The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-10
MR.. DUDLEY WAS
SOMEWHAT HARSH
Says That Pennsylvania Has a Profanc
Legislature.
THE CAUSE OF THIS STATEMENT
Primitive Methodist Conference Was
Considering the Advisabiiity of
Renting Church at Niles, Ohio,
for School Purposes 80 Mr.. Dudley
Did Not Think That as Bad as
burg TO the State legislature

Saturdays sessions of the Primitive
Methodist church state conference was
enivened by some vigorous remarks by
Hon. Robert Dudley, of Irwin, about
the state legislature. Mr.. Dudley is
an eX-member of the Legislature.
The Saturday session of the Primlt-
i've Methodist conference was opened at
a. m. with devotional exercises led
by Thomas Hooper. After roll call and
the reading and adoption of the min
utes of the previous session, the final
report of the special committee on the
Niles and Youngstown church matters
was read. The recommendation Of
fered by the committee evoked some
lively discussion. 1t had been recon-
mended that the Niles church be rented
to the school district of that place,
but his action was considered by many
to be a profaning of the house of God.
This brought the Hon. Robert Dudley
of Irwin. to his feet with the declara-
tion that a church had been rented for
the uses of a "profane Legislature"
why then" said Hon. Dudley. should
weloot rent our church edfice for school
purposes" 1t was decided to follow
out the recommendation as the confer
ence would lose the church due to the
reverting clause in the lease if the edi-
flee was not used. A reconsideration
of the admission of Mr.. Trescott, of
Nanticoke, as a first year probationer
which was allowed on Friday, was
moved but on a vote being taken the
grant was allowed to stand.
PUBLICATION OF MINUTES.
The cost of the publication of con-
ference minutes was again discussed
but no definite conclusion was arrived
at. The claim of Mrs. Ball, of Oily
phant, was reported and laid on the
table until Monday morning when the
conference in secret session will consid-
er it. Mrs. Ball is the wife of the
pastor of the Primitive church at Oily
phant and she threatens suit if money
which she loaned a book concern work.
ing under the conference but now de-
funct is not returned her.
The redemption committee reported
through Rev. w. F. Nichols, but the
report was referred back to the COM
mittee. The appropriation committee
reported and recommended that no ap-
preparation be made this year for mis-
sions. The recommendation was adopt
ed but the report was held for the
time as it was time for noon adjourn
ment.
The afternoon session opened with
the usual devotional exercises led by
Rev. w. T. Williams. The first item of
business was the temperance commit
tees report. The report was adopted
and ordered spread on the minutes. 1t
was as follows:
We look upon all sellers of Intoxicating
| beverages of any kind, upon all consum-
! ers thereof and upon all brewers and dis
| tillers of the same, upon all who make or
| help make laws to legaiZe such traffic,
| also upon all who at the polls vote for
any party or parties who are pledged to
support this traffic in any way or to any
extent, and especially do we look upon all
| so-called Christian people who, pray God
| to lead them not into temptation, but de-
deliver them from evil, and who yet by
| their votes put temptation to their
neighbor's lips, as being to some
| extent a menace to civilization, to the
| spread of morality and religion, to peace
and prosperity, both national and inter-
| national; we also look upon al such char
acters as those who build and maintain
and people, prisons, pententiaries and
| asylums. Further we look upon the con-
| duct of such people as tending to paralyze
| trade, destroy our industries, ruin our
| homes and demoralize our young people.
| We designate the rum traffic as the great
| est and gravest evil of modern times.
| Therefore be 1t resolved
ADVISE TOTAL ABSTINENCE.
| First, That as body we strongly dis
| approve the use of intoXicants as a beV-
| erage and that we especially urge all
| Christian communicates to become total
| abstainers, and to cooperate with US In a
determined attempt to abolish this in
| fernal business.
Second, That We call upon all sensible
| and intelligent people to aid us in every
| possible way in spreading the temperance
| movement in general, and thus help save
| the youths of our land from acquiring the
| pernicious habit of moderate drinking.
| Third, That we seek the aid of all cor
porate bodies, municipal and otherwise,
| to help along this grand movement by
| looking for and employing sober and in
dustrious men to fill all vacancies within
| their jurisdiction
Fourth, That we call upon all Christian
people irrespective of creed "to seek mer-
| cies from the God of heaven" in order
that success may attend every earnest en-
deaVor along the line of temperance.