Evening star., 1901-09-20
Dramatic Scene in Conference OF
Free Methodist Church.
A PROMINENT DELEGATE WITHDRAWS
Trouble Arose Over Selection of
Place of Meeting.
GENERAL AND PERSONAL
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 701 King Street.
Bell Tolanhnna No 10R,

morning in the old First Presbyterian
Church on South Lee street, where the
New York annual conference OF the Free
Methodist Church Is in session. Mr.. James
Gray of Brooklyn, N. Y, summarily sew
cred his connection with the conference and
withdrew from the church. Gathering up
his valise and several documents that had
been under discussion he departed, bidding
adieu to his former associates in church
work. For moment his action seemed to
shock the conference. No one had a word
to say. Then some one started an old
Methodist hymn, which seemed particular
ly appropriate to the circumstances, and
spontaneously the delegates took up the
refrain.
The trouble, it Is said, grew out of the
selection of Alexandria as the place for the
session of the conference. At the last
session of that body the matter was left
open and later the duty Of choosing a point
of gathering devolved upon committee of
two. In order to reach an agreement the
committeeman decided upon Mr.. Gray as
referee. His vote was given in favor of
Alexandria. 1t appears that the choice
caused some adverse comment, and one OF
the members of the committee. Rev. Jacob
T. Logan Of Wilkesbarre, Pa, attempted to
have the matter reopened. Then followed
some caustic correspondence.
Orl81n OF the trouble.
Yesterday morning the question came up
and Mr.. Gray read the letters that had
been exchanged between those interested in
the matter. In some of the papers Rev.
Mr.. Logan was charged with un-Christian
conduct. This morning when conference
assembled he asked that the charges
against him be Investigated. Bishop Cole
man, the presiding officer. put the question
OF Mr.. LOgan'S character to the conference
and 1t was passed, no one voting against
him. Mr.. Logan, who is one of the secre-
taries Of the body, then asked that the
papers which had been read before the
conference the day before, and which were
still in the possession of Mr.. Gray be sent
to the secretary's desk. Mr.. Gray declared
that the letters were his personal property,
and said he would furnish a copy, but
would not surrender the originals.
The bishop ruled that as the matter had
been brought before the conference the
body had right to the custody of the let
ters. After much discussion an appeal
from the decision of the chair was voted
down by a large majority. Immediately
Mr.. Gray arose and took leave of the con-
ference, saying that If 1t wanted the papers
in question recourse would have to be
made to the civil courts.
The regular business of the conference
was then proceeded with.
Meeting of Board of Health.
At the regular monthly meeting Of the
board OF health held last evening in the
office Of the city auditor the following
members were present: Health Officer e.
A. German and Messrs Michael T. Dwyer.
James F. Peyton, William l.. Hoy, p. NJ.
bradshaw, J. T. Harrison, r. H. Cox and
8. A. Mankin. Mayor Simpson was pres
ent and read extracts of the laws gov
erning the operations of the board. The
resignation Of ]. T. Fannon was received
and accepted and, on motion of the health
officer, j. w. Entwisle was elected to fill
the vacancy.
After discussing the need Of a new gar
bage cart in the city 1t was decided to ask
council, at the next meeting of that body,
to supply 1t. It was decided to make reg
ular monthly inspections of the city, COM
mencing April / and lasting until Octo-
Der Of each year. The board determined
noon Of September 80.
The members will make the circuit Of
the city in carriage.
After the tranaction Of routine matters
and the discussion Of sanitary conditions
the board adjourned.
Acrimonious Debate.
The exchange of acrimonious charges.
bordering at times on personalities, be-
tween the members of the board Of police
commissioners characterized the regular
monthly meeting Of that body Wednesday
evening. 1t was the first occasion in a long
time that Mayor Simpson ex-offlcio presi-
dent Of the board, was In the seat Of the
presiding officer. Affairs commenced to as
sumo belltcose aspect from the very start
The charges against Policeman Arthur
Davis, who was recently brought before the
mayor, accused of having notified a saloon
keeper that officers Of the law would be
watching his place on Sunday, was dis
missed.
Commissioner Bryant took up the case of
Officer Roberts, who was suspended by the
mayor on the charge Of being asleep while
on duty, and stated that the board had not
been notified by the mayor of his action.
He went on to state that it was the policy
Of the mayor to ignore the board In such
matters. For this reason. he said, the
board had on several occasions set aside
the verdict of the mayor in cases involv-
ing police officers.
In this connection Mayor Simpson dis
claimed intentional discourtesy to the COM
missioners He added that when he tried
a case he sat In judgment as mayor of the
city and not as a member of the police COM
missioners
Commissioner Lawler stated that the
meeting looked like a TRADE against the
the mayor Mr.. Miller said that mis- re-
marks were not to b0 regarded as personal
Commissioner Bryant made the same state
ment, and the mayor replied that he had
not misunderstood the nature of their COM
ments.
Finally the meeting got down to business
Mr.. Lawler offered a resolution prohibiting
smoking by officers while on duty. Action
In the matter was deferred until the next
meeting. Mr.. Lawler next offered a resolu-
ton providing for the non-appointment Of
officers to fill vacancies on the force. should
such occur. until council takes action on a
resolution now pending for reduction Of
the force to fifteen members. After some
discussion the resolution was passed,
amended so as to be operative only until
Immediately after the next meeting Of
council
Memorial Services.
In response to the proclamation of Presi-
dent Roosevelt setting apart day for spe-
cial prayer and mourning over the death
of the late President Mckinley the people
of Alexandria gathered yesterday in the
various houses Of worship in the city. The
services held were simple, impressive and
mournfu. During the hour of prayer the
bell on old historic Christ Episcopal Church
tolled its sad dirge.
Business was suspended and the people
almost with one accord turned from their
vocations to bow for awhile in reverence
and love to the memory Of the martyred
chief magistrate.
A full congregation assembled at II
o'clock in the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, on South Washington street Rep
resented In the gathering were the MEM
bers of the Southern Methodist Church, of
Trinity NJ. Z. Church and the Methodist
Protestant Church and people generally.
The services were under the direction of