The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-07

/ tS trustee IN the place VI y. ". Noou-
ruff. deceased, and of William Connell
and NJ 5. Hard to succeed themselves
as trustees of Syracuse university. 1t
was reported that sl,540 had been
raised for the Episcopal fund. The
| Epworth league committee recon-
| mended the election of q. l.. Severson
/ as president, l.. L. Van Hosen secre-
| tary and c. III. Newlng treasurer. c. c.
| Nrooman, of the committee on Freed
mems Aid and Southern Educational
| society, reported, after which DR.. NJ.
c. Mason, u colored preacher, spoke in
/ connection with the freedman's work.
! Mr.. Race offered a resolution OF well
come to DIR. Mason, which was adopted
/ unanimously.
! Rev. e. d. Stone, treasurer, re-
| ported that S2.Sl2 had been raised for
/ missions, while the total receipts of
/ the conference were S60,0S6
Nj O'Clock the session adjourned to
/ hear
| HISTORICAL LECTURE.
! The fifth and last of the series Of his
/ torical lectures by Rev. Robert W. Rog-
| ers was given this afternoon on the
subject "A Bundle of Letters Thirty
Centuries Old" Fully 1900 people lis
tened to the story of the discovery and
decipheration of ancient Bahylonian
and Egyptian inscriptions. He opened
by stating that the letters Of the past
are the history as well as the letters Of
/ that day and then told the romantic
discovery in 1888, at El Anarna, Egypt,
of n large number of ancient letters,
written before and contemporary with
the Biblical characters. Many other
letters were spoke of and the transla-
tions of some of them We're read. In
closing he summarized the important
series of lectures in connection with
the book of Genesis. Its permanent
value, its archaeological support and
its true religious Significance were also
spoken of. DR.. Rogers has shown that
! he IS a master Of this branch Of history
and his lectures have proven one of
the most Instructive and pleasant fea-
lures Of the conference. When Mr..
Rogers had finished, the business ses-
sion was again resumed. the bishop
presiding.
The proposition was made to sub
nit to the general conference
proposition to make the lay del
egates all males. A motion that
the conference decline to vote was
6S for and Is against. Those who chose
to vote We're allowed to do so. Only
two gentlemen voted for the PROPOSE
/ tion. while on the second proposition
that the lay delegates may be either
men or women--thc affirmative vote on
this proposition was "a; the negative,
81. The proposition that women be al
/ lowed as delegates was carried. The
third proposition to make the regula-
ton Of ministerial representation in
/ the general conference one In siXty-five
/ instead of one in forty-five. the affirm
ative vote was 102 and the negative H.
1t was adopted. Rev. C. A. Benjamin
offered q resolution instructing the del
eGatcs to oppose the extension of the
time limit. IT was unanimously adopt
ed Rev. ]. +. Warner offered a reso-
luton instructing the delegates to sup
port temperance in sessions of the gen.
cral conference. Rev. j.. c. Murdock
read the report of the temperance and
prohibition committee, whicS declared
that the ministers should place thor-
selves on the side of right and God.
The committee on church music report
ed and recommended that so far as
possible the singing be by the congre-
CATION.
The committee on conference ex-
penses reported that this year the eX-
penses were s763, which. with last year.
makes Il deficiency Of 1892. Last year
the expenses were 1913.
FREEDMAN'S AID SOCIETY.
The meeting this evening was in the
interest of the Freedrnan's Aid and
Southern Educationa society. Rev. G.
A. Place presided, and introduced as
the speaker of the evening. Rev. NJ. G.
Mason, u. D., who spoke upon the work
of the society. DR.. B. Mason Is secre-
tary of the Freedman's Aid and South
ern Education society, he said "The
religious movement for the evangelical
ton and enlightenment of the emanci-
pated freedman was the most remark
able of the century. 1t came as re-
sponse to the sore and distressing needs
of the people, the demands of the ma
ton and the urgent call of Almighty
God"
In speaking of the success achieved
in the prosecution of this great work
of Christian education. he said: "Twen-
ty-nine years ago we started out with
one single teacher and a borrowed capi-
tai of $500 Today we have fOrty-five
institutions Of learning worth $l.SO0OOO
In these schools during these years we
have had more than 100000 students
who helped and uplifted themselves,
have gone out to teach and uplift 9th.
crs. In addition to this face, we have
sent out by actual count 1880 young
colored men and women as teachers
without counting the 5000 or 1000 sent
out from our white people since our
schools have been enlarged to include
them-13,S00 young men and women
all Of whose parents were born in slav
cry. most of whom We're born in slavery
themselves-an army $4,000 strong, not
only intellectually. but morally pre-
pared to help in the uplifting Of a race
from the moral degradation into which
slavery had plunged it,
Continuing, DR.. Mason said "Our
people. both white and cclored. are do
ing more to help themselves than ever
/ before. Last year the negro students
in our schools gave for self-support and
self-help in tuition. incidentals and
room rent, etc. S35,752. and our colored
conferences gave in collections last
year for our society, $11,20S.25, and if
you will study carefully the general
minutes of the church you will find for
all purposes the benevolent collections
from our colored people amounted i'm
round numbers to $4,000 The records
will show, | think, that our white peo-
pie are doing equally as well. In clos
inel the doctor said: II believe in
/ America; I believe that here on this
soil dedicated to the immortal declara-
ton that all men are created equal and
endowed with certain inalienable
rights among which are life, liberty
and the pursuits of happiness-here on
this soil, we shall develop an ideal type
Oh MANHOOD, DfOad ana deep cultured
and refined, thoroughly unselfish, al
truistic. magnanimous. living and
breathing the spirit of Christ imbued
and saturated with his life"
After Rev. Mason spoke. reports were
made by the missionary, conference
nominations. Sabbath observance, par
sonages. publication and book concerns
and preachers aid society committees.
Following were the nominations made
for officers of the conference societies
who were elected: Mlssionary-Pres-
dent, presiding bishop: vice president,
George A. Cure; secretary. l.. C. Floyd;
treasurer, Egbert Fitzpatrick. Temper
ance-President, J. G. Leacock; vice
president, l.. b. Weeks; treasurer, b.
p. Repley. Observation-Disclosures l..
l.. Sprague; vice president. Mr.. Faux