The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-28

EYen Bishop Andrews, SO very precise
and gentlemanly, could not help yield
Ing to his Environment. He is always
genial, but seldom distinctly humorous.
Even he, however, made one break.
There was only one nomination for edi-
tor of the New York Advocate-that WAS
the irrepresaible and incompatible DIR.
Buckley. Too bad, I grant, to intro
duce DR.. Buckeyes name SO frequently;
but how can one help it when this little
gentleman outs so large figure In this
big Conference. Some one called, as
usual, for the reading of the nomina-
tions, preparatory to voting. 1.-THE Sec
Rotary, if he can take the time," said the
Bishop, will read the names of the
nominees - This was fine. and so was
the vote of Ala out of t40 by which the
big little Doctor, first elected 16 years
ago, was put back in his old position as
the leading editor of Methodism.
Amongst the other editors, DR.. j. e
@. Sawyer of Syracuse got 407 votes for
the Northern Advocate, larger proper
ton of those cast than were given even
to DR.. Buckley. But DR.. A. J. Mast
was given all but the odd two. For the
Pittsburg Advocate DR.. G. W. Smith
walked off easily with 376 of the ballots,
while DR.. ID. H. Moore went back to the
Western with 81. DIR. Arthur Edwards
will begin his twenty fifth year as editor
Of the Northwestern with BAL, and DR..
J. +. Berr will minister again to the round
| 100, 600 who subscribe for the Epworth
Herald with 392 votes to his credit. The
only break in the editorial lines was
| when the Southwestern of New Orleans
was reached. The colored troops fought
with effect, II not nobly, and after the
| first ballot had failed to elect the present
editor, DR.. Hammond, the disputed trl-
pod went by good majority to another
1 Of nn1n Nm
One could hardly expect the recogni-
ton of evangelists to be turned into rid
ioule, but it was; just as previously the
day OF Judgment had been made to serve
as u subject for merriment. There has
hitherto been no lack in Methodism of
notwithstanding from place to place for
the purpose of eating up REVEALS but
these men no legal status. Consequent
ly the church has had little or no control
over them; the result being-so it is said
that while some OF these intinerating
revivalists have been good, others have
been only Indifferent, and some of them
very bad. From this time, however.
any annual conference which shall de-
oided so to do by majority OF two
thirds, can designate for this work one
or more of it's own ministers, and of
COURSE IL it shall appoint it will have the
power to control and regulate such
workers. If, too. any pastor shall wish
| to employ an evangelist not commits
| be must first get the consent Of the pre-
siding elder; not the presiding elder Of
the proposed Importation, but his own
| presiding elder.
Suoh is the newly created decree;
which, however, was not adopted with
out opposition, and not until the debate
had yielded its quota of amusement One
| hov r,1.nr ,clr t1,+
evangelist should be required by the Con-
! ference to furnish, as test of fitness
his photograph, autobiography and an
original song, but the opinion seemed
to prevail that they would do this with
out any new law making 1t obligatory,
and the matter WAS dropped. But DIR.
Forbes of Minnesota had not yet had
his say, and of course when he did have
1T, it was funny; for this gentleman will
go back TO his constituency covered all
over with the glory belonging to a great
| Conference. His humorous assault
on the much abused evangelist is but
one sample out of many. What was it
| all coming to, he wanted to know. You
raise your hand and they count you CON-
verified yssAfter awhile people will be asked
to send in cabinet portrait to have it
baptized by sprinking and the next step
1 will be to join the church in full con-
nectdon by telephone.
There IS not much fun In what the
Conference did on the subject of amuse-
rnents, and, in point Of fact, it didn't do
anything on that subject. Becase, how.
ever. it refused, after spirited discussion,
and in the face OF many petitions and
memorials, to relax it's law in relation to
card playing, dancing and theater-go-
ing, 1t certainly ipterfered with the fun
Of some of its worldly minded members.
Not that these are likely to be won over
from their indulgence in such diver
sions. They will still feel, no doubt,
| that they 0an do, without much harm.
what SO many religionists are allowed to
do. AS Methodists. however, they will
| be no more free TO follow sIoh courses
than before this Conference mot, while
to the restraints of church law will now
be added the further burden of bitter
disappointment. That's why / say their
| fun will be lessened.
Baptism Ia another subject that has
engaged attention; and, though the de-
bate itself evoked no special humor, the
mention of it will serve admirably as a
peg upon which to hang q humorous al
fusion in one Of the fratsFREl addresses
the gathering has brought forth. Re-
garding baptism, this church hos long
allowed immersion, it the candidate
should so choose but it has not allowed
its ministers to bapuize over again, by
either sprinkliug or immersion, those
| VINO uAu Deen DhpClZ6u III INFANCY. Inc
opinion was expressed Jh at failure to do
! this had driven into the Baptist Church
half 6 million, at least, who would other
wise have come into the Methodist fold
On the other band, some said that to al
low of the ordinance being repeated in
mature life would be fatal blow to it's
administration in childhood. But the
| blow was struck, and at this particular
point the Methodist Episcopal Church
bears a resem blance today which it never
did before to the great Baptist denomina-
| ton.
The story suggested in this statement
was told by Judge E. B. Perkins of Tex
as, one of the fratornaI delegates from
the Methodist Church South. He was
admonishing the brethren as to their
chief work. Forms, he said. were trivial
| things, the great thing was to get people
saved. A friend of his had sent a SOD,
fresh from college, to bring his learning
to bear against certain disease which
had broken out on far distant sheep
ranch. Not getting satisfactory reports
he finally went in person to see what was
being done. Things were in fine shape,
said the Judge, from a scientific stand
point, for his son was carrying on a
learned discussion with the overseer as
| = h., ,f inn ITHACA ami.