The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-15
Resolutions Adopted by the Temper
ance Committee That Reflect
on President Mckinley.
DELEGATES NOT UNANIMOUS
ALMOST HEATED DISCUSSION BY
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE.
The Proposed Constitution-ActiOn of
the Committee ON EpiscOpacy
Regarding New Bishops.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Speclal 10 the lnuidndpOtfs
CHICAGO, May 1.-THE temperance COM
mittee of the Methodist General Conference
is evidently trying to foist political dis
cussion on the assemblage. Rev. Dickie's
committee to-day decided on report on
the liquor question that is In the nature OF
censure of the President. The report was
not agreed to to-day without lively de-
bate, which is certain to be duplicated
when the matter reaches the conference.
The proposed constitution Is still the abb
sorbing topic at the conference. although
1t will be temporarily overshadowed by the
elections this week The proposed consti-
tuition gives notice in advance that II
through any local freak a woman be
elected she shall not take her seat until
after all others are seated provided three
ministers and three laymen from at least
six conferences protest Her case then
undergoes special investigation and II
found worthy and well qualified she may
be admitted. The real significance of this
provision is apparent to those only who
are better posted In Methodist economy
than even the average preacher. 1t will be
remembered that to meet the emergency
ference the first thing was to adopt a reso-
luton that in case any protest should be
made against the admission of any dele
gate-elect, his or her case should be re-
ferred to a committee and his or her con-
tinuance should be determined after an ex-
animation of the case. The woman lodged
this investigation by declining to serve, but
one man who was challenged retained his
seat Now the unsophisticated would like
to know why this act of sovereignty might
not be repeated in the future as in the
another question, revealed the truth; the
General Conference is a law to itself, but
If such a provision were incorporated in
the constitution it might serve as a break
water, but it cannot prevent the exercise
of sovereignty whenever a majority
chooses to override it, The question. how
ever, has been discussed with all due grav-
ity. as If there was something in it. DR..
Nicely moved to allow one single director to
keep any one out for investigation. but
that smacked a little too much of the one
man power, and was voted down and the
chapter as reported was allowed to stand.
stitution. it is not even a rope of sand.
There is nothing in it whenever the Gen.
eral Conference, in its sovereignty, wants
to do otherwise -
The most significant discussion of the
constitution thus far, except the woman
clause, was on the question of retaining in
the body the distinction between ministers
and laymen in matters of business. The
proposed constitution retains the distinc-
ton and provides for votes by orders and
all that. The amendment proposed by
Judge Mansfield and supported by Judge
Kent, of Frankfort, lay delegate from the
Northwest Indiana Conference, contem-
plates the utter ignoring of orders in the
General Conference. 1t is proper to say that
Judge Kent's speech on this question was
one Of the very best yet delivered on any
question. 1t was short. terse and every
word to the point, and 1t was listened to
with more than ordinary attention. His
statement of the fact that laymen have no
interests that are not interests of the min
listers also, and ministers can have no in
terests that are not interests of laymen,
wound up with: I'VE are all one body; all
the Lords anointed, and every one MEM
bers one of another" The amendment of
Judge Mansfield would evidently have been
adopted had not the president, Bishop Vim
cent, become ratified and put the questions
involved in the movement so awkwardly
that the conference became confused also.
1t will probably be brought up again be-
fore the final rejection of the whole thing
after having been amended out of all
shape as ii is likely TO. The crucial issues
have not yet been reached. The woman
question is in allegiance, but that is second
airy to the provision later on which allows
a layman nothing to do in the church but
to meet once in four years and elect dele
gate TO an electoral conference and TO pay
his quarterage and build churches.
T. A. G.