The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-21
PROCEEDINGS OF
N. E. CONFERENCE
Objections Made to the Licensing Of the
National Capital.
THE DISCUSSION on DISCIPLINE
Conference Refuses to Change the
Clause Relating to Amusements.
Bishop Foster is Given an Ovation,
Following His Remarks Upon Re.
siro m ant

CleSel6nu, ~, May sV.-biSnOp roStcr
presided at the session Of the general
conference OF the Methodist Episcopal
church this morning. The feature of
the session was the discussion of the
amusement question.
Lewis Curtis was elected on the first
ballot as agent for the western book
concern. with headquarters at Cincin-
natl.
A resolution was unanimously adopt
ed reciting that the sale of liquors In
the national capital was a national dis
grace and asking In the name of 10000
900 people that congress abolish the
practice.
The committee on the state of the
church drew the conference into an ex-
citing discussion by recommending that
that part Of the discipline relating to
specific amusements be not changed
Under the present law persons induig-
Ing In Intoxicating liquors as bever-
age. renting property to or becoming
bondsmen for liquor dealers, dancing,
playing at games OF chance, attending
theaters. horse races. circuses. and in
dulging In many other popular amuse-
ments. shall be expelled from the church
unless the offender exhibit real humilia-
ton.
Levi Master. Of Michigan, said that
he thought the specifying Of alleged sim
full amusements was a great mistake
for the church. "All Christendom Is di-
vided on the question:" said he. II do
not believe that 1t Is always wrong to
60 to theater or play cards. II you
forbid horse race, why not forbid
foot ball game? This question should
be left entirely to the individual judg-
ment Of the members Of the church. 1t
IL better to allow individual Judgment
! hay ~ nnvt. thot
Christendom Is divided on We cannot
afford to follow the lead Of the church
of Rome by crushing individual tudg
ment. This amusement law Is dead
letter. You cannot enforce 1t. There
fore I move to strike out all that part
of the section that relates to amuse-
| ments."
AGAINST WORLDLINESS.
| DR.. J. B. Graw. of New Jersey. said:
| This IL an age Of worldliness and sin
ful pleasure. If this paragraph IL re-
moved, 1t will be regarded as q move.
ment toward worldliness. Is there any
one here who Is willing to say that any
one of these sinful amusements shall be
practiced by our members? I hope the
paragraph vii, stand. l stand for God
and Methodisnl, and not for the world"
Joseph F. Berry. editor Of Epworth,
! ooio. HIS iS q QucStlOu Ill WHICH
young people Of our church are socially
| interested. and they are against the
| proposed change. Sin multiplies fast,
and we cannot watch our young folks
too much"
Rev. John d. Walsh, Of Kentucky:
This is an unfortunate chapter In our
discipline. but We cannot change 1t
now. The world is looking at US, and II
we take out some Of these sinful
amusements. the world will say that
We do not object to them"
BY an almost unanimous vote the con-
ference refused to change the discipline
on the subject Of amusements
| George P. Mains. of New York, east,
was elected junior book agent at New
York, on the fourth ballot. Henry c.
Jennings. Of Minnesota. was elected
Junior agent of the western book con-
Germ.
Rev. DR.. A. G. Palmer and Rev. A. B..
Leonard were elected secretaries of the
missionary societies on the first bal
lot. Another ballot was taken for third
secretary. On the first, Rev. DR.. John
Mitchell. presiding elder Of Cleveland,
received fifteen votes.
BISHOP FOSTERS REMARKS.
After recess Bishop Foster announced
that in view of the fact that BishOp
Goodsell would be compelled to leave
before 1t came his turn to preside, he,
Bishop Foster. would ask Bishop Good
sell to preside the remainder of the
morning. Continuing. Mr.. Foster said
II have received large number of let
ters denouncing the action Of the con-
ference in retiring me as cruel, brutal
and as an outrage These letters come
from the best MethOdists in the coun-
try. ] want to say that these good peO-
pie are misinformed There comes a
time in all mems lives when they must
retire. and the conference simply
recognized this fact. They did right
and / respect them for it, go to re.
tirement, but will carry the Office OF
EpiscOpacy to the grave. l love my
brethren, and | believe that most OF
:. them love me-
Bishop Foster was given an ovation
The conference and galleries rose tC
their feet. There was much waving OF
handkerchiefs and loud applause.
The question Of the revisal OF tn.
hymnal was discussed for fully an hour
Many earnest arguments We're made
The question was decided in the mega
tive. The second ballot for the thirt
missionary secretary resulted in M
choice.
The hour for adjournment having ar
rived. the election of the third secretar,
went over until tomorrow. Tonigh
| Nha, ,.ls I'LL.