The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-20
THE METHODIsTs.
Genera Conference.-The War
Claims Again Discussed.

Dallas, Texas, May 15.-The war claim
was again the principal theme Of dis
lcussion before the Methodist Episcopal
Ichurch conference today. The reply OF
the majority members Of he committee
on publishing house interests TO the mi
nority report was presented by DR.. ]. ..
Wilson, OF North Carolina The report,
latter discussion, was referred to the
COMMITTEE on publishing house inter-
ests.
Greetings were sent 10 the Presbyter-
Ian assembly at Jackson. Miss, and to
1.-THE Cumberland Presbyterians in ses-
sion at Springfield. Mo.
The committee on missions reported
Igreat progress in his field. The ques-
ton of the union of various branches
of M~ethodism in japan was brought up
land conference in the plan proposed Of
gathering the six branches under one
head vas secured. the provision being
made that a commission Of five be ap-
pointed to confer with similar commits
lsioI4s from the other churches on a plan
of unity.
The committee on itinerary reported
inconvenience in memorials requiring
1.-THE conference not to allow any preach
er to hold a mission more than four
y "a - A4OA ally PANSidll5 " SIllp
THAN eight years.
Correspondence courses, open to all
ministers at nominal cost under the
direction of the faculty of Vanderbilt
University were considered and ordered
Established.
DR.. S. S. Keener re-opened the discus
sion as to sending pupils to Vanderbilt.
He vas opposed to Chautauquas ana
seaside lessons and correspondence
schools and wished to keep the old
methods. A long discussion followed.
The section voting $1,000 additional
for the establishment of a correspond
ience school was held to be too large. An
amendment fixing the sum of $1,000
was passed and as a whole was adoot-
Ted.
RShop Hargrove presented a petition
from citizens of Nashville touching the
war clafH.
The threshfnAover of the war claims
today only emphasized the fact that
the conference seems Mpelessly divided
on the question. summarizing the
report AYERS that the fulles% ireest as
Icussion was granted when Ne matter
was being investigated: tina SSQtrary
to h contention of Judge StroSfef,
every witness was allowed to speak and
the session only closed when there were
mo more witnesses; that Judge Strothers
himself had ruled that the congression-
al record report was not admissible as
a proper report; that the members of
the minority said that they did not be-
lfeve that the book agents had been
guilty of any Intentional wrong; that
there was no intentional deception of
the senator's; that Judge Strother ha6
ruled that a report of the procedure to
the conference was not necessary, and
that. finally, in no important place of
their repor are the minority correct in
L. crI in ~a-o~ -.
Judge Strother in reply said tina no
did MOI wish to fuel to the flames.
but, rather, that he might, in the name
Iof peace, justice and right establish
1.-THE truth.
The papers of the majority and minor
lity were referred to the committee on
publishing house interest.
| An executive session of the confer
ence was held at z o'clock tonight when
1.-THE war claim was considered.