New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-21
METHODISTS STILL VOTING.
ELECTING AGENTS AND SECRETARIES
AT CLEVELAND.
THE CONFERENCE REFUSES TO TAKE THE
PROHIBITION FROM AMUsEMENTs OR TO

PROHIBITION FROM ADJUSTMENTS OR TO
CHANGE THE HYMNAL.
[sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrnuNEl
Cleveland. May 2o-The Methodist General Con.
ference resumed to-day the balloiing for genera
officers of the church. 1t finished the eieouo" "
book agents at New-York and Cincinnati, anu
chose two missionary secretaries. 1t also TOOK I'M
portant action on the subject OF amusemen's anu
on the proposition Tor new hymhah ~ We"
Bishop Fosters turn to preside his VOICE VIC"
feeble and II soon appeared that he coulu not oo"
troll the Conference He made appear ai'e' App,-
to the delegates to be perfectly quiet so una. nc
coud he heard when putting motions. vut the mum
., suhlued conversation drowned his tones ana
after the recess he called Bishop GoodseI 10 pre-
side and made some touching remarks on returns
from q presidency which he will not assume again
He said he had received piles OF letters ana 'eIe
grams condemnatory OF the action OF the Hehei"'
Conference In putting him and his colleague y" '
non effective list as outrageous cruei anu ~"
necessary This was because the writers ala ho'
understand the situation. He wished 10 say mo
he did not feel that he had been Illuminated IN.
time had come when II was proper that ne s"
be s,iperannuated. There was such law io'
minister's and It was right TO apply similar Ia" :"
the bishops He recognized the wisdom OF 'he az
tion Of the General Conference. and would retire
feeling that he had still the love OF the 'h"rc" anu
the respect Of ell. lie would carry the glory Vi II
bishop down to the grave
As the venerable Bishop sat down the conference
rose and gave hun the handkerchief salu'e' an.
then Joined in singing. "Blest Be the Tie that
Binds"
After the reading OF the minutes !he result OF tue
ballots taken yesterday for Western book agents
and for the second agent at New-fotK WAS a"
nounced. DR. Lewis Curtis was elected agent VI
the Western Book Concern by 3Ol out OF 40 'o,e'
Mr.. Johnson and Samuel Diche, laymen' pe'ns
RI
Jennings fourth with S. The second ballot LOT
New-York agent showed that Magee. layman. OIL
Boston, had gained IS. and DR.. Mains OF brooniy"
e. while all others had lost. on the thiru oaio'
Mains came to the front with 2S6. Masee risins u
1874 This practically settled the contest IN iaVor
OF Mains. who was elected on the ioul'h pa"o' W
a vote OF 33s TO ia for Magee.
Both In New-York and Cincinnati minister won
This was IN part. In retaliation for the course vi
the laymen in demanding separate seats IN this Con-
ference and In holding separate caucuses 10 lay
dovn a pollcy for their own guidance on leading
questions The ministers thought the opportunity
10 teach them a lesson too good to be lost ana
partly for this reason and partly because they
thought that ministers In these positions coufd
render the Church better service they comoiheu al
favor of Drs Mains and Jennings. The New-iorK
house will be Eaton & Mains. the western mouse
Curtis & Jennings DR.. George j. MAINS was DOT :.
in Central New-York about fifty-wo years ago, ana
Graduated from Wesleyan University. He has been
pastor and presiding elder in the New-fork East
conference and Is considered man Of strong quail
ties.
After the book agents had been elected the con-
ference voted to hear nominations Tor three MS
sionary secretaries. No fewer than fifteen men, hve
for eacn position, put in nomination. Among
them we're three or four who had been candidates
for the episcopacy and had failed to be elected
The ballot showed the election 81 Nv" f Ight
Years and Dr. A. j. Palmer-Dr. Leonard RECEIVING
5 and Or Palmer 300 and pr D Palmer to the
New-York Conference. being at present pd''o' "a
only two of the three secretaries were elected on
the first ballot. The Rev hami''3 W, rgen,'T'
Smith. OF Iowa los. and DIR. BALDWIN W., Mah;
others received smaller votes On the sec9hu So
- 100 smith to iOi and Baldwin to 81. The Confer
ence viii take another vote TO morrow morning ,,r
the Committee on the State OF the Church recon-
mending that no change be made IN ' nS,nrs The
renort was adopted without discussion by ARG
vote From the same committee came rg Ky nS Tl
cinne forblds such diversions as cannot he taken
in the of the Lord ana expSl,y crnpis
going and the patronzing OF dancing scho III,
Many pastors OF city churcnes nave or torc n and
because young peope. they say, are driven 20 otne
churches on account OF II. Inc Sonr'' his section
The Conference strongly In favor OF the tpoIt
and IT adopted by large vote ABOUT '''e mum
An her matter which gave rise to con 'idera DE
,iisrussio1 was the report from the committee on
~ Dook Concern recommending that a commits
sion Of eleven be appointed. including the four BOOK
agents and two bishops. 10 revise the hymhdl the
- collection tn contain not over 800 hymns.
DR. Buckley thought that II new hymnal was 10
no published IL should not be limited 10 80 hymns;
~ fIint should be placed at 600 otherwise some or
The oldest and best hymns of the Church would be
sacrificed He also proposed mat the coNh'hi's'o"
should be fifteen instead of eleven ,,
DR. Homer Eaton pronounced the present ny nnd H.
which has been in use twenty years as the pest III
the market , a.. ,A,,..,,o, ~ =
Dr A r. Leonard said that the publication OF I
new hymnal would cost the Church $1,000. ana IN IN
,hssa lines with many debts upon the society, the
church could not afford II.
The report laid on the table by an overwheim-