The Savannah morning news., 1902-05-16
STILL TALK OF CLAIM
TROUBLESOME SUBJECT WILL NOT
DOWN.
METH0DISTS ON EDUCATION.
MODERN METHODS FAVORED BY
MAJORITY.

Great Progress Reported in Mission
Field-Steps Taken to Unite Vari-
Gus Branches of Methodism in ia
pan-rhe War Claim Threshed
Over Again-Conference Seems
HopeIessly Divided on the Subject
and an Executive Session Held
Last Night When the Subject Was
Given Special Consideration.
Dallas, Tex, May 15.-The war claim
was again the principal theme of dis
cussion befort the Methodist Episcopal
Church conference to-day. The reply
of the majority members of the Com
mittee on Publishing House Interests
to the minority report was presented
by DR.. ]. o. Wilson of North Carolina.
The report, after some discussion, was
referred to the Committee on Publish
ing House interests.
To-day's session was presided over
by Bishop Gambler.
privileged communication from the
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Conference at Nashville was read.
Greetings were sent to the Presbyte-
rian assembly at Jackson. Miss. and
to the Cumberland Presbyterians in
session at Springfield, Mo.
The Committee on Missions report
ed great progress in this field. The
question of the union of the various
branches of Methodism in Japan was
brought up and concurrence in the
plan proposed of gathering the six
branches under one head was secured,
the provision being made that n COM
mission of five be appointed to confer
with similar commissions from the 9TH
er churches on a plan of unity.
The Committee on Itineracy report
ed non concurrence in memorials re-
questing the conference not to allow
any preacher to hold mission more
than four years, nor any presiding
eldership more than eight years.
Taking up the regular business the
report of the Committee on Education
was considered. Correspondence
courses, open to all ministers at NOM
inal cost under the direction of the
faculty of Vanderbilt University were
considered and ordered established.
Nav Methods in Education.
DR.. S. S. Keener reopened the dis
cussion as to sending pupils to VAN
derbilt. He was opposed to chautau-
quas and seaside lessons and CORE
spondence schools, and wished to keep
the old methods. A long discussion fol-
lowed. The section voting $4,000 adj
ditional for the establishment of a
correspondence school was held to be
too large. An amendment fixing the
sum of $4,000 was passed, and the re-
port as a whole adopted.
Bishop Hargrove presented a petition
from citizens of Nashville, touching
the war claim.
The thrashing over of the war
claim to-day only emphasized the fact
that the conference seems hopelessly
divided on the question. Summarized,
the report AYERS that the fullest, fire.
est discussion was granted when the
matter was being investigated; that
contrary to the contention of Judge
Strother every witness was allowed to
speak and the session only closed
when there were no more witnesses;
that Judge Strother himself had ruled
that the congressional record report
was not admissible as a proper report;
that the members of the minority
said that they did not believe that the
book agents had been guilty of an in
territorial wrong; that there was no in
territorial deception of the senators;
that Judge Strother had ruled that a
report of the procedure to the confer
ence was not necessary, and finally
that in no important part of
their report are the minority correct or
assuming the right position. Judge
Strother, in reply said that he did not
wish to add fuel to the flames, but
rather that he might, in the name of
the peace, justice and righteousness,
establish the truth.
The papers of the majority and mi
nority were referred to the committee
on publishing house interests.
An executive session of the confer
ence was held at Z o'clock tonight
when the war claim was considered