The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-05-09
ad-
.lER REVIEWED
-.sn, Senator'S txonorales the
from Blame in Connection
With the Passage of The
(By the Associated Press.)
Bill.

tBy the Associated PfeSS.)
Dallas, Texas, May THE first session
of the Fourteenth quadrennial confer
ence of the Methodist Episcopal church
South was called to order by Bishop Will
son of Baltimore, at 800 o'clock this
morning in the old auditorium of the
fair grounds. Distinguished churchmen
and laymen were present from all parts
of the country. All the bishops with the
exception of Bishop Keener, of New Or
leans, and Bishop Fitzgerald, of Mem
phis, are in attendance.
After the singing of a hymn, Bishop
Hargrove, of Nashville, prayed for
unity. moderation and conservatism in
the deliberation of the conference and
hearty ''amens'' punctuated his words.
Passages of scripture were read by
Bishop Hendricks, of Kansas, and w. A.
Gambler, of Georgia. Prayer by DR.. An
son White, of the North Alabama con-
ference, was followed by addresses of
welcome of Governor Sayers, Mayor
Cabell, Judge E. B. Perkins and Rev. G.
c. Rankin all of which were enthusiastic
cally received. Roll call developed the
absence of many delegates.
By unanimous vote, DR.. John ]. Tigert,
of Nashville, was elected secretary of
the conference. He nominated for his
assistants Rev. A. Il. Watkins, of the
Mississippi conference, and J. NJ. Bacchus
of the Northwest Conference. Governor
Sayers was presented to the conference
by Bishop Wilson to make the address
of welcome and the delegates rose to
welcome him. The governor was listen
ed to very attentively. He devoted most
of his speech to the history of Method
ism.
Bishop c. p. Galloway, of Jackson,
Miss, replied to the address of welcome.
He said all were glad to be here. He
knew Texas was a great State, and had
a great people, because the best people
of all the old States had come here.
DR.. e. E. Hoss, of Nashville, moved
that the conference send it's sympathy to
Bishop Kenna ON account of his in
trinity and to Bishop Fitzgerald on ac-
count of the death of his daughter, Mrs.
Banks. a few days ago. The motion
Were unanimously carried.
The rules of the general conference
were adopted and the appointment of a
authorized.
A motion by Rev. Horace Bishop, of the
Northwest Texas conference, that the
sympathies of the conference be wired
TO DR.. b. NJ. Palmer, the celebrated di-
vine of New Orleans, who was recently
injured by a street car, was adopted
A motion to fix a committee of six
on credentials was carried.
college of bishops was read by Bishop
w. W. Duncan, of Spartanburg, S. C. The
address was lengthy, and two hours were
consumed in it's reading 1t recites that
only 3S,OS5 additions to the church have
been made since the last conference and
says something is radically wrong. The
bishops also appeal for a better equipped
ministry. Politics in the church pubiica-
tons is strongly condemned. Bishops
say the Office of deaconess will be applied
for and they entreat the conference to
act wisely and we'll.
An earnest plea was made for the bet
ire support of superanuated preachers
and widows and orphans of deceased
preachers that plan be adopted where
by a fund of $780, 900 be secured for this
purpose.
The matter of local preachers working
as evangelists was mentioned. The work
of the mission boards. church extension,
Epworth League and Sunday Schools and
the literature of the church was COM
mented upon. Large space was devoted
to The schools and colleges Of the church
1t was shown that the publishing house
during the past four years transacted a
business of S1.300000 or an increase of
$1S6,000. The publishing house War
Claim" was reviewed, showing that the
church was free from any blame in the
matter. A hope was expressed that this
conference would finally settle this case
The election of two new bishops was
asked for.
Immediately after the reading
of the address Bishop Gambler, OF
Georgia. read a letter from Senator A.
A. Bacon and A. S. Clay which he had
received in reply to a letter relative to
the course which should be pursued by
the Methodist Episcopal church in re-
gard to the money which was paid under
an act of Congress in settlement of
the war claim of the publishing house.
This letter was signed by eight Sena-
tors. The last clause reads as follows:
THE report of the committee and the
resolution both adopted by The Senate, in
explicit terms eXonerate the church
from all blame or ground for criticism
for anything which occurred in connec-
lion with the passage of the bill and is a
clear expression of opinion that there is
no obligation on the part of the church
TO pay the money to the government or
10 make further offer to do so"
The conference adjourned until nine
o clock tomorrow.