The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-10
MEETING OF THE METH0DISTS
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH ASKED
TO GIVE Up TOBACCO.

Resolution On the Proposition 20
Insert n Recognition of God in the
Constitution OF the United states.
Desire of the Wesleyan Church in
Germany To Join the Methodist
Church-Laymen Demand Equal
Representation.
Cleveland. O.. May 9.-Blshop Ninde pre-
sided at this mornings sessions OF the
general conference Of the Methodist Epls-
copal church.
Rev. Mr.. Lowthers. OF Kansas. intro
duced resolution asking that an Meth
odists be asked to abstain from using
tobacco, and that no Sunday school teach
er or Epworth League presidents or other
officers be elected who use tobacco. This
was referred to the committee on tenn
perance.
A resolution was introduced asking that
as a colored man had given the first dollar
toward the new American university at
Washington, that az least one colored man
be always on the board OF trustees Of
the Institution. This was ruled out OF
order.
A resolution and petition, opposing the
proposed amendment TO the United states
ton was referred to the committee on
church and state 1t provided that the
words trusting IN Almighty God" should
be inserted after the word "pOsrerlty' In
the preamble of the constitution.
Samuel Dickie of Albion, Mlch-, chair
man Of the prohibition national commit
tee, and who has just been elected mayor
Of Albion, was excused by the conference
for several days in order 10 so home ana
The eommittee on eniscopacy was in
structed to report on the advisability OF
electlng more bishops by Tuesday morn
ing at 10 o'clock.
A communication from the Methodist
church south was read by Secretary Mon
roe, stating that committee had been
appointed to confer with the Methodist
church looking to federation of the TWO
churches. IL was referred TO the board OF
bishops
The committee on missions reported a
| resolution giving any annual conference
the right to receive any church synod or
conference into the Methodist church, up
on presentation of the proper credentials
IL was stated that while the resolution
was in general terms, IT was framed to
fit the case Of the Wesleyan church In
Germany. which desired to join the Meth
The Rev. DR.. Carl NJ schen OF North
| Germany, through the aid Of an interpre-
ter, explained the request OF the Wesley
an church and said that its admission
would bring many members ana much
property to the Methodist church.
Rev. DIR. William BrOdbeck said that
| IL the union of the two churches was
/ consummated it would give the Methodist
| church an entrance into Austria. The re-
/ port was adopted with much enthusiasm.
| The women are daily gaining supporters.
| To-day large number OF delegates who
! had previously vbted against the consti-
1 tutional amendment giving women admis-
! sion to the conference changed their
/ votes and voted aye. The change was
| greeted with applause.
| Ex-senator Harlan OF Iowa introduced
/ a resolution amending the second restric-
/ tive rule, giving the laymen equal repre-
/ sentation with the ministers in the gene
| raj conference.
Mr.. Harlan said: "The laymen have had
/ a meeting and we have come to the con-
/ cusion that the time has come when the
! laymen should receive justice by this body.
/ We want numerical equality in this body,
/ unless the ministers should give us some
| good reason why we should not"
/ on motion, it was referred to the COM
/ mittee on lay representation.
! A resolution sympathizing with Arme-
/ mia was unanimously adopted
| A protest against the enforcement Of n
| Florida law prohibiting any society or
! persons from conducting school IN Flor
| ida where whites and blacks receive in
/ structons together, was introduced by
/ Joseph G. Hartzell Of Louisiana.
| MIR. Hartzel said: "A congregational
/ society was the first to be attacked. The
/ teachers Of the school and several Of the
/ parents Of the white scholars have been
/ arrested. The Methodist church has three
{
/ able to be attacked at any time. This
/ resolution has to do with personal rights,
/ and it should be passed at once If this
/ law stands, it Will be passed in every
southern state and twenty-five or thirty
/ of your southern educators in the south
/ would be liable to arrest. We should send
/ the word abroad that we think the law
/ Is wrong"
/ DR.. Payne of Cincinnati said the law was
| a disgrace to nineteenth century civiliza-
/ ton.
The resolution was passed. 1t provided
/ that IN case the Methodist schools were
/ attacked that the uncOnstitutionality Of
! the law be fully tested in the cours.
/ Upon the adjournment of the Methodist
/ quadriennial conference this afternoon. a
meeting Of the Freedman's Aid Society
was held and various committees were
appointed. Rev. J. G. Hartzell Of Louisi-
ana read the quadriennial report Of the
/ Freedman's Aid Society, and the Southern
Education Society, showing the value Of
] the property to be 81, 10000 and the in
/ debtedness $3.50, ,305.05, an increase of $53, ,072
4 over four years ago.
! The report contained the astonishing
statement that, IN spite Of all the advances
made in recent years, 70 per cent. of the
colored and S6ia per cent. Of the white
population Of the south 10 years Of age
i and over cannot write.
/ Meetings were also held Of the commit
/ tees on missions, education and book con-
/ Germ. The committee on education dis
! cussed the question Of loaning money to
I poor students, and a committee was ap-
/ pointed to Investigate and report