The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-23
THE METHODIST CONVENTION.
The War Claims Still Matter If
Contention.

present today when Bishop Hargrove
called the general conference Of ths
Methodist Episcopal church. south, TO
order. A larger number Of committee
reports were passed up to the secr>
taries as this was the final day for the
Introduction of new business. All wen,
to the calendar. Many were Of moe
than ordinary Importance, as they con-
template changes in the discipline and
other new features in the affairs OF
the church.
DR.. James Cannon, Jr., during the
rtading of the reports, announced to
the conference that the minority report
of the committee on publishing inter
ests in the war claims had been print
ed in pamphlet form because OF the
fact that the conference official organ
declined 20 print it in the records.
Hundreds of circulars were distributed
among the delegates and visitors.
Rev. R. H. Mahon, of Memphis
Tenn, moved the taking up for consid-
Grafton the majority report of the com
mittee on publishing interests on the
war claim. 1t was so ordered and the
secretary read the report.
After the reading DR.. G. c. Rankin,
of Dallas, was recognized on Ques-
ton Of personal privilege. He desired
to change the verbiage Of the report
where it speaks of the United States
senators who endorsed the letters OF
Senators Bacon and Clav to Bisho
Gambler so as to deliver them from tn
attitude of advising the general con-
ference, they merely expressing thel.
individual opinion that no further &C
ton on the war claim matter be taken
on the part of the conference with con
gress. The conference permitted tn
change desired. The resolutions and
recommendations of the minority wee
read, the body of their reports beinG
omitted.
B. F. Lipscomb, Of Virginia, moved
that the resolutions and recommenda
tions of the minority committee be sub
stituted for those of the majority and
that the items referred to be consid-
! cred seriatim. This was adopted and
| the cnoference proceeded to consider
item No. 1 of the minority report.
In the midst Of the consideration DI
W. F. McMurIay of ST. Louis, intar-
rupted to offer substitute paper ioT
both the minority and majority report.
It was termed a compromise paper
After a parliamentary tangle that WAS
not definitely disposed Of, the confer
ence permitted the new paper to b.
read. The paper reviewed the war
claim issue, exonerated the church OF
any wrong in the matter. censured all
concealments and deceptionS claimed
to have been practiced by certain per
| sons and opposed the methods in tn
expenditure Of the amount paid in at
torney fees. Recommendations we17
made that the church take. no further
action with the government, but tina
the church make up the sum necessary
to increase the fund to what 1t was
originally intended to be, and that /:
be kept intact for it's original purposes.
This paper was signed by thirty-thre"
delegates.
Another parliamentary tangIe was
precipitated and a score or more point,
Of order made. 1t was finally decided
that the yeas and nays be called on
motion to table the first item of the
minority report and all amendments
thereto. Adopted-152 to 112.
Several delegates voting aye explain
ed they did so in order to have an op-
portunity to get the compromise pa
per before the conference.
A motion to lay the second item o,
theminority report on the table pre-
vailed by a standing vote
A motion was made to table the item
that the entire sum collected, VIZ,
s2SS,000, be returned to the United
States government" Adopted-Ayec
159. noes 105.
The remainder of the minority report
was laid on the table by a standInr
vote and then DR.. McMurray moved
substitution OF the compromise paper
for the "majoI ity" report The com
promise paper was read again for the
information OF the conference, and ar
Its conclusion many amendments were
1nn
Mr.. Napier, of Atlanta, Ga, address
ed the conference in support of the
paper. A dozen delegates, some 1
and some against, made brief state
ments.
Part of the compromise paper ma
up to this time been adopted. when III
the midst of another parliamentary
tangle. the conference adjourned until
night.
At the night session the resolution
o. the compromise paper providing foI
raising s1OS,O00 by the church to brins
the congressional appropriation up 10
its original sum, was laid upon the
table. Examinations in the preamble
that were closely connected with The
resolution tabled were next made.
Other changes were made until litti,
was left of the original compromise
paper. Most of the session was coz.
sumed in speeches
Finally an amendment by Mr.. Jor
dan, Of Tennessee, was adopted to the
effect that the general conference en-
dorse the action of the college o:
bishops in Offering to provide meap.
for paying back the money to the CIV
ernment, if the United States sena,e
decides that this should be done, tn:
conference to make the act Of tn
bishops its act and legalize it in All
respects as the action of the Methodist
Episcopal church, south.
The conference adjourned until to-
morrow, the pending business beng
the vote on the compromise paper as
perfected by amendments.