Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-07
THE Chinese QUESTION
Occupies Much Time in the Big Meth
OdiSt Conference.
THE HOUSE, SENATE, PRESIDENT
And Politicians Generally Condemned and De.
nouncsd for the Passage ofthe Bill--OnO Dele
gate Thinks the Chinese as Good
Immigrants as the Irish.

OMAHA, May 6.-Bishop Mallalcu
presided at the morning session OF the
Methodist Episcopal General Conference
to-day. Rev. William Curt, OF the
Italian Mission. oficiated in the devo-
tional exercises. There has been lively
contest in the organization OF the Tenn
perance Committee. Among those who
desired to be chairmen, Rev. j. G. Ev-
ans, Of Illinois; Prof w. +. Whitlock,
of Ohio; DIR. A. j. Kynett, OF Philadel-
phia, and Rev. H. E. Pendleton, of
Kansas, were the most active. Rev. j.
q. Evans secured the election by a ma
jority Of two votes.
The temperance committee Is looked
upon as a very important one. Several
delegates absent thus far in the confer
ence, arrived to-day and answered roll
call. DR.. Neeley, of Philadelphia, pre-
sented the conference with very hand
some record of the Constitution Com
mission. The order Of the day was
taken up at 1O;3O, being the report OF
Bishop Thoburn, Of India and Maya
lasia.
The Methodist Church, he said. was
teaching and preaching the gospel in
India and Mayalasis in thirteen differ
ent languages.
Mr.. Thoburn's report gave a detailed
account Of the work done in the three
annual conferences, the district confer
ences and the women's conference in
India. 1t stated that the work in India
was in excellent condition but the need
was great. The working force from
America had fallen off some but the
work has continued to grow. The
mem bership had increased nearly 5000
during the quadrennial.
The Methodist Sunday schools in
India now have a membership OF over
$4,000, an increase of Is, 900 during the
four years past.
In the day schools the church has
99, 900 native pupils of India. People
by thousands were giving up their ideas
and the native ministers are rapid
ly increasing both in numbers and
efficiency. The report warmly COM
menced the work of women in the
missions of India. The church has es-
tablished three publishing houses and
is sending out pamphlets and periodicals
in nine different languages from its
own presses.
The report recommended that there
be five conferences organized instead OF
three. The conferences are too large
at present, compelling some OF the min
listers to travel two or three thousand
miles to attend them. The report urged
the necessity of enlarging the work.
1.-The day of small things is past, said
the Bishop. 1--WE must take up the
work before us, and carry practically
the responsibilities laid upon us. We
do not know what may happen to-mor-
row, but we do know that the sun never
sets in the morning. 1t is just morning
in India. Let us up and be doing
while the daylight lasts"
At the conclusion Of Bishop Tho
burns address, which was heartily ap-
plauded, the conference sang Morn
ing Light is Breaking.
On motion of DR.. Hamilton, the report
of Bishop Taylor, OF Africa, was made
the order for tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
The conference then requested the
committee appointed the previous day
10 prepare a resolution upon the Chi
neSe exclusion bill TO report.
Judge Lawrence submitted the report,
which stated that the committee had
learned that the bill had already been
signed by the President and 1t was
therefore too late TO take action until
the wording and conditions OF the
bill should be ascertained.
81 of
mort TO have the question referred to
Committee on the State OF the Church.
He feared the passage OF the Chinese
exclusion bill would jeOpardize the lives
and property Of missionaries IN China.
The Chinese exclusion bill matter was
finally referred to another special COM
mittee of five ministers and four lay
men. During the discussion DR.. Leon
ard denounced the President and Con-
gress, and said that the Chinese had the
same right here as other foreigners,
notably the Irish. He believed this
conference should take action in no un-
certain tone in relation TO it.
DR.. Buckley, Of New York, asked that
the matter be referred TO a committee
instructing them TO get copy OF the
bill and make clear report on the sub
ioct. DR.. Swindells again made an earn
est appeal. He argued that until some
action was taken the country would re-
gard the conference as approving the
bill. The bill, he said, was the
most iuiquitious measure ever
passed by the Congress of this
country. DR.. Edwards, OF Chicago,
later took the floor. He said it was a
political measure. "This bill' he added,
lis sop to the steerages now unloading
at Battery Park, New York. 1t was
rushed through a Democratic House
passed BY our noble Senators and signed
by our we'll nigh unimpeachable Presi-
dent solely for political effect" He
moved to refer ii to the Committee on
Missions.
DIR. Payne, Of Cincinnati, said the
church should show that il was not con-
trolled by any partisan basis and that
no political party manages it. He be-
lieyed the Conference should also show
that il does not approve such political
measures and moved 10 send the matter
TO the Church Committee. He was
wildly applauded.
DR.. Buckley again secured tne noOr
and denounced all reference to politics,
saving that the man who would try 10
build up one party or try to tear down
another in this conference is nothing
but demagogue. Finally the matter
was referred to a special committee,
consisting OF five ministers and four
laymen. There was a universal sigh Of
relief when the question was temporar-
iy disposed Of.
The afternoon was given up to Commit