The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-20
THE METHoDIsTs.
Committee Which q. Considered
LfbeIius.

reports OF the committee on publishing
house interests with regard 10 the war
claim Vas the intensely interesting |
feature OF t-day's session OF the |
Methodist Episcopal conference.
The majority report was confined |
10 grief summary OF the contentious |
urged by that faction. The resolutions
condemn any departure OF the attor-
ney OF the book committee from The
explicit instructions given TO him by
the book committee in regard 10 the
collection OF the claim against the gov
ernment, from. which instructions. il
Is claimed, he did depart according tc
his own staten ants made to the sem
ate committee appointed TO Investigate
these matters.
Continuing, the report disapproes
any language I"ed by the book agents
in their telegTams TO Senators Pas"o
and Bate which may have misled them
as TO the amount of the fee the al
torney was to receive for his services
In collecting the claim. The proposition
OF the bishops to take proper steps
1 ~ nave lhS returned 10
the government if the senate by af-
| hrmative action declares that the pas
sage of the bill was due TO misleading
statements Is approved. In view OF
| the fact that the senate after receiv-
| ing this proposition discouraged the re-
| turn Of the money, and furthermore
since the senate had declared that the
church is absolutely bIameless In the
| whole transaction./it is recommended
| that this be considered a final settle
| ment Of the question The report is
signed by James r. Robertson as
chairman.
The minority report took an hour in
reading and condemns the action OF
| Colonel Stahlman, the attorney, in
most vigorous language. Directly and
by Inference the book agents and their
attorney are ssv erely dealt with.
The resolutions appended are as fol-
| lows
We believe that the retention of this
money is a disturbing factor in the
| peace and harmony OF the church at
| present and may disqulet the member
ship in the future.
| Therefore, That there may be peace
| and harmony in the borders of our
beloved church, and that 1t may do no
| act that calls in question its good
! name, we recommend the adoption OF
the following resolution:
THAT the rntIre sum collected
tS2SS,00O be returned to the United
| States governln Mt.
That a committee of nine members
of the general conference be named
who shall report to this conference as
soon as possible a plan carrying into
execution the above resolution.
THAT We heartily endorse the letter
written by our bishops to the senate
OF the United States. It showed their
jealous care Of the good name of the
church and indicated a wise solution
| Of the matter"
The resolutions are signed by James
Cannon, Jr., OF Virginia, as chairman
Both reports were ordered printed
after much discussion The war claim
matter will come before the conference
next Tuesday at 10 O'Clock and be con.
tinued until the matter is settled.
Bishop A. w. Wilson, the senio,
hishop, presided today. The commit
Tee on Episcopacy reported and recon-
mended that TWO bishops be elected
The minority report was given. dis
senting and stating that in their be
lief no more bishops should be elected
The committea on education recon-
mended that more attention be paid
to training schools
n minority report from the commit.
tee on finance urged that further aic
; to superannudted preachers widow.
and children be given and that a per
nanent fund be established.
The time limit remains as before. ac
cording to the report Of the committe
on itinerary.
The committee on Sabbath obser
vance deprecated the increase of Sun
day labor of IS per cent. in the last de
cade, while the population has in
> creased but q Per cent and also tn.
increase IN Sunday amusements.
DR.. Gross Alexander INTRODUCED
resolution deanng with the question o
child labor in the south, particular,
in the cotton mill district The resolu
uon which urged that laws be passe,
prohibiting the employment of children
resolution was afterward. on motion o
Mr. Hoss, reconsidered on the scor,
that the statement that there were 20,
600 children under Il years Of age EN-
: ployed was not true. The matter wa
finally referred 10 special committee
The conference adjourned until Mon
day.
The discussion over the printing O
the minority report on the war clair
caused stormy :cenes in the confer
ence. The report is said to con1ie
| with the libel laws OF Texas, and III
editor Of the official organ or III
church while not declining, hcz.tate
to publish it. 1nIs caused great excite
rnrnt among The minority faction, an
the debate ov-f the subject was hea,