Evening star., 1898-04-08
DUNN CREATES A FUROR
Criticises the Methodist Protestant Church in
His Resignation.
The Conference In baltimore Refuses
to Allow the Paper to
BE Read.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.


BALTIMORE, April S.-Rev. B. Alfred
DUNN, the future assistant pastor of the
First Congregational Church, Washington,
left the Maryland annual conference of
the Methodist Protestant Church amid q
whirl of excitement yesterday afternoon.
During a lull in the routine proceedings
with which the SEVENTEEN annual session
of the body was dragging along he OBJ
tanned The floor and commenced to read a
prepared statement of his Withdrawal from
the conference and church. Before he had
proceeded far there was a scene of the
widest excitement on the floor of the con-
ference, and staid old members were in a
trmult to resent his structures upon the
church they call their own. The statement
to which they took especial exception was
this:
Il leave you, therefore, because of a
thoroughly ripened conviction of a vital
lack il the Methodist Protestant Church
to meet the needs of the world today This
lack seem to find in the realm of method.
Here the simplest principles often find in
tricate uses. polity necessitates a pol
ICY"
Then the storm of Indignation broke
about his head, and Rev. ]. NJ. Gill in
dignantly moved that continuation of the
reading of the paper be not allowed. An
excited wrangle then ensued, while the
cause of all the confusion stood coolly
facing the wrought-up conference Back
of the members the general audience stood
up in the pews the better to witness the
scene.
make a statement before the vote was
taken on the motion to shut off his expla-
nation, but this was denied him. What he
would have said would have been an ac
ly,,. ,1a1r 80 nl Lott
which have existed between him and the
Baltimore ministers and recognition of
the loyalty and help of his congregation
at Brooklyn, Anne Arundel county, where
he has been stationed for two years.
This statement was denied him, as was
the formal declaration of his withdrawal
from the church and conference. After
the vote deciding against him, Rev. Mr..
DUNN pushed his way through the crowd
ed aisle and left Lafayette Avenue Church,
where the conference is in session.
The only member OF conference who
openly defended him and moved that he
be allowed to make his statement was Rev.
]. VIM. Kirk, pastor Of the Conference
Church. Rev. L. r. Dyott wanted permis-
sion for the statement to be made through
the faculty of instruction. but this was de-
clared out of order.
AS only the declaration was read. and no
formal request was made for withdrawal
President Melvin decided a motion out of
order granting the request. although the
members Indignantly demanded summary
action upon this.
The true inwardness Of the opposition to
Mr.. DUNN is said 20 be because he is a
Yale man, and members Of conference say
he is educated above a good pastor. He is
a son of the late Rev. VIM. T. DUNN an
old and respected member of conference,
and is nephew of Rev. DR.. L. w. Bates,
one of the pillars of that body. Born in
Maryland, Mr.. DUNN was educated at
Western Maryland College. He entered
&C inference in 1880, and was given one of
the small and arduous appointments on
the eastern shore Of Maryland. From this
he went to take theological course at
Yale, and has since pursued his studies
with view to taking more important
charges. 1t is charged Ivy his friends that
he was purposely kept down and subordi-
mated to less able men because of his ad-
vance in learning.
Since he was sent to Brooklyn Mr. DUNN
has declined call to the Peoples Church
OF Kansas City. and also declined a pro-
fessorship Of biblical literature at Kansas
City University. He has delivered courses
OF lectures on Experimental Psychology
at st. Johns and Western Maryland col
leGes.
Mr.. Dunn speaks enthusiastically of his
work In washington, upon which he will
enter next week.
Routine business occupied the attention
OF conference before the storm arose which
eliminated in Mr.. Dunm's abr,pt with
drawal- President Melvin told the minis
ters and laymen how he wanted them to
proceed in laying before him their wishes
In the matter of appointments
The routine work was resumed this
morning.