing that there should
be no effort made to disturb the Chris
! tan EndeavOr and other Young peO-
pies societies in the church for the pur-
pose of planting Epworth leagues in
their stead, was stricken out, by vote
or 2O3 for to 164 againSt-a decided vic
tory for the stalwart Epworth league.
A motion was Immediately made to
have the section which had been
stricken out attached as a foot note.
DIR. Kynett, DR.. Leonard and several
others made ringing speeches in behalf
of the Christian Endeavor society.
There were thousands of loyal young
people, they said, in the young peoples
societies connected with the Methodist
church who were perfectly loyal to the
church, and they should be recognized.
The section was added as foot note.
A Minister'S Gift.
Chaplain McCabe aroused the greatest
applause of the day. He arose to a
question of privilege, and announced
that he had just received subscription
of $4,000 to assist in the erection of a
Methodist headquarters in the city of
Rome. The gentleman who gave so
literally was Rev. q. A. Reeder, of the
East Ohio conference.
A section providing that all the pres
idents of the EDWOrth league must be
members of the Methodist Episcopal
church and members of the quarterly
conference was adopted. Mr.. Shaw. of
Iowa, made very neat speech advo-
eating the idea of giving the young
people of the EpWorth league the right
to elect their own officers. rather than
to allow the quarterly conference to
assist the leagues in the election of
their presidents. After adopting the
rules relating to the Epworth league,
the conference proceeded to elect DR.. J.
+. Berry as editor of the Epworth Her.
aid. The election was practically unan-
| imOuS.
The report of the committee on tin
erancy was taken up and j. NJ. Cald-
well, of Chicago, held that the removal
of the time limit would wipe ont good
deal OF clerical politics. DR.. j. M.
King, of New York, declared that the
removal of the time limit would be the
greatest advance step taken by the
Methodist church III fifty years. DR..
Buckley declared that the time limit
was first adopted to relieve Bishop
Asbury IN trying to get stubborn
pastor removed. He delared that the
conference was in too great a hurry to
| abolish the time limit. The time was
extended to five years at the conference
of 1888, and now, before solitary man
has had time to live out five-year
term, this conference rushes to remove
the limit entirely.
Absence of I3resy.
"Why have we had no heresy in the
church"' asked DR.. Buckley. because
our ministers have not had an oppnr-
tunlty TO remain long enough to infect
the churches with any heretical ideas.
Our pastors have been obliged to labor
for the conversion of souls in order to
show that they were good for something.
plead for the itinerancy as it now eX-
lists" He was unanimously applauded.
DIR. Riggin, of Montana, also spoke In
favor of the time limit. He held that
the country churches were in favor of
holding on to the limit. DIR. Belt, of
Ohio, declared that it would be as SEN
sible to pull up trees every three or
four years and plant them again. as to
move the ministers from place to place
every five years. He wanted the clerk
taken out of the itinerancy plan of the
church.
A long squabble took place over the
closing speech of the debate, and by a
remarkably shrewd move the friends of
the minority report got it introduced as
a substitute. and it was railrOaded al
most to completion before the friends
of the majority report were aware of it.
Vigorous efforts were made by those
who wished to see the time limit re-
moved, but they were OutStripped by
the ShrewdnesS of the opposition. The
minority report was adopted by vote
of 29S for to 1872 against, and the five
year time limit will remain as it is.
The conference then adjourned.
A Touch of Politics.
Bishop Ninde presided at the aftar-
noon session of the conference. The
committee OH Sunday schools and tracts
recommended that temperance be
taught in the schools; adopted. The
committee on temperance and prohibit
ton submitted its report, which de-
mands that the church and every Chris.
tan wage ceaseleSS warfare against
the liquor traffic, and that every Chris
tan should withdraw his patronage
from persons directly or indirectly In
terested in it; cOmmends the supreme
court for preserving the rights of the
states to legislate for the benefit of
the morals and health of its citizens;
commendS the United States senate and
condemns the house for their legisla-
ton on the liquor question; and calls
upon the people to use their power of
ballot to defeat any party which GRIM
inally allies with the liquor interest by
licensing the manufacture of spirits.
The report was heartily applauded,
but Judge Lawrence, of Ohio, quickly
offered a substitute to the effect that
the position of the NJ. E. church is
amply set forth in the address of the
bishops, which demands complete pro-
hlbition and enjOinS temperance as the
only
Salvation i'm Politics.
The church is non-partisan and non
Sectarian, said Judge Lawrence, and al
lows each member to cast his ballot as
his conscience dictates. The vote on
the acceptance of the substitute was
then taken. resulting in it's defeat by
200 to 246. The vote on the report then
TUE TpCITucUT mr. nnucrInLrIou