The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-05-19
The General NJ. E. Conference.


Episcopal Church assembled for it's 21st
quadrennial session at Boyd's Opera House,
Omaha, Nebraska, May 3, Bishop Bowman
presiding. On the platform beside the Bish-
op sat DR.. Lanahan, of Baltimore. DR.. Parker,
OF India, and DR.. Pearne, OF Ohio. Bishop
Newman read the first scripture lesson
Psalms 12l and 100 from the memorable Bible
OF John Wesley which was presented to the
Conference by Hon. S. ID. Waddy, Of Eng
land. 1t is a small volume, having John
Wesley's initials upon the title-page, and
shows that the founder of Methodism liter
ally oheyed the command, "Search the
Scriptures" The hymn was sung which be-
gins with,-
'High on His everlasting throne,
The king of saints His work surveys,
Marks the dear souls He calls III lis own.
And smiles on the peculiar race.
Bishop FosS led the vast audience in
most devout, tender and urgent prayer. He
prayed for the manifestation Of Christian
unity throughout the world for practical re
forms for the prevalence of total abstinence;
that the church might be more pure, holy.
separate from the world and filled with right
eousness for more real converts and for the
homes and churches left behind" The re-
ligious services was gracously helpful and
an excellent preparation for the business
essions.
Tuesday, May >, Bishop Merrill presided
The session Was devoted to the completion
of seating the delegates, etc. The different
themes We're taken up Spiritual State of
the Church, RevivaIs, Church Growth, Min
istry, Theological Schools, Discipline, Wo-
mans Work, Epworth League Regarding
the attitude of the church on Temperance
AS to the latter: 'Tlie attitude we hold to-
ward the drink habit and the saloon remains
unchanged Drunkenness and drunkard-
making are alike offensive to God and ruin
Gus to man Moderate drinking, so-called, is
the hane OF the nefarious traffic. We hold
with unabated tenacity to the oft repeated
statement that total abstinence is the onl
safety for the individual, and that complete
legal prohibition of the traffic is the urgent
duty of the State. We re joice i'll every step
of the progress toward the attainment of
these ends. In our Judgment the saloon is
an unmiNed evil full of diabolisnl, a disgrace
to our civilzatlon the chief corrupter Of DO
litca action and ii continual menace to the
order of society and to the peace and pur-
ty of our homes We expect all our people
to encourage every repression and limitation
of the business and to keep a steady eye to
its total eNtrpation.
Politics: "With regard to politics the at
titude of our church is strenulously noll-par-
tlsan and non-sertional. 1t acknowledges
no allegiance to any political creed or asso-
ciation 1t urges all It's members who have
the right to vote To discharge that duty Int
it leaves every voter absolutely free from ec-
clcsiastical interference to determine for
himself for whom his ballot shall be cast
The right of suffrage az the franchise we re-
gard as great and responsible trust, which
should, i'll all cases ecclesiastical and civil be
exercised conScientously, but in absolute
personal freedom. When moral issues are
before the public our people invariably
found on the side OF the highest standard
but even then they choose their own partv
affiliations and refuse to he dictated to as to
the matter of their Vote The foregoing is
a summary of the excellent reports in Zon's
HeraIl l.