The San Francisco call., 1897-09-25
NO NEWS AND
So NO NOTICE
Why the Examiner" Was
Ignored by the
Ministers.
1t Had No Report of the
Steel Wilson Contro-
VerSy.
The Ministers Blamed DR.. Steel, Not
the Papers Which Quoted
Him.

OAKLAND, CAL, Sept. "a. - The
members of the conference of the
Methodist Church South. now in session
at Ashury Church, adopted a resolution
this morning asking all the newspapers
not to make their own reports of the pro-
ceedings, but to accept the report OF the
press committee.
At yesterdays session a conference was
held regarding the report of DR.. Steeps
criticism of the Pacific Coast Conference,
and this was assailed by Dr. Wilson. editor
OF the Pacific Method Advocate. An
account If The controversy was published
in yesterdays CALL.
This was made to appear in to-day's
Examiner that the conference had con-
demned THE CALL for the utterances of
DR.. Steel. DR.. Wilson and Presiding Ell
der Simmons distinctly state that they do
not in any way blame THE CALL for pub
lishing DR.. SteeFs remarks, although they
severely censure DR.. Steel.
1t is true" said DR.. Wilson, "that un-
fortunately DR.. Steel is the general secre-
tary OF the Epworth League, and in this
position he has greatly misused his in
fiuence and authority. His letters re-
Gently published regarding the Pacific
Coast conference are scandalous and not
!ruthful. We would much rather that
such extracts were not published. but We
feel far more keenly the Iact that DR.. Steel
should have written thenl."
The facts connected with the conference
were duly published in THE CALL, Chroni-
Gle. Bulletin and OAklaLd Tribune, and
these papers were requested 10 hereafter
publish only official reports. The Ex-
amlner not having published the news ut
al wa inc HaH in no lief no hoS Si-
OF the trouble ich is now occupying the
attention of the Methodist Church South
on this coast is found in 8 statement pub
lished over the signature Of DR.. Steel
a aOout six weeks ago. and which has been
freely circulated among the churches in
the conference. DR.. Steel takes severely
to task DR.. Wilson of the Pacific Metho-
dist Advocate for an article published en-
titled Loyalty TO the Church"
DR.. Steel critic zss this article by writ
ing another under the same title, and he
taxes grave offense at many of DIR. Will
sons utterances. In part d.. Steel says:
see there is a good result already accom-
plished by my visit TO California. II has put
some life in the Pacific Meth odlst. | ike TO
wake up honest Rip Van Winkle like good DR..
Wilson, he editor, and see him rub his rife
and get down to business. even il he blaZes at
me. Never mind tha', have stirred MIN up
10 say something. Tne allusion 10 tobacco III
my letters is like drop OF camphor on a raw
place, IL makes the brethren jump. Dear DR..
Shangie is shocked that should aIlude to the
churCh's Endorsement of its use, and my good
friend Oates hastens to assure US that while
few of the California preachers use tobacco
none OF them are so far advanced as 10 preach
that the use OF tobacco is a sin that viii ex-
clude men from grace and glory.
Where did he get the idea that anybody is
so far advanced? We have all sorts OF fanat-
les, but l doubt If Oakes ever saw such one
as he describes. There is a sin not unto death
that degrades the lie and wars against the
soul though ii may not exclude from grace
and glory Such IS the use of tobacco. Dr.
Wilson'S article is full of mistaken views and
groundiess invective. There are as many
mistakes as there are sentences in the para
graph. There is absolutely no ground for his
statements.
have travelled good deal over the country
from sea to sea, and give 1t my deliberate
conviction that ere never was time in the
history OF Method sm when the mem bership
of the church. both lay and clerical, was mole
loyal than II is now. DR.. Wilson is croaker.
He has fshed up these monsters from the
ds rk depth OF his Imagination. They are un-
cahEy surmises OF his own dIsoIdered fancy.
The loyalty DR.. Wilson advocates is a most
pernicious sentiment 1t is loyalty to men,
not 10 principle. Such loyalty transforms
men into vassais and ends in the most degrad-
ing fiunkeyism.
During the past month petition to the
Bishop and the presiding elders has been
placed in all the churc hes OF the conference
and has been largely signed. This petit
tion is in line with the suggestion of DR..
Steel. 1t is not supported by the sd minis
tration or the ministry, but has been
signed by large number of the laity.
There is some doubt as to whether this
petition shall be presented 10 the con-
ference or not, and this afternoon special
meeting of the lay delegates was held to
consider the matter. The question will
prot ablv come up at to- morrow's session.
DR.. Wilson says that all the trouble is
simply the work of a few disgruntled
members. mo matter where we go or in
what branch OF society We are" said DR..
Wilson, I'VE find people who supply the
pl, ce of anarchists. They object 10 dis
cipline and take great pleasure In stirring
up factional strife, well knowing that by
so doing they are hurting the best inter
ests OF all concerned. Our church to-day
was never more harmonious. 1t is scan
dalous for anybody to assume that the
dissatisfied element has any strength. |
am confident that this conference will take
action before it finally adjourns that will
bear out the truth of what L say. We do
not want all these private doings and
little discontents among the church to be
heraldtd to the world, because they con-
vey wrong mpression and injure our
cause. DR.. Steel has been guilty OF gross
misconduct, and no one regrets it more
than l do. We treated HIM as brother
and yet he IS attem pting to sow among US
seeds of discomfort"