The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-15
THE RESOLUTION TABLED
Mr.. Hill Was for Pushing to Immedi
ate Settlement.
CLOSER STUDY OF BIBLE RECOMMENDED
The Louisville Gem. Asks That The mex,
Quad,ennal Mee'ing b, Held at Louis
vile The RsqIest is Referred.
But One Session Yestt rday.
But One Session Yestt rday.
(By the Associated Press

(By the Associated PreSS.)
Dallas. Texas. May 13-H. Warner
Hill, of the North Georgia Conferences
on the war claim issue in the Methodist
General Conference today by resolution
seeking to instruct the corlrlittee OF
publishing interests to hold continuous
sessions until the matter be settled be-
cause of the Importance of the matter
and the universal interests OF the church
in it. On motion of DIR. Rankin, the
resolution was tabled $50 to 6S.
Soon after this vote was taken. j. p.
Strother, of Los Angeles, presented a
paper to read at the open conference in
defence of the attitude Of the minority
of the book committee in 1898 on the war
claim
One of the most acrimonious debates
since the conference opened resulted.
ThC paper finally was referred to the
publishing committee.
DIR. Wilson, of South Georgia, gave
notice that 4 reply frcm the majority
members of the book committee of 1898
Was ready.
~ resolution signed by A. Cooke
Smith, of Virginia. expressing gratifica-
ton at the visit and addresses of the
fraternal delegates of the Methodist
Episcopal Church Ncrth. and endorsing
the sentiments contained in the addresses
was adopted.
A greeting from the Southern Zap
fist Convention at Asheville, n. c., was
read and accepted.
Among the reports of committees was
urging closer and more careful study
of the Bible in theological seminaries.
The report elected unusual interest.
The Louisville conference requested
that the next quadrennial meeting be
held il Louisville. KY. The request was
referred to the Committee on Entertain
ment of the general conference.
Rev. II. F.. Parksali. missionary and
fratcTral delegate of, the African Meth
cdist church, was presented to the con-
ference and received by the delegates
rising.
Only one session of the conference was
held. Bishop Hendricks, Of Kansas
City, presiding.
Bishop Fitzgerald iI a communica-
ton to the conference requested to
be relieved from active service because
OF advanced age and general physical
condition. His request was referred to
the Committee on Fpisccpacy.
BISHOP GAMBLERS LETTER.
The letter of Bishop Gambler, of
Georgia, to Senator Clay with regard to
1.-The war claim" which has agitated the
Methodist Episcopal church, South, for
many years, and the reply of Senator
To-
and other Senators were handed to the
Associated Press by Bishop Gambler to-
day, with the request that widespread
publicity be given them. in order that
a wrong impression, which has gained
currency may be corrected.
Bishop Gamblers letter to Senator
Clay follows in part:
Il feel the utmost disapprobaton
of the acts of Misrepresentation prac-
ticed by the parties who had the claims
in charge.
Il have interpreted the final action of
the Senate as entirely generating the
church from blame in the case, and as
eliminating the question of returning the
money to the Government
but find some extreme men still
insisting upon the necessity of returning
the money to the Government.
"As you were a member of the Com
mittee of the Senate on the report of
which the action was taken | take the
H:er1y of requesting you not only to
give me your opinion, but the opinion
of any other Senator who may feel free
to express themselves on the subject.
When the facts connected with the
large commission were made public and
criticisms found expression, both on the
floor of the Senate and elsewhere rela-
tive to certain occurrences at the time
of the passage of the bill the bishops
of the Methodist Episcopal church.
South, addressed the presiding officer
of the Senate a letter which, while
affirming the business of the claim, in
sisted that the church could not afford
to accept it as a gratuity or on con-
ditions that reflect upon it's honor, and
that if, by affirmative action it is de-
clared that the passage of the bill was
due to misleading statements, proper
steps would be taken for the return of
the money to the Government"
This letter was referred by the Senate
to the Committee on Claims, which re-
ported the following resolution to the
Senate, which was adopted by that body
Resolved, That the report of the Com
mittee be approved and that no censure
should rest upon the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South for the misstatements and
concealments of the book agents in con-
nection with the passage of the bill for
the payment of the claim referred to in
the letter of the bishop now under con-
sideratiOn; that injuries resulting
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