Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-12
HOT WORDS IN CONFERENCE
Methodist Protestant Ministers Discuss Cor
rupt Political Methods.
Charge Made That Prominent Mem
Funds-Dumm's Case Again.
,ecial Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
BALTIMORE, April 12.-Loud echoes
were heard yesterday afternoon in the
Maryland annual conference Of the Meth
odist Protestant Church CT the stir caused
last week by the abrupt withdrawal Of Rev.
B. Alfred DUNN. to become assistant pas
tor Of the First Congregational Church.
Washington.
The first reference to the occurrence
came when Rev. J. w. Kirk asked that the
withdrawal papers asked for by Rev. Mr..
DUNN. be forwarded to him. President
Melvin quickly and shortly replied that
the papers had already been sent, and SO
the incident was supposed to be closed. 1t
cropped up again, however, in a spirited
debate which enSued over the recommended
ton Of the committee on fraternal rela-
Quincy L. Morrow to the lecture bureau Of
the Christian Citizenship League Of Chi
cago.
For three years Rev. Mr.. Morrow has
been lecturing for the league on good citi-
zenshfp. as brought about by adherence to
the principles of the prohibition party. He
took part in the last campaign for state
treasurer in Pennsylvania, stamping the
state for the prohibition candidate. All
this endeared him to the ultra prohibition
lists In conference, or. as they are called by
their opponents, the partisan prohibition
lists" These rallied to his support, but
were unsuccessful in preventing the adop
ton of the committees report.
Although he is thus left without the sane
ton OF conference to continue his work in
the line Of good citizenship, Rev. Mr.. Nor
row declares that he will keep on IL he has
to leave the conference to do it. Two
courses are open to him, to ask to be left
unstationed, which would leave him only
nominaliy a member of the body. or to be
transferred to another conference, which
would allow him to keep up the lecturing
without opposition.
During the debate some pretty harsh
charges were made, and no direct answer
vas made to them. Rev. ]. l.. Straughn
said: THE political corruption of Christian
men in high places is menacing the church.
People high up in the church have no
computations in going out to purchase
votes on election day." Rev. DR.. John j.
Murray interrupted to know if he had
heard Alright, and had only the satisfaction
of hearing the charge repeated.
Then came Rev. w. NJ. Strayer a former
president Of conference, who said: This
bureau Of Christian citizenship is needed
because ministers in cur country have been
Unable to arouse the conscience of men
necessary to create in them good citizen
ship. For some Of them to go into their
pulpits and do SO would mean the loss of
their support. This doctrine he teaches is
necessary to correct the vicious practice of
carrying elections by the use Of money and
whisky.
Not one election In this state recently,
except pOSSilly those OF local option, mas
been carried but by bribery-buying votes
and the use Of intoxicating liquors. Promi
nent members of the Methodist Protestant
Church have contributed literally to cam
paign finds which they knew. would be
used to buy votes and to buy whisky for
guzzlers to drink who voted their tickets"
Objection was made that the charges he
was making were as bad as the claim of
Rev. Mr.. DUNN. that there is a vital
lack in the Methodist Protestant Church"
THE facts are there, nevertheless" re-
sponded Rev. Mr.. Strayer, land you may
remedy them by. giving the seal of your
approval to this bureau and the men con-
nected with it,
Rev. DR.. ]. D. Kinyer defended the min
listers and said he, for one. taught good citi-
zenship along with the Gospel, and was not
in fear of losing support from his church.
He claimed II Rev. Mr.. Morrow wanted to
succeed, 1t must. be in some other relation
than that Of an active member Of the
itineraney. ~,
Church Extension Society was held yes
terday afternoon, with IN anniversary
meeting at night. Officers were elected as
follows: President. w. J. Neepier; vice
presidents, S. B. Tread way, B. w. Kindley;
sec rotary, c. E. Dryden: treasurer, T. H.
Little, T. o. Grouse. w. ]. c. Dulany, s. B.
Southerland. T. A. Murray, J. N. Gilbert, T.
Harry Bartlett. x
Rev. l.. F. Warner, steward of the super
al nuated fund, reported receipts during the
year Of $7,1S3, and s7.170 paid out, Of which
S, l72 was paid cut during conference to the
various claimants.
ing. including the reports of committees. in
OF der to clear the table for the final session
tonight, when it IL expected the appoint
ments will be read. -