The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-06-01
THE HETHODISTS.
Matters Discussed at the General
Conference.
THE QUESTION OF PROHIBITION.

Zee Conference Decides in Favor of
Ceaseless War on the Liquor Traf-
fic, but Does Not Indorse Any Po-
iiticai Party-Adjournment OF the
Conference.
OMAHA, May 25.-- Bishop Hurst occu-
pied the chair at the Methodist Episcopal
general conference yesterday. DIR. Soper,
Of Japan, led the devotions.
The committee on judiciary reached q
very important conclusion upon the
meaning of the word slaymen" in the
discipline where it provides for lay re-
presentation. 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 conference, by vote of 298 to 1853,
decided not to remove the five year limit
on pastorates.
The report of the committee ON tenn
perance and prohibition was adopted,
after an animated discussion, by vote
Of 246 to 40 1t declares in favor Of
ceaseless war against the liquor traffic,
and condemns the general government
for aiding in its extension to South
America. A motion was adopted against
indorsing any political party.
The report of the Chinese exclusion
committee was unaniniously adopted. It
denounces the law recently passed as un-
iust.
OMAHA, May 26.-The committee ON
the state of the church viii hand in
two reports upon the amusement ques-
ton. The majority report is opposed to
the effort that has been made to secure
a more loose and liberal construction of
the rules concerning dancing, theater
going, etc.
The minority report favors the idea of
having a general statement upon the
amusement question, commanding all
members of the church to refrain from
unbecoming, frivolous and unchrisfian
conduct, leaving EACH individual to be,
to some extent, his own judge as to the
nature of amusements that are becom-
ing and Christion.
The report on the Columbian exposi-
ton matter demanding Sunday closing
was presented soon after the session
opened. The report was accepted. A
second part recommended the appoint
ment of commission to make church
exhibit. This excited some discussion.
but was finally adopted.
The committee on lay representation
reported in favor of equal lay and cleri-
cal representation in the general confer
ence. The report was adopted.
OMAHA, May 27.--tBlest Be the Tie
that Binds was the hymn sung at the
opening of the last day of the Methodist
Episcopal General Conference. Bishop
Fitzgerald was in the chair.
The conference disposed of the woman
question just before the final adjourn
ment. DIR. Hamilton offered an amend
ment to the report of the committee on
the Judiciary that the proposition be
submitted to the annual conferences, re-
quiring that the words must be male"
be inserted after the words clay dele
gates, Z wherever they appear in the dis
cipline, and that unless three-fourths of
the annual conferences uphold it, then
the law must be held TO mem male and
female both. The amendment was
adopted by vote of 240 to 100. This
sends the matter to the annual confer
snces, and the men must defeat the
women two to one in order to keep them
put Of the next general conference.
The women went wild with delight