The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-12-15
TUESDAY,
THE KrNsroN CONFERENCE.

Kinston. y. c., Dee. 14-( Editorial
correspondence 1.-The vote on Saturday
in favor of holding the next conference
in Raleigh was particularly gratifying
to the Raleigh representation here. lit
showed that in one body at least Raleigh
was a prime fayorite. As soon as Rev.
w. G. Norman had invited the confer
ence to Raleigh, which he did In re-
Spouse to general feeling that Raleigh
was the proper points, Revs. Gibbs and
Cole, ex-pastors at Raleigh. and many
others rose to second the acceptance
Of the invitation, and it was accepted
by reclamation on a rising vote. 1t is
not too much to say that, though many
times larger than Kinston, the city of
Raleigh cannot hope to surpass the
character ~ the entertainment given
here. me hospitality has been warm
and ..nerous, and at no previous session
hsS it been a more delightful occasion
man here. The people Of all faiths
and callings united to throw open their
homes to the entertainment Of the dele
gates and visitors, and so warm became
the regard between the delegates and
their hosts that this morning hundreds
of the men, woman and children were
at the depot to bid them God-speed.
There were two matters before the
conference that threatened to mar its
harmony and good feeling. The paper
question for t, years has provoked
much thought and difference of opinion.
The feeling that the conference should
elect its own editor has been growing
until the majority here determined that
it should be done or they would establish
new paper out and out. The conference
gave almost a whole day to the discussion,
then recommitted the report, and so
great was the difficulty of making salts
factory arrangements that it was not
until the last hour of the session that
an arrangement was made by which fac
conference elects an editor and Rev. l..
W. Grissom made business manager.
The danger of two papers in tue State,
a danger that it was generally 'Iesired to
avoid, was thereby averted, md the final
action was SO satisfactory as to meet
the unanimous endorsement of the con-
ference. 2. The second disturbing ques-
ton was injected By the paper offered to
the conference by Reys. DR.. Kilgo, Yates
and Cole. This paper was taken by those
who opposed any action by the confer
ence upon matters purely in the domain
of the State as a very wrong step, and
was hotly opposed by two-ffth of the
memberg of the conference, including
such strong leaders as Rev. r. b. John,
Rev. E. ID. Swindell, Rev. B. r. Hall,
Rev. Jesse Fl. Page, Rev. w. Ell. d.
Wilson, Rev. A. d. Belts and others.
Nest of the laymen were opposed to its
adoption. DR.. Kilgo was most earnest
and active in his advocacy of the paper,
and was vigorously and actively seconded
by Reys. Tyer, Yates, Cole, Hurley and
others. They had the "go," and they
didn't let up peg in their organization
until its final passage. / regard it as
very unwise action, and believe that it
sets dangerous precedent. But it must
not be inferred by the general public
that these resolutions mean that any
member Of this conference will be found
in Raleigh during the Legislature seek
ing to control legislation, or that the
Methodist church proposes to enter any
fight against State aid for higher educa-
ton. Every speaker except one ex-
pressed himself as proud of the Univer-
sity and declared that they would take
no part in any agitation that would in
jure it. They rested their opposition
wholly and entirely against free scholar
ships. With two-thirds OF the conference
opposed to any action whatever, and nine
tenths of those who voted for the resolu-
tons declaring that it was directed solely
and entirely against free scholarships,
it cannot be claimed that the conference
is in favor OF Withdrawing any neces-
sary aid from the University. More
than that: the resolutions do not warrant
any Methodists going to Raleigh to
to try to influence legislation, and Drs.
Yates and Cole say that none will be
found there. But still the adoption Of the
resolutions puts approval upon the idea