The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1896-05-13
ONLY AN ABSOLUTE IDIOT
Would Pray for the Conversion Of Col
Ingersoll
Brother QuayIe Is Denied Opportunity to Dis
cIsim Language Attributed to Him
by tho Daily Papers

CLEVELAND, May 12.-The session of
the Methodist general conference today
was brief but breezy Considerable or
atory was indulged in over the headlines
of one of the morning papers, which
made it appear that conference dele
gate had denounced the Christian En-
deavor society as idiotic because it had
prayed for the conversion Of Col. Inger-
soil. The conference soon got into
snarl, in which the local morning news
papers were attacked, and in which the
meeting of the committee on the state Of
the church, held yesterday afternoon.
came out prominently. In that meeting
Rev. DR.. Quayle, in the course of his re-
marks about the Christian Endeavorers
in their attempt to secure recognition
of the Diety in the constitution, used the
language which appeared in the morning
papers, which is as follows: Not long
ago that organization not only made it
self ridiculous. and all the churches
which 1t represented, but actually made
the religion of Christ ridiculous by pray
ing for the redemption of Bob Ingersoll.
Do you think that the Methodist church
would ever be guilty of such an act of
absolute idiocy?" Cries of NO. no.
were expressed throughout the room.
r. j. Cheney of Central New York
then rose and presented d resolution
which recited the fact that the local
morning papers had so quoted a mem
Der of the conference and disclairned
any responsibility of such sentiment
by the general conference. He present.
ed the resolution for adoption 1t not
only disclaimed responsibility but also
1ndoresed the Endeavorers. AS soon as
read, two motions were made, one to re-
Ter TO the committee on Epworth league
and the other to lay on the table. Bish-
cF Fowler ordered the vote taken on the
motion to refer a mistake was made in
the counting and a. SnrOnH
dered. DR.. Buckley desired to report a
substitute but Bishop Fowler refused to
entertain 1t. The vote on the motion to
refer to the committee onEpWorth league
was then lost. 1862 to 235.
Mr.. Henry French of California moved
It's adoption. when, Rev. w. A. Quayle of
Kansas City, who made the remark,
rose. He denied the use of the language
attributed to him. Every attempt by
Mr. Cheney to get the facts of the case
were hoWled down. Every denial of the
article called out wild applause, but Mr..
Quayle said he did not say a certain
society was idiotic and he thought that
was the sentiment of the majority of the
members.
The resolution repudiating the pur-
ported language of DR.. Quayle before the
conference was laid on the table. SUBJ
Sequently a motion was passed to ex-
punge from the record all reference to
the matter
Amanda Smith, one Of the famous
colored evangelists, entered the hall
and the conference suspended business
to receive her. She was given the clos
est attention and was compelled to sing
and the delegates Joined in the chorus.
One song was not sufficient and Sec
ond was called for and given.
None of the committees, however were
ready to report and the conference then
adjourned.