Evening star., 1900-05-26
UPROAR IN MEENNG
Hot Words Over rHmusemcnt Ques-
ton in Methodist Conference.
DISPOSITION TO REPEAL old Law
Bishop McCabe Called to Task
for Lobbying on Floor.
Mr.. ARTER STARTS TURMOIL

CHICAGO. May ga long list Of stand
ing committees of the church and COM
mittee to select delegates to attend the
ecumenical congress in London in 1901 were
agreed upon by the Methodist general con-
ference today. A resolution was also
adopted allowing all officers of the general
conference who were not reelected one-half
of their salaries until the meetings Of the
annual conferences
Rev. w. P. Thirkield. formerly general
secretary Of the Epworth League, was de-
clared elected as one Of the secretaries of
the Freedman's Aid and Southern Educa-
ton Society.
DR.. Levi Gilbert of New Haven, Conn.,
editor of the Daily Advocate being pub
lished here during the sessions of the con-
ference. was declared elected to the editor
snip of the Western Christian Advocate
and DR.. c. B. Spencer. formerly editor of
the Rocky Mountain Advocate. to the edi-
torship of the Central Christian Advocate.
H. X. Carroll, formerly editor of the
New York Independent, was elected assist
ant secretary of the Missionary Society.
Question of Amusemeuts.
Report No. OF the committee on the
state of the church. involving the standing
of the Methodist Church on dancing. card
playing and other prohibited amusements,
was then taken up.
DR.. b. P. Raymond Of Boston took the
floor to speak on the majority report. THE
regulation Itself is dead letter over a
large part Of our church, he said. 1T
cultivates duplicity and thus undermines
the fundamental principle of truth in our
church. Thus We compromise all other
virtues DR.. Raymond also said that
from the study of pedagogy a point could
be made in favor of taking the ban from
the amusements. "We strike a point about
The sixteenth year of age where the will
appears. If we would follow nature we
cannot build fence around man, for he
rebels
DR.. f. j. Gray of Williamsport. Pa. also
spoke in favor of the majority report DR.
Buckley was then recognized. The Jesu-
Its. Lutherans and Church of England never
allow the people to dance or go to the
theater for the forty days during Lent
but they do not have any laws on the
subject he said. 1T is not said TO any
man. Thou shalt not but the moral force
of the body. together with the religious eX
ercises. causes their people to abstain
stain all the year. The putting Of this list
in the presence of young people Is foe 10
sound genuine conversion
DR. J. w. Bashford argued for the ma
ence In principle. but simply Il difference
in method. Amid wild elamors for recogni-
ton the previous question was ordered.
Conference liz an UprOar.
Frank Arter of New Jersey then put the
conference in an uproar by starting to read
an amendment proposing to insert in para
graph 24s opera, grand opera, prize fights,
bull fights, cock fights. checkers, backgam-
mon. foot ball. base bail, one old cat, two
old cat"-here his voice was drowned by at
least fifty delegates springing to their feet
and demanding recognition. while cries Of
Outrage on the conference We won't
listen to the rdicule of rule Of this
church. were heard on all sides.
The chair ruled that Mr. Arter was in
order and he proceeded amid handc tapping
and stamping of feet. The conference was
again thrown into turmoil by q demand that
Bishop McCabe leave the floor. He has no
right on the floor of this body endeayoring
TO influence persons In their voting" said
DIR. Buckley, hotly.
Il was here on private business" retorted
Bishop McCabe
You were not. You told me to withdraw
my notion" shouted Mr.. Arter
Amid the confusion Mr.. After then with
drew his amendment and the angry dele
gates settled in their seats to hear the clos
ing argument in favor of the majority re-
port by Gov. Pattison. A demand for an
aye and no vote on the question was car
ried