New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-21

Omaha, MAY oO.-Opium was the principal topic
in the Methodist General Conference this morning.
Dr. J. ID. Hammond. OF san Francisco. the agent OF
the California Methodist Book Depository offered the
following formidable resolution originally drawn up
BY the Evangelical Alliance FOX submission to Congress
Whereas. The OF opium narcotic j. icuhu 10 be
spreading IN California and other paris of this country bo
smoug Chinese resdcns and the people Of our own icc
en- that OCCASION much concern 10 all good cIe7
and
Whereas The extent Of the evidenced by the United
States records which show that during 'he eleven
years ending 81 last there were imported INTO
the through United States Custom House
at san Francisco 9st9e7 pounds of opium Ihepaie' of
smoking purposes that during hu period - 49, pounds
OF smuggled opium of the kind were soizd making
total f over million pounds Of the prepared opium Drought
into the Tort Of Francisco in eleven years ana
Whereas This quantity Of opium VIII appear the more
when II is remembered now Sha" Is u'e uose
necessary PROSTATE the Nictim and
Whereas Notviths standing import duty Of sl2
pound imposed upon drug under the new larh law Of
1890 there imported last 63 ls9 pounds OF pre-
Jared opium which brought revenue oil hreequarts OF
million dollars to the United Treasury and is the
opinion Of customs officials that as much more Is either
smugged in city prepared this coast year by year
and
Whereas The terrible significance OF these statistics
appear from the fac: notwithstanding increased duties
importation Of the drug trarc in opium has continued
undated during when the Chinese population mas
been steadily increasing and
whereas. 1t has been demonstrated that so large
quantity OF opium could be consumed by the Chinese
alone Convinced that large portion of the drug
imported is used by people To thousands oil whom
opium has become craving vice and bightmg curse
and.
Whereas retail trade in opium forrishes in spite OF
heavy municipal penal ordinances and so large
demand for the drug that poppy ranch has been
started California for the cultivation Of opium in this
corEuy: and,
Whereas. abusing and ruinOus effects Of opium
smoking appalling and the h"bit Is spreading SO
rapidly that it is time steps were taken 10 eraulcae w
evil before the neral physical and Intellectual stamina OF
our becomes impaired by its use and posteriW Is
involved in Its curse and shame
Resolved we therefore respectfully request NAV
Congress will carly devise measures to suppress I'M,
ronsrous evn prohibit absolutely the Importation anu
opium smoking extract Under heavy pe""'.'S
to Trocie for the destruction of all kinds OF he drug pre-
pared for vicious indulgence wherever found in the thU
sute and TO the OF our country against
revenue derived from human vice, misery and shame
The conference passed the resolution unanimously
and without debate.
A long debate took place on the subject OF cohier-
ence expenses, in the Of which Amos shlhhie
NJ Kentucky limited that of the delegates are
holding back money collected by the annual con
ferences intrusted them for deposit IN the common
expense fund
..some Of YOU know said Mr.. shnde. " that am
treasurer of the fund 10 pay your travelling expenses
Our commission must have at least $4,000 or 5000
more, or else we can't pay them and some OF the
delegates viii get left Vt Omaha Hitherto we
have generally drawn on the Book Concern TOT de-
ago you DOrTOWcu Sio,oVV "i'"
YOU are protested you haven't paid your debts shall
We borrow or shall somebody do without MS pay
For years some Of the conference have failed
to pay the amount assessed or almost any part OF H.
Dr. Lewis Curtis suggested that the names of dele
gates who held back money colIeceu IRON 'hear con-
ferences should be published.
llr. shinkle moved that from $1,000 TO So'ooo be
borrowed from the Book Concern. A. It. Rich declared
bluntly that II any delegate put his hands into the
supersnnuatcd ministers fund to pay his travelling
expenses, only name could be applied TO him. " IL
we continue borrowing from the Book Concern he
added, and never paying, and the Church knows that
We intend TO do that, our conferences Will let us
borrow. / move as an amendment to MIR. Shinkles
motion that share instead the money In tho hands
of the commission pro rata
We placing ourselves In q 1alse ugnt oy pre-
tending to borrow this money" said J. c. Jackson, OF
Ohio. ave borrowed $4,000 four years ago, and we
have not repaid cent Of IT,
ayes, We have" Cried a delegate amid 'ronlca
laughter, we have repaid $751;"
1t was finally decided TO apply for the money from
the Book Concern an appropriation Dr. j.
B. Msxfed moved that an apportonment be made
among the annual conferences sufficient to rophce the
xum John Mitchell, of Cleveland wanted this
amended 20 as TO divide the appoitionment among
the deficient conferences.
"These fits and starts" here protested DR.. John
Ianaban OF Philadelphia, "that continually agta'e
,be conference as TO the protection Of widows and
orphans and superaunuated preachers have become
nearly as old the General Conference fseIi Inc
expenses OF committees and commissions and all sorts
of enterprises are paid for by the Book Concern Isn't
that taking money from the widows As to apporohhg
This money among the annual conferences, you might
lust as well apportion it among the moon and stars
Let the book agents merely charge the amount to profit
and loss"
The discussion ended with the tablng Of Dr. Max
fields notion 50 that the Book Concern will have to
ceiray the delegates Charges.
The Conference decided 10 elect two secretaries for
the Church Extension Society. d. G. II. Payne, OF
New York reelected secretary OF the bOd oI euu-
cation q second ballot. 80,
d. b p. lamln, Of Pennsylvania offered TN, IN
terc,ting resolution which was promptly rejected
.Whcreas There Is in the minds OF many members OF
the Conference a growing conviction that the recon
inendaOn that more bishops be elected az tms s
conference is not in accord win NE test n.cs o ~
the Church. therefore be II resolved mat the acuoh
whereby IL dS.ermined To eject no more bshop7
at this Conference be reconsidered =, ,,o rreed
mai's Aid and southern Education society are con,
tempatcd I'm the report Of the standing eemHtcc Oh
The Gonerence which VIII ProGaG be ~ so tb word
freedman is omitted nom the paragraphs wmcn IL -
proposed TO substitute IN The discipline. me III,
strlction provided is TO include literary professional
and Industrial courses Of study. and the institutions
are u located with reference 10 the formation OF
an educational system with collegiate centres and co
operative preparatory academies go. -, .
part OF the border conferences which extended into
Slave territory had membership, coorcd and white
white members, and 1920 coored and In looi
234O36 white and 260.372 colorsi The church
asks the Conference 10 express it's lack OF sympathy
with the motion to withdraw from the south, ana
TO pledge the Church TO continue Its work In that
region.
THE TRIP or THE LIBRIMIys.
aof