The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-14
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE
A BRIEF BUT BREEZY SESSION
HELD AT CLEVELAND
YESTERDAY.
NEW CONSTITUTION CONTEMPLATED.
A Commission Appointed to Prepare it.
1t Will Meet in Chicago in August.
Christian Endeavor Cues
ton Comes Up.

| Cleveland, w., May lZ.-lhc sesslon VI
the Methodist Episcopal general confer
ence today was brief but breezy. Con
siderable oratory was INDUCED in over
one Of the headlines of a morning paper
making it appear that delegate had de-
nounced the Christian Endeavor society
as idiotic because it prayed for the con-
version of Col. Ingersoll. The storm
quickly blew over, however.
The most important matter before the
Conference was embodied in resolution
mission to prepare new constitution.
The shortness of the session today and
the failure of the conference to transact
much business was due to the lelay of
the commission preparing their reports.
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS.
Cleveland, o., .uay 12.-Today's ses-
sion of the Methodist Episcopal confer
ence opened with Bishop Fowler in the
chair. The devotional exercises were
conducted by Rev. Wilkerson of Rock
River.
In the call for memorials and resolu-
lions, the Rev. r. d. Munger presented
Dne of great Importance. The resolution
| created a commission on constitution, to
| consist of two ministers and two laymen
from each district as it now stands. The
resolution presented the fact that there
is great question as to what parts of
the discipline constitute the constitution
of the church and this commission is
authorized and empowered to draw up Il
constitution. 1r "ombers of this com
mission are to be over 80 years of age.
and will meet in Chicago in the first
Wednesday in August where they will
organize by electing a president and sec
rotary. They are to draw up Il cOnstitu-
ton and after it is completed it is to be
published twice in all official papers of
| the church within thirty days after its
authorized to draw rules on elections, and
not less than or more than six months
afterwards the church will vote on it's
| adoption. Only those over p years of
age will be permitted to vote and the re-
suit shall be certified to by the secretary
of this general conference. If adopted
by majority of those voting, the con-
stitution so adopted shall become law
| at once.
The resolution was referred, without
argument, to the committee on constitu-
| ton.
The conference soon got into snarl, in
which the local papers were attacked, and
in which the meeting of She committee
on the state of the church had yesterday
come out prominently.
In that meeting Rev. DR.. Quayle. in
his remarks about the endeavor of Chris
tan EndeavOrers to secure a recognition
of the word deity in the constitution,
spoke as follows:
Not long ago that organization made
the religion of Christ ridiculous by pray
ing for the redemption of Bob ingersoll.
DO you think that the Methodist
church would ever be guilty of such an
| The Rev. Mr.. Helm of New York then
arose and said the morning papers had
so quoted a member of the conference, and
disclaimed any responsibility for such
sentiment by the general conference. He
presented the resolution for adoption. 1t
not only disclaimed responsibility, but
also endorsed the Endeavorers. AS soon
rs read two motions were made, one to
refer to the committee on Epworth
League and the other to lay ON the table.
Bishop Fowler ordered the vote taken
on the motion to refer. a mistake was
made in the counting and second was
| ordered.
DR.. Buckley desired to put a substitute,
but Bishop Fowler refused to entertain it,
| The vote on the motion to refer to the
committee on Epworth League was then
lost by Il vote of 1G2 yeas to 235 nays.
| Mr.. Henry French of Colorado moved
its adoption, when Mr.. Quayle of Kansas
City, who had made the remark, arose. He
is youthful looking delegate, and after
| stating what he said concerning the Chris
tian Endeavorers, denied the use of the
| language attributed to him.
| An attempt by MIR. Cheny to get the
| facts of the case was hOwled down. Every
denial of the article called out wild ap'
| plause.
Mr.. Quayle said Il certain society was
idiotic, and he thought that was the senti-
| ment of the majority of the members.
Another wild outburst of applause greet
| ed this, and the conference voted to con-
cur that it was idiotic.
Subsequently motion was passed to
eXpunge from the record all reference to
| the matter.
| Amanda Smith, one of the most famous
| colOred eyangeists, was present, and the
| conference suspended business to receive
| her. She was given the greatest ovation
| by the conference and was requested to
| sing. The delegates Joined in the chorus,
| and one song was not sufficient, and Il
second was called for and given. She
| aroused the greatest enthusiasm. As
none of the committees were ready to re-
port the conference then adjourned.
The committee on missions this after
noon considered the request of India that
missionary work be done among educated
people of that country. The committee
recommended the contingent fund of the
missionary society be increased from So
| 600 to $4,000.
| The woman delegate question also OPEN
ed up fiercely in the convention when
South Carolina asked that lay missiona
ries be brought into annual conferences.
Many of these lay missionaries are wom-
en-, and it was argued that their being Il
part of the annual conference would al
, low them to be delegates to the general
/ conference There was Il hot discussion
and the matter was held in allegiance, but
will probably be settled by allowing the
lay missionaries to occupy seats i'll the con-
ference. but not to vote. The book con-
Germ decided against Il proposition to con-
solidatc all the educational, institutions.
which was recommended on the score of
economy. l.t
The committee discussed and will prob
, ably recommend that the church Journal
he published in Spanish for the benefit of
/ South America and Mexico.
4 SHOOTING SCRAPE.
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