New-York tribune., 1900-05-27
SHARP METHODIST DEBATE.
TONGUES CLASH IN GENERAL CONFER
ENCE OVER AMUSEMENT QUESTION.
NO CHANGE DECIDED AFTER A CLOSE VOTE
BISHOP MCABE REBUKED AND CON-
TRADICTED-oFFICIALs AND
EDITORS CHOSEN.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.l

By TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
Chicago. May 26.-with shouting of angry
words cIapping of hands and stamping Of feet
that gave the ecclesiastical congress the appear
ance Of a county convention. the Methodist
General Conference to-day closed the debate on
the prohibition of certain amusements. Then
the majority report of the Committee on the
State of the Church, recommending erasure Of
the rule in the Discipline specifically forbidding
dancing, theatre attendance and few other
diversions and the minority report, in favor of
modification were put to aye and no vote
The official vote, which win determine the exact
result was not announced before adjournment,
but an unofficial record this afternoon gave the
result as 800 against any change and 80 for
the amendment TO the Discipline
Before the calling of names. however, there
was confusion for half an hour, the decision of
Bishop Vincent, who presided, was appealed
from. and Bishop McCabe was ruled off the Con-
ference floor. all as the result of an amendment
proposed. probably in fun by Frank A. Arter, of
the East Ohio Conference, to forbid under pain
of expulsion not only dancing. but nearly every
sport from football TO golf, and from attending
grand opera TO patronizing a dog fight. The
Chair sustained. however, and the turmoil
ended after points OF order had been dis
posed of by the dozen and Delegate Arter had
withdrawn his amendment.
WHAT Mr.. AFTER PROPOSED.
Il move YOU" said Mr. Arter. when the pre-
Fious question had been ordered. that in Para
graph 24S of the Discipline be added the words
Opera, grand opera. living pictures. prizefghts,
cockfghts. dogfghts bullfights, football, base
ball. billiards, checkers, polo golf, tennis, one
old cat. two old cat'-but he could read no
further. Applause mingled with shouts directed
10 the Chair drowned his voice At least twenty
IL, La,~z o,aI M Ar+a
could not continue. The reader was called to
the platform. and the Bishop tried to create
order out of chaos.
Brother Arter has right to be heard, and
you should listen" said Bishop Vincent.
we need not listen" cried delegate. Ito
an ridiculing a rule of our Church
Layman Pettitohn. of Michigan, was recog-
nized Brother Arter is disgrace to this Con-
ference he said. In the midst of the applause
and stamping of feet that followed, Mr.. Petit
john continued, It's outrage this Con
ference"
You are bound to hear him through" said the
Bishop. as he raped hard enough TO break the
gavel
Point OF orderr' cried a dozen voices
more. It's indignity this Conference!"
DIR. j. B. Graw said the amendment should
have been printed. but not sustained.
Samuel Dickie. of Michigan, was recognized.
amendment not made in good faith"
Mr. Arter, of East Ohio, is in ORDER" replied
the Chair.
Then appeal from the decision of the Chair
Again the applause was deafening. DR.. Buck
ley called fer the reading Of the rules in the case.
and Mr.. Arter tried to make an explanation out
was howled down. After the Bishop and Mr..
Dickie had presented their sides the vote was
taken and the Chair sustained by a vote of
333 to 243. r.ss-.
BISHOP MCABE 'REBUKED.
Brother Arter has the floor" repeated the
Bishop, but a delegate interrupted.
Il rise point Of ORDER he declared. mo
Bishop has right on the floor of this Confer
ence Bishop McCabe has no right to move
about and influence persons within the bar"
~My motives have been impugned," began
Mr. Arter, who at last had word. Therefore
I now Withdraw Applause prevented any
thing additional being heard. but Bishop
McCabe was now aroused
II wish to say I here on business with
DR. King he declared.
Shaking his finger at the retreating Bishop,
Mr.. Arter shouted: Nothing of the kind. You
told yield the floor"
You should have done / told you," re-
turned Bishop McCabe.
Let us reason together" said Dr. B. P. Ray
mond, president OF Wesleyan University in
opening the debate on the amusement topic to-
day. and then he proceeded. My experience
comes from dealing with young people in our
colleges twenty years. We losing many
young people, and they go to other churches.
II is not fair to say they not spiritual. A
large number come into the Church and do not
keep the regulation, which is a dead letter.
This cultivates duplicity and undermines hon
esty; thus We compromise all other virtues
From the study of pedagogy argument may
be made We strike point about the six
feenth year Of age where the will appears. If
we would follow nature, can't build q -ence
around man, for he rebels The more you
educate the less you dictate
This of the strongest speeches against
majority report. and then DR.. J. NJ Buck
ley.
DR. BUCKLEY A PURITAN.
Il am a Puritan of the Puritans" he began
IF anything gave evil impulses it was at
tendance upon the theatre. In the pastorate
found theatre going the principal means of back
sliding. Methodists sho Id abstain from these
things but the question is how best to make
them abstain"
He said he had objected TO the passage of the
though he had fought theatres. He foresaw he
said that the list was partial, and it was gem
orally believed that all diversions not prohibited
We're sanctioned, although Sunday golfing at
tending the opera visiting billiard rooms etc
are not included under the ban.
Lay Delegate Harmon. of Central New-York.
read argument in favor of retaining the pro-
hibition. DR.. j. w. Bashford, president of the