The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-07
METHODIST CONFERENCE
EXTENSION 'OF TIME LIMIT or
PASTORATE ACTED UPON.

Exciting Debate on the NIatter-A Sharp
Tilt Between DR.. Buckley and Rev. G. j.
North-A Vote in Favor of Extension--Rc-
ports of Various Committees-Mention of
Salvation Army Raised Discussion
Session Lasted Until IL O'Clock-Im-
portant Business for To-day.
A large attendance was present at
the session of the conference last night,
the assembly room being filled. The
session began at 7:3O and continued
without intermission until II o'clock.
Rev. DR.. James M. Buckley presided
until Bishop Merrill arrived. After
prayer by Rev. Henry Aston of Brook
lyn the session at once got down to
business. Scarcely a motion was made
or report submitted which did not
occasion argument and altogether the
session was the stormiest one of the
conference thus far
Rev. DR.. w. N. Rice of Wesleyan read
an able report of the committee on So
cial problems, the report being signed
by all of the members of the committee
except Professor Raymond, who was
unable on account of illness to attend
to the matter. DR.. Rice said after a
lengthy discussion of the various social
problems now current that every Chris
tian organization which reaches the
submerged portion of the people from
university extension to the Salvation
Army deserves encouragement. The
glory Of the Methodist church has been
then it has been the church of the poor
and this glory it must retain. Finally
the report recommended that the gen
eral conference be petitioned to give
some fitting attention to the subject
of the discomfort of the poor with their
condition of life and the regulation of
the relation between the employer and
the laborer and that the following mat
ers be brought to the attention of the
general conference: the duty of intelli-
gent and discriminating sympathy with
the discomfort of and the aspirations Of
the poor; the maintenance of the right
of property, the need of just co-ordina-
ton between the rights of individuals
and the welfare of society in the regula-
ton of the employment of both capital
the principles Of business; the danger
Of caste spirit and plutocratic influence
In the church; the duty of the church
and especially Of the ministry to study
/ the constitution and the needs of So
ciety and intelligently to lead in the
march of social reform.
DR. Buckley thought that the latter
part Of this report should be submitted
y, ohi
to the mention of the Salvation army
in the minutes. He said that the Sal
walton army was nothing less now than
rival of the church.
Rev DR.. Pullman, on the other hand.
said that he didn't care If the Salvation
army was divided into a dozen divis-
ions; it is a power and a godly organi-
zation to reach the poor and that Meth
odists ought not to put anything in the
way of that great move to reach the
hearts of the people. He also strenu-
ously combatted several objections of
DR. Buckley to the report.
DR.. Main said that there was no ques-
ton but that the Salvation army was
divinely raised up as an agent for work
among the poor and the mere mention
of it in the minutes as one of the agents
for uplifting Gods poor did not contain
sufficient matter of offense for objec-
ton. He advocated that the entire re-
port be embodied in the minutes, and
also said that he believed it time that
the Methodist church should be at the
very front as religious teacher on all
great questions
G. S. Williams and DR.. Byler also
smoke in favor of adopting the entire
report.
Then on motion of Rev. DR.. w. w.
Clark it was voted that the report be
accepted and sent as a memorial to the
general conference.
The next question brought up was
one of the most important to come be-
fore the conference at it's forty-eighth
session.
DR.. Reed of the committee on time
limit read a report recommending that
the New York East conference petition
the general conference to so modify ex-
listing rules regarding the term of pas
toral service so that in addition to the
present provisions arrangement shall
be made for the reappointment after
expiration of the time limit, as at pres
ent prescribed, and that the reappoint-
rhent be allowed only when quarterly
conference shall without debate have
by a, three-quarter vote signed the petit
tion of the pastor desiring reappoint-
ment and as a requisite of the reap
pointment The bishop presiding at
the next conference after the petition
is presented shall give consent for the
reappointment without consideration of
the previous term of pastorate. DR..
Reed then spoke in support of the rec
ommendation and said that he thought
that the present provisions in regard to
the matter were too rigid. as they have
no regard for special cases.
DR.. Pullman vigorously opposed the
taking of favorable action in the case.
The churches were not ready yet for it.
The resolution would put all the min
listers, except the very best, on the grid
iron and make class distinction.
DR.. Buckley jumped up and said DR..
Pullman's talking was away off from
the point. Owing to new conditions
the change proposed was necessary.
Presiding elders were apt to inquire
into and favor their churchs wishes.
Presiding Elder Van Elstyne shouted
out that he had never asked question
of the kind. The other presiding elders
present coincided.
The debate now grew fast and hot.
i 8 l. 1As 80