The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-27
Want to Get Rid Of the Publish
ing House interests.
THE ORDER OF DEAC0NEssEs
Viii Correspond to Sisters of Charity
in the Methodist Church-Declined
to Appoint Commission to As
sist in Settlement of Labor
Disputes-Rctirement
of Old Bishops.
lsnecinl nispatch to Tho Times. )

Especial Dispatch to The Times.)
DALLAS, TEXAS, May 26.-Since the
Methodist Church in America divided in
loss there has not been quadrennial
conference Of the Southern Church of
shis faith, which has been fraught with
moe Importance than the one which
came to an end this afternoon at Las
O'Clock In the annals Of this confer
eace there will be much history that viii
be read with more than ordinary inter-
est by the members for generations to
Come.
torty years ago the Union forces un-
rie1 General Grant seized upon the Meth
pdist publishing house at Nashville,
Tenn, and Tor twenty-five years the ef-
forts OF the church to secure reimburse
ilent Tor .ne damage and loss alleged TO
have been caused were unavailing. 1t
Ras 1895 before the United States Con-
gress appropriated s2SS,OO0 to settle this
Gain.
A BIG FEE.
= fee OF sloo.soO was alloweu to the
ttt.orney who made collecuon of the
Elalm by the agents OF .4ie church.
unls was the basis for division o. SEN
lillent mat at one time seemed likely to
cause a scilism in the church.
Some of the members of Congress de-
elared that had they konwn tnat such
sum was to be pa. to an attorney they
ssouid not have voted for the bill. When
khe Committee on Publishing Interests
ba tor .e
n report, it did so III two ways. a ma
sority report condemned the action OF
the churc4 s agents, QUA saw no reason
g ~. ;he money should be returned TO the
Goyernment. The minority filed a re-
hort condemninE the methods employed
in the collection Of the claim. and re-
ccn1mending its return to the Nashlne-
ton authorities. A compromise measure
was finally adopted. in which the con-
ference censured the agents of the
church. but retained the money, and
also declined to levy an assessment
which will place the slo0,S00 paid the at
torney to the credit of the endowment
Of the fund for the support of superna-
nuated preachers.
THE DEACoNEssEs.
a step of wide-reaching Importance was
fhc authorization of the order of deacon-
esses A hard fight was made against
the innovation, but it was finally decided
10 establish the order. Many of the most
yrorainent yirginians in attendance made
strong and eloquent appeals in its IA
~or The duties of the deaconesses are
similar to those of the Sisters of Charity
rf the Catholic Church.
The church also went on record as not
being In sympathy with organized labor
memorial was presented asking the
Conference to appoint commission to as
eist in the settlement of labor disputes
DR.. d. +. Kelley. Of Tennessee. and S.
B. Adams. of Savannah. Ga, spoke
strongly in favor of the adoption of the
memorial. but went down in defeat after
eome caustic denunciation of organized
labor by a number of delegates both cleri-
cal and lay.
Salaries Of both bishops and connec-
sinnal officers We're regula ted. and on an
nyera ce the other officers are paid $1,000
nor year. Dr. E. E. Hoss. of Tennessee.
nnd DR.. A. Coke Smith, of Virginia We're
created bishops. and Bishops Fitzgerald,
1Jarerove and Granbery retired from ac-
Awe episcopal work.
DR. J. D. Barbee, for sixteen Years SEN
for book agent. is retired in favor OF j
r. Bieham. while D. NJ. Smith. junior
hook agent, was reelected. A strong ef-
fort is being made to do away with the
Publishing House, which has given the
church much trouble
The present building is in bad condi-
s,on and must be renewed. Besides the
branch house at Dallas and the proposed
mouse at Shanghai. China Will absorb
e,nn con al least 1t was finally decided to
continue the matter as at present IN ,tie
b,ndsSof the Book Committee.
a board of insurance was also provideo
so-day. The board to have charge OF the
insurance of all church property