The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-05-14
SOME SPICY TALK.

DIR. Buckley Describes Two Prevalent
MaIadIes In the NJ. Z. General
Conference
OMAHA, May Io.-When the report
of the committee on constitution came
up In the M. +. General Conference
to-day DR.. Buckley started a spicy dis
cussion by moving that, inasmuch a:
Bishop Merrill was chairman of the
committee, he be requested to explain
the changes suggested by the report.
DR.. Medley jumped up and said he
was opposed to the ca of permitting
any OF the bishops to speak. Even
explanations, he said, were sometimes
very strong argument.
DR.. Miley of Drew Seminary, said
81 am surprised that DR.. Neeley should
make such speech as that. Is it
possible that we are afraid to let our
bishops speak upon the topics that
come before this body2 Are the
interests and doctrines in danger when
bishop takes the foor2 | hope
that Bishop Merrill viii be permitted
to speak on this subject
DR.. Buckley argued vehemently for
his motion. There were two diseases,
he said, that were brought out IN a
General Conference. One was bishop
hobIa, sort of unnatural fear of
bishops, the other was bishopmania
laughter and applause an intense
desire to be elected to the episcopacy.
He hoped that neither of these would
so warp the minds OF the brethren that
they would not have confidence IN the
impartiality OF the bishops to such an
extent as to exclude them from the
floor. 1t was sad state Of things if
the church had come to such state
the supreme officers OF the denomina
ticn could not be given free opportu-
nifty to speak in the conference upon
important subjects.
The resolution giving Bishop Merrill
the privilege of explaining the report
was finally carried, but the rules were
suspended at this point to hear the
report Of the committee on the Colum-
bian Exposition and Bishop Merrills
explanation was postponed until to-
morrow.
During the discussion on the consti-
tuition committees report, DR.. Buckley,
speaking OF lay electoral representation
said: 81 would die at the stake be
fore | would admit that the plan of
lay representation is a part OF the con
stitutlon, but | also hold that the plan
has been indorsed by the constitution
in the restrictive rules" Applause
greeted his words.
Mr.. Field of Philadelphia, the first
layman to speak on the subject, said
that the constitution commission had
kept its work wonderfully secret. They
had retired 20 the classic shades of
Chatauqua and then to the more quiet
shades OF Indianapolis and finally they
had come before the conference with
prodigious big black book that looked
like the ark of the covenant, great
laughter and clapping of hands and
wanted the conference to make these
radical changes in the constitution with
out sufficient time for consideration.
Mr.. Field, therefore, moved tina. the
whole discussion of changes in the
constitution be postponed until the
next Federal conference. His motion
was put and lost.
The report of the exposition COM
mittee strongly opposed Sunday open
ing, and closed with these words
"Better that the Columbian Exposition
never be opened at ali than that the
gates be open on Sunday" The COM
mittee heartily favored an appropria-
ton of S5,ooo,coo of government
funds, providing the gates be closed