Evening star., 1895-03-12
The Baltimore Conference Votes
Against Women Delegates.
ACTION AT THE MORNING SESSION
Scenes of Excitement During a
Discussion.
THE ATTEND ANCELA RG E
Special pispa,ch to The Evening Star.

tuition of the church providing for the ad-
mission of women to the general confer
ence.
Cloudy skies and an occasional sprinkling
of chilly rain were apparently of no effect
upon the Methodist women Of Baltimore
and Washington who wanted to witness
what would probably be the closing scenes
of the 1llth annual conference. They came
in hundreds and filled the galleries to their
limits. occupying every available seat in
the rear of the conference, on the floor,
and filed up the four aisles for more than
half the length of the spacious audience
room.
No such multitude had previously hon
ored the conference with its altogether
pleasing and complimentary presence. Here
and there among the spectators was lone
man, but these were so few that they cut
no figure m the gathering.
A good deal of physical strain was in
vclyed in standing steadily for more than
three hours. but those who so suffered
were not without reward, for the proceed
ings were much more Interesting than at
any previous session.
At times things were really exciting. and
more than once there was easy possibility
of superkeated debate. and consequently
long delayed adjournment.
A controversy commenced over resolu-
ton offered by F. G. Porter requesting the
secretaries of the board OF church eNten-
sion to boycott. by withholding advertis-
ing. magazines. ''of which one was specti-
cally mentioned" in which the modern
stage receives regular attention.
c. H. Richardson and DR.. j. a. Price
were net in sympathy with the resolution,
and said So but the conference stood by
the document and adopted it.
Individual Cups.
But the great fight was over topic that
bobbed up without a moments warning,
had happened it was busily engaged In
discussing the relative merits of the SIN
gle chal:ce and the individual cups in ad-
ministering the wine at the sacrament of
the Lords supper. BENZ. F. Clarkson
fired the first gun when he presented a
resolution that it is the sense of this
ference that the preac hers in charge of
circuits and stations have neither Scrip
.ural authority nor disciplinary right to in
reduce or to use individual cups in the
administration of the Lords supper"
S'his was signed by BENZ. F. Clarkson
farry ID. Mitchell. Jas. A. McCauey
frank q. Porter, James z. Wilson, f. X.
saac anG Harry Boggs.
1t resulted Immediately in arousing Dr.
Richard Harcourt of Grace Church. Balti-
mere, an enthusiastic believer in individual
cups ard all uncompromising enemy of
the ancient but generally accepted method.
Dr. Harcourt was not at all fastidious in
his use of terms. From beginning to end
his speech abounded in plain language that
at times met with sounds of disapproval.
but was unaffected thereby. When he
SAID tfat those who drank last out of the
chalces were generally served with "sops''
his rather startling statement brought
forth chorus of Obs and a few clearly
distingushabie misses. the latter comins
from some OF the gallery occupants
DR.. j. A. Price Interrupted Dr. Harcourt
with point of order framed to narrow
DR.. Harcnurt's field of discussion and Bish-
op Andrews sustained the exceptions, but
-e.I f,,Ii,
demanded that there be TO effort to abridge
the right of free speech in a discussion of
SO much Importance.
Then the pastor of Grace Church talked
OF the matter from the medical and ssn:-
tary standpoint, and sat down only after
giving expression to the regret he felt that
the presenc" of ladies prevented his telling
tAe brethren some extremely interesting
facts.
Then DIR. J. b. Stitt of Dumbarton Ave-
nue.. Washington, gave utterance to the
speech of the morning DIR. Stitt Is firm
believer IN the individual cups, and has
put his precepts on that matter into prac-
tee. He dealt with the subject almost ex-
clusiHeiy from scriptural standpoint. and
while there were many, a large ma jorty
In fact present who disagreed with him. he
found none who cared to :ilt with him.
He declared that the Lord Jesus Christ
iald down no specific instructions for the
administration of the sacrament, and called
upon the signers of the resolution to dis
prove that allegation. DIR. Stitt said he sin
cerely regretted the Introduction of the
resolution, because this was not the time
nor the conference the place to take deti-
mite action.
That the advocates of individual cups
were in the minority just row had to be
admitted so only adverse conclusions couLl
reasonably be looked fer, but the last
wCrd had not. nevertheless, been said on
the subject. He was in the debate. though,
and would stay there. would support his
convictions in public until the authorities
of the church said it was contrary TO the
fulrics OF the church and the teachings of
Scripture, and then he would, like an ohe-
dent son of the church, obey the mandate
and put aside the individual cups now used
by his congregation.
With great logical ability he argued his
cause and shot redhot ironical bolts at
Editor NJ. Buckley of the New York
Christian Advocate and at the mover and
SecondcrS of the resolution.
For a while he touched upon the funda-
mental principles which his argument
was based, and then he made plain some
other forms of religious belief. He showed
how the Presbyterian Church did not for
mally commemorate the birth of Christ be-
cause the scriptures did not specifically
state that such a celebration should be. The
Methodist Church. however, did celebrate
Christmas. but the Presbyterans had no
right to call Methodsts to account for the
doing of something not scripturally conf
nanded.
Lively Discussion.
DIR. Stitts speech was listened to with
the closest attention, and he was frequently
interrupted and encouraged by applause.
Rev j. w. Jones then offered a substi-
tute resolution condemning the use of in
dividual cups and argued that historical
data favors the single cup. He further
mere Insisted that members who had tried
the new plan did not like 1t.
This was resented by DR.. Harcourt and
the first clash was followed by They have
complained. They have not" The COM
plants have come from members of Your
own congregation "No,' "Yes. they have"
Il deny it,
brethren said Bishop Andrews in his
mosl pacific yet firm manner, you can't
settle a dispute like that in here"
NEereupon everybody laughed at the i'm
Piled retiring of Harcourt and Jones for
the purpose of physical settlement, that
gave Dr. Townsend an opportunity to move
that the whole matter be laid upon the
table. which motion was agreed to by
vote Of ~ to 10
Prohibition Question.
An unexpectedly long discussion took
place over the report of the COMMITTEES on
temperance, presented by DR.. c. w. Bald
win. the chairman.
Rev. q. c. Bacon said It was a good re-
port. for II had in it practical suggestion
as to getting together and doing some