The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-05-27
METHODISTS' BUSY DAY
Three Sessions Held of the General Confer
ence at Cleveland.


Cleveland, o.. May 26.-Bishop Ninde
presided at the Methodist Episcopal con
ference today. The reading of reports
consumed the greater part Of the time.
This was a busy day in the confer
ence and It was found necessary 10 hold
three sessions. At the forenoon session
the impressive ceremonies incident TO
the installation of the three bishops
| elect, McCabe, Cranston and Hartzell,
attracted much interest. AT the after
noon session temperance was the sub
ject under discussion, and the commit
tee report, which was adopted, shows
that the Methodist church is still the
uncompromising foe of the liquor traffic
An important step was taken in request
ing the board of bishops 10 memorable
congress to so modify the internal reve-
nu laws as TO give them less the semb-
lance Of statutes intended 70 legaliZe
the liquor traffic and especially In states
which have prohibition. The evening
session was devoted to a further con-
sideration Of the report of the commit
tee on legislation.
The conference resumed business at
3 p. m, and passed the afternoon main
ly in parliamentary sparring-
The report Of the temperance COM
mittee was adopted as read, the main
provisions being as follows:
1t declares it to be the duty Of each
member OF the church to be total abb
stainer; 1t condemns license, asserting
that the government becomes partner
in the traffic by permitting the sale Of
liquor; 1t declares that the only proper
80 10 AF ha obi I'd "a ira -
is relentless enmity.
The following recommendations are
made by the report:
That temperance societies be organic
ed in all annual conferences; that the
objects OF the Anti-Saloon league be
approved and that the church cooper
ate with it; that the fourth Sunday in
November be set apart as temperance
Sunday and careful attention be given
to the regular quarterly Sunday school
temperance lessons: that the board OF
bishops memorable congress, asking
the government to so adjust the inter
nal revenue laws as not to make IL ap-
pear that the liquor traffic is legaliZed
and legislated for in states where prac-
teal prohibition obtains; that On tenn
perance Sunday a collection be taken,
one-fourth to go to the general con-
ference committee on temperance, one
fourth to the annual conference COM
mittee. and half TO the quarterly con-
ference committee. The report advised
the forming OF such temperance COM
mittees.
There was much debate and two hours
Of parliamentary skirmishing over the
latter part OF the missionary commit
tees report The conference agreed 10
-,
in China, with the consent of tn bishops;
TO the changing Of the Gulf mission to a
missionary conference and 10 Sunday
school collections for missionary pur-
poses at least once a month. The re-
communication that the field agents be
appointed by the board OF managers
was not concurred in.
The fight was over the representation
OF lay delegates in missionary confer
ences and called out some very earnst
speeches. AS adopted, the report pro-
vides that lay missionaries may sit IN
missionary annual conferences on in
vitation and vote on all questions ex-
cept those involving the character OF
ministers and their conference relations
and the election OF ministerial delegates
TO the general conference.
The recommendation OF the committee
on education against extravagsnce In
decorations on hildren's day was adopt
ed.
At the evening session the report OF
the committee on constitution was taken
up and considerable progress was made.
No radical changes were made. The
incident OF the evening was a speech by
Rev. DR.. Buckley, championing the
cause OF the laymen, and through his
efforts one section OF the proposed con-
stituuon was so amended as 10 provide
that when there IS no bishop present at
a general conference the delegates shall
proceed to elect a president pro tempore,
who may be either q ministerial or lay
delegate.
The first hour OF the evening session
was devoted TO temperance rally. IN
which the Anu-Saloon league, the Boys
Brigade and other organizations par
I'll.