Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-05-21
TIE METHODIST CONFERENCE
Declares Against Any Change in the
Rules Placing a Ban
Upon Certain Forms Of Amusement.
Horse Races, Circuses, Theatres,
Dancing, and Games of Chance
Enumerated-An Effort to Include
Football, Billiards, Etc, Was De-
feated-Voting for Book Agents.

feated-VOting for BOOK Agents.
Cleveland, O., May 2O.-Bishop Fos-
ter presided to-day at the Methodist
Conference and the first half hour was
devoted to an attempt to prevent such
scenes of confusion as attended the
nomination yesterday. 1t was finally
decided to permit but one nomination
and one second to be made.
The first ballot for book agent in the
western book concern at Cincinnati
was announced. The whole number OF
votes cast was 496. OF these Louis
Curtis received SO1, thus re-electing him.
A second ballot was ordered TO elect the
second agent.
The second ballot for junior agent at
New York was announced with no
choice, and third ballot was ordered.
Resolutions denouncing as disgrace
ful the sale Of intoxicating liquors IN
the capitol at Washington. and com
mending the prohibiting bill reported
bv the House committee were adopted
The resolutions closed With strong ap-
peal 10 both the Senate and House TO
pass the bill. The third ballot iCr d
New York agent resulted in no election.
The fourth ballot was taken. The COM
mittee on state of the church reported
in favor of no change in the rule pro
hibiting the use or encouragement of
| liquor, dancing games of cnance, the
atre going. circuseS and horse races.
! The recommendation that there be no
| change was greeted with great ap-
plause. At once a half dozen delegates
were on their feet. but DR.. Levi Mas
| ters. Of Michigan, was recognized. he
! did not object TO the restriction, but
thought the list should be revised if 1t
was to remain He thought if the re-
| strictions were to stand, why not add
foot ball. billiards, etc. The law is a
dead letter and he moved 10 strike 1t
/ out
At this point the second ballot on the
! Cincinnati book concern was annouced,
| but there was no choice and the third
ballot was taken.
The discussion on the proposes
change of the rule prohibiting certa-@
! amusements was then resumed.
Or. J. 3. McGraW, of New Jersey,
violently opposed any change. Further
| debate was closed by moving the pre-
! vious question.
! The rule was then voted on and re-
! mains the same by an overwhelming
majority. Only about forty voted in
favor OF striking out the restrictions.
The fourth ballot on agent for New
! York was announced. In all 500 voc S
were cast. making 255 necessary to a
| choice. OF these Dr. Manis received
/ S39. thus electing him and making the
| New York agents DR.. Easton and Dr..
Manis. On the third ballot for second
agent at the western concern in Gin
! cinnati there was no choice.
After deciding to change the juris-
/ dictiOn over the San Francisco depos-
! itOry from the New York to the Gin
cinnati book concern. nominations for
| missionary secretaries were called for.
! Three are to be elected. Before nomin-
| ations were begun the report of the
! fourth ballot on the Cincinnati bool;
concern was taken. In all $40 votes
were cast, making 256 necessary to a
! choice. Dr. II. c. Jennings received
| 344 votes, thus electing him and making
/ the Cincinnati agents Louis Surts and
/ H. c. Jennings.
Two ballots for missionary secretaries
| were then taken without election and
! the Conference adjourned.
The committee on state of the church
| decided to take up on Friday the prop
osition to form kind of supreme court
which will have final authority in all
| cases Of the dismissal of laymen. The
! plan is to have a body of twelve lay
men, three of whom shall act as a court
OF inquiry, to which all appeals shall be
made. The committee will ask the con-
ference TO request Bolivia. Peru. Chilli
and Ecuador to remove constitutional
discrimination against missionaries. In
these coutries marriage by Protestant
ministers is not recognized as legal.
The committee again took up the resolu-
ton asking for the insertion of the
name of Deity in the United States con-
stitution, and voted it down.
The committee on temperance decided
| 10 present to the conference a strong
resolution against the use of tobacco.
They viii advise that the discipline be
! changed 10 include all persons who hold
licenses for the sale of liquor in the
section prohibiting members from GER
Jain forms of amusement and
kinds of business. This is
intended to strike druggists.
The conference Will be requested
to order an annual collection for tenn
perance purposes, One-fourth to go 10
the standing committee on temperance.
and one-fourth to the annual confer
ences and half to the quarterly confer
ences.