New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-26
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
AMUSEMENT QUESTION CONSIDERED IN
COMMITTEE-TO BE DEBATED To-
DAY-ELECTION OF EDITORS
AND SECRETARIES.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRrBUSE-l


lBv TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUSEl
Chicago May 2J.-InduIgence in theatre going.
dancing. card playing and kindred amusements
will longer be In direct violation of the Dis
cipline OF the Methodist Episcopal Church II q
report by the Committee the State OF the
Church is accepted by the General Conference
when submitted tomorrow.
This question between the liberals and con-
servatives has been considered the most I'm
portant proposition before the Conference
In session. 1t only settled by the commit
tee after prolonged debate. Announcement of
the result was made this afternoon by ex-Gov-
ernor r. e. Pattison of Pennsylvania. who will
present the report II Is predicted that the Bit
terest fight of the Conference will take place
when the recommendation Is submitted to the
delegates for their decision.
The report of the committee takes the mooted
paragraph out Of the arbitrary laws Of the
Church and transfers 1t to section OF the Dis
cipline, where ii will form merely mild sug
gestion to the individual minister The matter
of reprimanding members who violate these
regulations is left entirely at the discretion of
the minister. This action comedies with the
views of the radicals" who desired to have the
question left to the conscience of the Christian
and not have it fixed by a number of speciica-
tons and restrictions.
IhE ANU SEMENI FARAGRAPd-
The paragraph of the Discipline referring to
amusements reads as follows:
Section PAS. In case of neglect of duties OF
any kind, imprudent conduct INDUCING sinful
tempers liquors beverage. signing petitions
in favor of granting licenses for the sale OF in
toxicating liquors. becoming bondsmen for per-
ged in such traffic renting property as
a place IN which TO manufacture sell
intoxicating liquor, dancing, playing at games
of chance, attending theatres horse races cir
dancing dancing
schools. or taking such other amusenents as are
obviously of misleading or questionable moral
tendency, or diSobedience to the order and dis
cipline of the Church-first. let private reproof
be given by the pastor or leader. and If there
be any acknowledgment of the fault and proper
humiliation, the person may be borne with.
On the second offence, the pastor or leader
may take one or two discreet members of the
Church.
On the third offence, let him be brought to
trial, and II found guilty and there be no sign
OF real humiliation he shall be expelled
| II the report of the committee passes the Con-
ference tomorrow 1t will go down in the annals
| of the Church one of the greatest concessions
ever made laymen. All the leading parlia-
| nentarians admit that it Is the principal event
| of the Conference. and many young ministers
| are prepared to make jointly their maiden
| speech and their name on this question
| CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARYSHIPS.
| Editors for the official Methodist publications
| and general secretaries and assistants for the
| organized benevolences nominated and
voted for to-day by the Conference. Great in
| terest attached to the balloting and the
| suits were awaited with interest throughout the
| denomination. Especially close was the race for
| the secretaryship of the Missionary and the
| Freedmens Aid societies and the editorship of
| The Northwestern Christian Advocate" and
| 1.-The Central Christian Advocate"
| There was unexpected number of nomina-
/ n he
| ciety the chair receiving the names of w. F.
| Oldham. Homer C. Stintz. Luther B. Wilson.
| A. B. Leonard Thomas NJ. Boyle. H. x. Carroll.
| a iayman: Wilmot Whitfield. W. T. Smith and
| Frank NJ. Bristol. DR.. Bristol withdrew his
! name.
| Fob secretary of the Freedmen's Aid and
| Southern Education Society there the
| largest field of candidates the list containing
the names of s. o. Benton. W. P Thirkleld. p.
| S. Merrill. L. H Stuart. G. E. Alderman. P. A.
| Cool NJ C. B. Mason. j. NJ. Carter. j. E. C.
| Sawyer L. G. Atkinson. III. G. Jackson. W. H.
| w. Reese. j. j. Hill and Robert Forbes Dr..
| Forbes withdrew his name.
| The nominees for secretary of the Church Ex-
| tension Society were j. NJ. King. ". A. Spencer.
Manley S. Hard. W. F. Cochran, t. c. Tiff and
| Robert Forbes.
| For the Sunday School Union and Tract So
| cety secretaryship H NJ Hamill. Thomas B.
/ Nicely and j. L. Hurlbut named
There was no opposition TO W. F. McDowelrs
| reelection to the secretaryship OF the Board OF
| Education. 1t decided that in the in
| which only one secretary and one assistant
| were TO be elected the man receiving the highest
vote should be the general secretary and the
| man with the second largest vote the assistant
! EDITORIAL. CANDIDATES.
While the votes for the secretaries were being
! counted the ballotng for editors was begun.
| For Editor of The Christian Advocate OF New
| York DR.. j. NJ Buckley and DIR. Silas c. Swal-
| low nominated, and the former sure
| of reelection to his present place. For The
| Northwestern Christian Advocate" the official
paper published in Chicago. these were NOM
mated: DR.. Arthur Edwards. the incumbent;
DIR. Polemus H. Swift. pastor OF the Englewood
| First Church: DR.. j. HI. Pooter. Editor of THE
| Michigan Advocate" and the Rev. c. III. Zirn-
norman The race between the first three
For The Western Christian Advocate" pub
lished at Cincinnati. Levi Gilbert E D. Whit
lock. David w. Clark, r j. Cooke. Samuel H.
Plantz. George Elliott and F. G. Brown were
proposed DR.. w. v. Kelley was renominated
no opposition; but for The Central Advocate"
which will be moved from ST. Louis to Kansas
City. j. W. Van Cleve. Edwin Locke. T. Mex
Stuart j. c. W. Cox. Henry s. Jackson. W. B.
Slutz and c. B. Spencer with Jesse Bowman
Young. the present editor.
i. b. Scott cOlored. had opposition in his
race for the edtorship of The Southwestern
Advocate" and George b. Nash will edit the
"Christliche Apologize Frederick Num-
"Haus und Herd and DR. Joseph F. Berry had
no opposition for reelection to The Epworth
Herald" editOrship. Charles W. Smith was the
only nominee for the editorship of The Pitts
burg Advocate
Taxation of legacies bestowed upon religious
\