The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-13
POLITICS IN CONFERENCE
A Stir i'm the Methodist Protest.
ant Annual Session.
CHARGES OF DISCOURTESY
Efforts 10 Modify Temperance Re-
olutiOn Precipitates a Lively Dis
cussion Between Belegafes-fsev.
Hugh L. Eide rdice President of
Westminster Seminary.

Baltimore "A prll An effort was made
| yesterday in the Maryland annual confer
eDce Of the Methodist Protestant Church
TO revive the question Of indorsing The Pro
blbition party, put without success
At Saturdays session the conference
passed almost unanimously u resolution te-
ported 10y the temperance committee, III
which it was stated that 1--WE believe il
4 the duty of every Christian not only to
pray for the suppression Of the hqrol
traffic, but 10 give his suffrage TO that
party which has the moral courage TO de
clare against its legal perpetuation. This
was understood TO be an Endorsement OF
the Prohibition party, as the only political
organization working Tor the overthrow
OF he saloon.
Rev. j. j. Murray, of Union Bridge intro
duced q resolution declaring that while
the conference regards the moral o obligation
OF Its members as extending to political as
well as social, domestic and ecclesiastical
subjects, it realizes also that 1T has no
right to control the members OF the church
ia the matter OF suffrage and recognizes the
right which personal freedom has to act
according to its Conscience
Discussion had beea commenced and Mr.
Murray had not spoken upon his resolution.
when Rev. J W. Kirk m owed to lay the reso-
luton on the table. The prohibitionsts
rallied to his support, and the resolution
was tabled 10y vote of 81 20 4S
Then ensued the sharpest exchange of
words during the session Mr. MURRAY
charged Mir. Kirk with disco artesy'' in
making such a motion in the face OF the
fact that Mr.. Kirk had defended the coill-
mittee's report Saturday and hau made a
long speech ia its favor without Interrupt
ton.
Mir Kirk resented the charge of dis
courtesy, stating that it was proper mo-
ton under the rules of the conference.
and that he had no idea that Mr. Murray
desired to speak on the resolution, as
he had given no evidence of such "A desire.
He declared that. in his opinion, Mr. Muir
ray ought TO apologize for his charge of
discourtesy.
MIR Murray proceeded 10 "apol. .eszc''
by charging that Mr. Kirk, il not
ashamed Of himself today, would live to
see the day when he would be ashamed
for what he had DONE Further exchange
Of courtesies was stopped by conference
taking up the order Of the day
Adoption Of a special committee's re-
port oil the recommendations of the board
of governors OF Westminster Theological
Seminary was the principal business of
the day. Rev. F. T. Little presented the
report, which urged the Importance of
right tIaining FOR the ministry, to be OBJ
tanned in such an institution as the one
at Westminster IL properly sustained by
the church
The report recommended the appoint
ment OF Rev. DR.. Hugh Latimer Elderdice
as president and Rev. B. F. Benson as
professor OF systematic theology, as re-
questeG by the governors DR. Eldertice
is to fill the place OF Rev. DIR. J. T. Ward.
who died recently. Mr.. Benson is TO re-
place Rev. L. W. Bates, who was put on
the saperannuated list a his own request
The faculty is also aided by President
Lewis and others of the faculty of West
ern Maryland College. and by the pastor
of Westminster Church.
The new president OF the seminary is
a native OF Carlisle, Pa, where he was born
in 1860. He was graduated from Western
Maryland College in 1882 and from Yale
Divinity School in 1890 In 1885 he was
ordained la the conference His first seven
Church. Forthe pastfiye years he has been
pastor at Pocomoke City. He has been
secretary of the conference for five years
General conference overtures for amend
ments to the church constitution were ap-
proved providing for the seating OF presi-
dents OF Christian Endeavor societies
in quarterly conference, as well as Sunday
school superintendents. Another amend
Inent outlines plan for the election Of
church stewards.
An overture for the holding of general
conference every six years after 1900. in
stead of evey four years. as at present, vas
laid on the table. Rev. DIR. F. T. Tagg,
who was responsible for its introduction
in general conference. stated that annual
had voted against the plan, so
that il could not become effective, and any
action by the Maryland conference would
make no difference