Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-05-12
FOR A UNION.
Methodist Church South Opens Ne
gotiations with Conference,
Matter Referred to Committee OF
Bishops-Women Gaining Votes
LaYmen Want Equal Power.

Matter Referred to Committee Of
Bishops-Women Gaining Votes
Laymen Want Equal Power.
Cleveland, o., May 9.-Bishop Ninde
presided at Saturday mornings session
If the general conference of the Meth.
,dist Episcopal church. Rev. Mr.. Low
hers, of Kansas, introduced a resolu-
lion asking that all Methodists be asked
% abstain from using tobacco, and that
40 Sunday school teacher or Epworth
eague presidents or other officers be
elected who used tobacco. Referred to
committee on temperance.
a resolution was introduced asking
that, as a colored man had given the
irst dollar towards the new American
university at Washington, at least
one colored man be always on the board
Of trustees of the institution. Ruled
out of order.
A resolution and petition opposing
The proposed amendment to the United
States constitution putting God in the
constitution was referred to the COM
nittee on church and state. ltprovided
hat the words Trusting in Almighty
God" should be inserted otter the word
prosperity" in the preamble of the
constitution. Samuel Dickie, of AL
Dion, Mich, chairman of the prohibit
ion national committee, and who has
ust been elected mayor of Albion, was
excused by the conference for several
lays in order to go home and close up
he saloons.
The committee on Episcopacy was in
structed to report on the ACCESSIBILITY Of
electing more bishops by Tuesday at
ten a. IN.
Ask for Federation.
A communication from the Methodist
church south was read by Sey Monroe,
stating that {; committee had been APP
pointed to confer with the Methodist
church looking to the federation of the
wo churches. 1t was referred to the
board of bishops.
The committee on missions reported
resolution giving any conference the
light to receive any church, synod or
conference into the Methodist church
upon presenting of the proper creden-
tails. 1t was stated that while the reso-
ution was in general terms it was
framed to fit the case of the Wesleyan
church in Germany, which desired to
Join the Methodist church.
| Rev. DIR. Carl M. Schell, of North Ger
many, through the aid of an interpre-
ter, explained the request of the Wes-
lcyan church, and said that it's admis-
sion would bring many members and
much property to the Methodist church
Rev. DIR. William Brodbeck said that if
the union of the two churches We're con-
summated it would give the Method
ist church an entrance into Austria.
| The report was adopted with much en-
| ttusiasm.
Women Gaining Votes.
The women are daily gaining sup
rorters. Saturday large number OF
| delegates who had previously voted
against the constitutional amendment
giving the women admission to the con-
terence, changed their votes and voted
aye. The change was greeted with APP
plause.
Laymen Want Equal Representation.
Ex-senator Harlan, of Iowa, intro
! duced a resolution amending the sec
ond restrictive rule, giving the laymel
equal representation with the minis
ters i'll the general conference. Mr.
Harlan said: '''The laymen have had 4
meeting, and we have come to the con.
clusion that the time has come when
| oh II ,c{; Ia,
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.
Protest Against Florida Law.
| A resolution sympathizing with Ar
menia was unanimously adopted.
protest against the enforcement of {
Florida law prohibiting any society Oh
persons from conducting a school il
Florida where whites and blacks re
ceive instruction together was intro
duced by Joseph c. Hartzell, of Lou
isiana. Mr.. Hartzell said:
"a Congrega tional society wes first to b.
attacked. The teachers of that school ant
several of the parents of the white scholar
have been arrested The Methodist churcl
has three institutions in that state ant
they are liable to be attacked at any time
This resolution has to do with persona
rights and 1t should be passed at once. l
this law stands, it will be passed in ever.
southern state, and rs or 80 of your south
arn educators in the south would be liabl
to arrest. We should send the wore
abroad that we think the law is wrong"
DIR. Payne, of Cincinnati, said that tn
law was disgrace to the nineteenth
century civilization.
The resolution was passed. 1t pro
vided that in case the Methodist school
were attacked the constitutional
ity of the law be fully tested in To-
courts.
1t was ordered that committee o
seven on place of next meeting of til
conference be appointed.
Sunday Wheeling Not Sinful.
Waterbury, Conn.,, May o. = Inter
views of the American with the leadin
clergymen of the city on the questio
as to whether bicycling on Sunday is
vice or not, result in a unanimous rex
ommendation of Sunday wheeling, pre-
viding church is not neglected and tn
outing is of an orderly character.
Demand for Clean Students.
Cincinnati Nav g. - The Women