The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-24
THE CIGARETTES WON
The Resolution Oenouncing
the Use of Cigarettes
Defeated.
Mr., F. C. ROBBINS SPEAKS
HE MADE a GREAT SPEECH
AGAINST TAKING THE
S2SS,000.
STATISTICS SHOW PROGRESS MALL LINES
Or. Byrd Said "The Church Cannot Afford to
be Bought off by Large Donations and
Thus Close The Mouth Of
The Methodists,"

Winston, n c., November 23.-(Spe
cial.)-The session of the Methodist Yves
tern n c. Conference closed at oclocb
yesterday 1t has been an i'll
teresting session, and the reports show
large gains in membership and progress
in all departments of church avork. The
hospitality has been observation-disclosures,
delightful and on Il generous scale. Inc
preachers all envy DR.. Greasy who Is the
chief Methodist pastor of this great ana
growing young city.
There were only two or three matters
that brought about conflict in the Confer
ence, and their disposition is not salts
factory to all the members. Before Con
ference met it was thought that the
Trinity Collge matters would cause Il
heated debate. That was happily avert
ed when President Kigo early i'll the
session announced that S100,000 of the
endowment of the college, which had
been in cigarette stock, had been changed
into ''clean cash" (that was an expressive
term by Dr. Kilgo and many thought it
might mean that cigarette stock was not
''clean'). Trinity College was endorsed
and the threatened conflict was ayertcd.
1t is very certain that if the college au-
thorities had reported that the church
owned stock in the American Tobacco
Company, there would have been some
of the plainest talking against co-part-
nership with illegal trusts ever heard out
side of Cyrus Watson's famous speech
in the Legislature against the Cigarette
Trust.
The matter of cigarettes, however,
came up in another shape and provoked
a heated debate. Last year this Confer
ence passed resolution denouncine
cigarettes. That has never pleased the
Dukes who thought it was aimed al
them. Yesterday when the Temperance
committee brought in its report, it added
thereto this resolution:
Resolved, That in view of the mani
fold evils resulting from the use of the
cigarette, we express ourselves as OPP
posed to the manufacture. sale and use
of the same In the spirit of Christian
charity we lovingly urge our younger
preachers to abstain from the use of to-
bacco in all of its forms.
No sooner had this resolution, been
read than it was seen that it had thrown
the fat in the fire. 1t was little hre
but it kindled a great cOnt1agratlon OF
debate. Somebody moved TO adopt the
report and there was objection. DIR. Z.
w. Byrd. the able pastor from Asheyllle,
was the first to speak for the resolution.
He pointed out that at the last Confer
ence a similar resolution had been adopt
ed and that to now vote down this reso-
linton would put the Conference in the
attitude of being bought off by largf
donations. thus shutting the mouths OF
the Methodist ministry. He poured hot
shot into the cigarette evil and believed
ii ought to be denounced even If Duke
did give Trinity big gifts. DIR. Byrd's
vigorous speech aid not suit DIR. ChreltZ
berg who resented in plain Language
the intimation that large DO
nations shut his mouth. Mr.
w. II. Odell said this whole cigarette
matter had been introduced merely tc
get in the papers and create strife
There were other speeches. all bristlins
with the points raised by the discussions
heretofore about Mr.. Dukes donations
and the cigarette. trust DIR. Chreitz
berg moved to strike ont the reference
to cigarettes. and his motion prevailed by
vote Of 60 to 81. Vrhis Conference.
said DIR. Weaver" goes on record in
favor of cigarettes" After the cigar
cite men had won their fight by slight
majority of three, Rev. II. l.. Atkins
offered the following resolution:
I'VE Recommend that our preachers
and laymen should prudently discourage
the use of tobacco in all its forms, es
pccially among young people.
THAT we do all we can to enforce tho
laws of the State against selling ci
garettes to minors"
This brought about some pariamen
try sparring, but when the vote was
taken, it was adopted, and its passage
about ended the thing up.
The matter that caused the most in
teresting debate was over the resolution
against taking the $2SS,000 which Con
gress had appropriated through Stahl
mans. Barbee's and Smiths receptions
The following resolution was first of
fered:
''WhereaS. In securing the payment O
the Publishing House claim of S2SS, OOt
the book agents of the NJ. T.. Church
South. made evasiye and misleadin,
statements which will compromise thu
honor of the church and infict a stigm:
upon her good name unless the wron:
thus done be condemned and said none,
returned:
therefore. Resolved, 1st. That sai'
sum of $2SS. 900 should be returned will
the least delay possible to the Treasur,
of the United States, although we i'll
sist said claim is just and valid one.
IND. That we recommend that sai'
book agents be suspended from office.
:}rd. That any action taken by on
Bishops and other legally CONSTITUTED
authorities of the church looking to thu
accomplishment of these ends, will re
ceiye the endorsement and cooperation
of this Conference.
18th. That we also hereby express ou
condemnation of the falsehoods told b!
+. Ii. Stahlman. agent of the Book Com
mittee. in his efforts to procure tn,
passage of said act through Congress
All of which is respectfully submitted.
(Signed)
ID. ATKINS.
i. X. SCROGGS.