The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-10
THE READING APPLAUDED
Majority of Delegates Seem to Wish
Case Dropped.
IN TIE PUs. HOUSE COMMITTEES HANDS
Immense Volume Of Business Before the Dele.
gates. Several Memorials Among Thin
One 10 institute Order If Deaconessas
Presented and Refer d.
Presented and Refer d.
(By the Associated Press.)

Dallas, Texas, May 8.-The second day 5
session of the M. E. Church Conference
opened promptly at o'clock this morn
ing. The feature of the day was the re-
port of the book committee and the state
ment of the book agents, Messrs Barbea
and Smith, of Nashville, Tenn, on the
war claims matter. This report en-
braced nearly 1900 words and was read
by DR.. Ollins Denny. The report reiter-
ated and emphasized the exOneratiOn of
MessrS. Barbee and Smith and K. B..
Stahlman made four years ago. Cen
eral applause greeted the reading OF the
report and it is thought that a majority
of the delegates agree with the book
committee that the subject has already
I been discussed beyond it's merits and
Fshould be dropped forever.
The entire matter is now in the hands
OF the publishing house committee and
they will probably report week after
next.
When the conference settled down to
work today there was an immense volume
OF business before the delegates. Bishop
Wilson announced the committees on
rules and credentials. Rev. Adams, of
the South Georgia conference, presented
the conference with gavel made OF the
wood of the Wesley OAK, under which
John Wesley is said to have preached.
a resolution by Secretary Tigert to
fix the number of the general confer
ences in accordance to the court decision
and declaring this to- be the fourteenth
the church has held was defeated. Me-
MORALS were presented from the Tonnes
see conference to institute the order of
deaconesses, of which the appointments
are made by the bishops; on the pastoral
time limit to extend it definitely under
certain condition where special mission
work is to be done; to establish sys-
tom of hospitals. and the memorial of
1893. authorizing the return of the war
claim to the government. All were re-
feIred
The lengthy report OF the book commit
Zee was summed W and closed as fol-
lows:
IF it had failed to secure the fund
when 1T had power to do so. it would
have been guilty of neglecting a plain
duty for which any court of equity might
have held il liable.
1.-The fund having been placed in its
hands II was not at liberty to permit
yond its control; 80 80 it had done SO.
every member asserting to such a pro-
ceeding would have been and justly, held
personally responsible.
'Such are the doctrines held and an
nounced by courts of equity in all civil
lied countries.
Even ii there had been doubt on its
part as to whether or not the mbney
should be returned the committee would
net and could not have arrogated to it
self the right to decide. Being salts
fed that this money was prc"erly re-
ceived in payment of a just debt it had
no more power to restore it to the treas
ury of the government than it had to
give away to any person or corporation
any part of the trust fund in its hands
without mourning personal liability for
it's return.
'Fhese are the actions of your COM
mittee and the reasons thereof
Your committee. in the midst of most
difficult conditions. tried to do its best
to meet the great responsibilities COM
mitted to its charge i'm the war for God
and with an eye to welfare of our beloved
church.
Adjourned until tomorrow.