Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-05-25

CHICAGO, May .24-This was a day
OF elections, attended by extremely
lively debates, in the Methodist gen.
eral conference. Agents OF the eastern
and western book concerns were
named, the election for western agents
resulting in the retirement of DR.. Lewis
Curtis, of Chicago, over whose man
agement Of the Office considerable con-
troversy has taken place. Samuel H.
Pye and A. C. jennings were the sue
cessful candidates for the Chicago and
Cincinnati offices, and Homer Eaton
and George P. Mains were reelected to
the New York Office.
Following the general plan Of unfit
cation and consolidation which has
prevailed throughout the sessions, the
conference to-day abolished the Office
of secretary of the Epworth League
and refused to allow another secretary
for the Sunday school union. 1t did.
however, reconsider its action of a
week ago in abolishing additional sec
retarieS of the various church benevo-
lences so far as the Freedmens Aid
and Southern Education Society was
concerned. The debate resulting in
this action was quite bitter at times,
the race question being brought out
prominently, and once in the discus
sion an angry delegate accused another
OF uttering falsehood. The conven-
ton at this became involved in appar-
emily hopeless parliamentary tangles
and Presiding Bishop Ninde, in the
afternoon session, admonished the
delegates not to turn the conference
into debating society. The general
conference voted to adjourn sine die at
1890 p. m. Tuesday next.
At the opening this morning the con-
ference got into a parliamentary tan
gle over the report of Gov. Pattison,
chairman of the special committee ap-
pointed to change the constitution of
the various church societies to con-
form to the action of the general con-
ference last week in voting but one
secretary and one assistant secretary
for the church extension, the Mission
airy Society and its Freedmen's Aid,
and the Southern Education Society.
After sharp debate, a motion to re-
consider the action of the conference
as regards the cutting off of the addi-
tional secretary OF the Freedmen's Aid
and Southern Education Society was
adopted.
The records were demanded and af-
ter being produced Presiding Bishop
Weldon ruled that the whole matter
was before the conference for action.
A deluge of substitutes, amendments
and motions to postpone followed,
and despite the appeal of delegates
against the allowing the color line TO
be touched by the Methodist body
there was not a little heated discus
sion over the possible election of
colored secretary for the Freedman
Aid Society.
1T is unfair for us to draw the color
line There are men who are afraid
we are going to elect a colored secre-
tary to this society,"" said President
w. H. Crawford, of Allegheny col
| lege.
Lay Delegate WEIGH, of Wyoming,
| flushed with anger, at once arose. .Mr.
President | submit it is unfair for any
man on that platform to make such
statement. l say it is false" he shout
ed.
We'll, l withdraw that statement
so far as it affects those who don't
| feel that way said President Craw-
| ford, amid laughter
A motion with the object to postpone
the whole matter for four years was
tabled and after further extended de-
bate the amendment offered by Dele
/ gate WEIGH, of Wyo Aing. excepting
the Freedmen's Aid Society from the
previous action of the conference, thus
allowing that society two secretaries,
was adopted.
| The conference settled down to the
election of eastern and western agents.