The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-05-14

come here.
DIR. e. e. Hoss, of Nashville, moved
that the conference send it's sympathy
to Bishop Keener on account of his in.
trinity and to Bishop Fitzgerald on
account of the death of his daughter,
Mrs. Banks, few days ago. The
motion was carried unanimously.
! The rules of the last General Con-
terence were adopted. 4 committee of
five to revise the rules were authorized
and it is to be appointed.
Rev. Horace Bishop, of the North
| west Texas conference, moved that
! the sympathies of the conference be
wired to DR.. b. M. Palmer, the cele-
brated Presbyterian divine, of New
Orleans, who was injured by street
car recently. The motion was adopted.
a committee of six OH credentials
was authorized and the reading of the
Episcopal address, signed by the col
lege of bishops, was begun by Bishop
w. w. Duncan, of Spartanbury, S. G.
The address was a lengthy one and
two hours were consumed in Its read
ing. 1t recites that only 3S,0S5 ad.
dltlons to the church have been made
since the last conference and says
something is radically wrong. The
bishops also appeal for better equip
ped ministry. Politics in the church
publications Is strongly condemned.
The bishops say the Office of deaconess
Will be applied for and they entreat
the conference to act wisely and we'll
An earnest recommendation is made
Tor the better support of the superan-
nuated preachers, widows and orphans
OF deceased preachers, and that plan
be adopted whereby fund of $780,
600 be secured for this purpose. The
matter of local preachers working IA
eVangelists was touched on. The wori
OF the mission boards, church exten
sion, Epworth League and Sunday
schools and the literature of the church
was commented upon. Large space
was devoted to the schools and col
leges of the church. 1t was shown that
the publishing house during the past
four years did a business of 81 500, 900,
or all increase of $lSG 900.
The publishing house war claim was
reviewed, showing that the church was
Tree from any blame in the matter. A
nope was expressed that this confer
encc would finally settle this mooted
case. The election of two new bishops
was asked for.
Immediately after the reading of the
address Bishop Gambler, of Georgia,
read letter from Senators A. O.
Bacon and A. S. Clay, which he had
received in reply to letter relative to
the course which should be pursued by
the Methodist church in regard to the
money which was paid under act of
Congress in settlement. The letter
was. signed by cighty-four Senators.
The last clause read as follows: "The
report of the committee and the re-
solution both adopted by the Senate Iii
explicit terms eXonerates the church
from all blame or ground for criticism
for anything which occurred in connec-
tion with the passage of the bill and is
clear expression of opinion that there
ls no obligation on the part of the
church to pay the money to the govern
ment or to make further offer to do So"
The General Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church, South,
was treated to a sensational incident
in its first session. 1t came in the
shape of an appendix to the Episcopal
address which was read by Bishop
Duncan. Immediately uron it's con-
clusion, Bishop Gambler announced to
the conference that he wished to read
letter from Senators Clay and Bacon
III answer to one he had addressed
them, asking for an Interpretation of
The Senate resolution regarding the
proposed return of the money which
the Senate had previously voted to the
Methodist church for damages to it's
publishing house.
Immediately delegate objected on
the ground that the letter of the Sena-
tors was not official. Bishop Wilson
ruled that it was in part explanatory
of the bishops address and was there
fore admissible. Bishop Gambler then
proceeded to read the letter, which
was also signed by elghty-four Sena-
tors, in which it was distinctly affirmed
that the resolution referred to was a
| complete exOneratIon of the Methodist
church and that the said Senators
would have voted for it on its merits.
There was great excitement among
the delegates over the turn matters
have taken. Three of the bishops, it
is undertood, knew nothing of Bishop
Candler's purpose to make the letter a
part of the Episcopal address and
privately make known this fact to the
members of the conference. The
matter will come up again.
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