The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-10

 WARM DEBATE Los Angeles Conference
 Excited. ATTACK ON CATHOLICS Opposition of Romanists to
 the Public Schools. Delegates Send Resolution to Com mittee from Whence It Probably Win Never Emergs--Ex-
 psnses of Bishops.

Los Angeles. Calif.. May 9.-The nlti- tude of the Roman Catholic Church to. ward the public sohcol system of the Urited States furnished the subject of a sensational debate in the Methodist Gen. eral Conference today
 While there was strong disposition on the part of certain delegates to have the conference adopt resolutions commit ting 1t to some utterances on the sub ject. there was an overwhelming senti- mcnt against any such action, and the entire matter was finally disposed of by referring 1t to committee from which It Is unlikely ever to be reported
 Several other resolutions bearing upon ths subjects of divorce. the termination Of membership of neglectful members, Sunday closing of the Lewis and Clark exposition, the endowment of the Ameri- can University at Washington, the changes in the wording of various para graphs in the discipline and other mat ters of importance to Methodists were submitted and debated.
 Changes in Discipline.
 Rev. R. F. Bishop presented a resolu- ton to make certain changes in the iis- cipifne that would provide a more simple method of terminating the membership of persons living in ''haibitual neglect to their obligations to the church." It was to the committee on the state os the church.
 Judge Sibiey of Ohio offered an import ant resolution on the subject of divorce He wanted paragraph 30 of the discipIine changed to read as follows:
 No divorce, except for adultery. final Assertion or cruelty or neglect. such as to compel an innocent partner to sepal rate from the offender, shall be regarded by the church as morally lawful and none of our ministers or laymen shall solemn ze marriages. where there Is a divorced wife or husbapd living, unless the divorce VAS granted rpsn grounds hsreinbefore ssedsfied Baat tisfs fasRiati6n dces not apply in cases where divorced parties are seeking re-rnarriage"
 This resolution also was referred to the committee on the state of the church.
 The first business that came before the conference today furnished the sensation. Rev. J. M. King. of Phila- was recognized immediately after the devotional exercises and stat sd that he wished to bring before the matter very important to all Methodists.
 Letter of Rev. MT. Harnett.
 He commenced by reading an extract from a letter written by Rev. Father Peter Harnett, Vicar General of the Roman Catholic diocese of Monterey md Los Angeles, appearing in a local yesterday and based on an itterancs of the Episcopal address read before the conference by Bishop Foss Thursday last.
 Tr, MR ITo~ At to the statement in the ad- lress that the Roman Catholic Church 6 opposed to the public school system If America. Rev. Dr. King made a pirited attack on the Roman Catholic shurch and declared that the assertions # Rev. Mir. Harnett were contradicted y the facts fin the case. He elabor- ted to some extent on the statement hat the Catholic Church did not inter- ere in politics, and concluded by eading a resolution embodying this jews on the subject which he desired he conference to adopt.
 When Dr. King finished his resolu- ion, there was a commotion among he delegates and a hum of conversa- ion and cries of "No. mo-" There was score of delegates on their feet in an instant, clamoring for recognition from ,ishop Fowler, who was presiding.
 Opposed by Judge Lohr.
 The chair recognized Lay Delegate Thief Justice Charles B. Lohr, of the Delaware State Supreme Court. who made a strong speech in opposition to )r. Kings stand.
 'In regard to Dr. Kings statement pon the Roman Catholic opposition to he public school system in America" aid Justice Lohr, T am with him, but
 believe this Is no place nor time to indulge in an attack on the Roman
 believe that the Roman Catholic 'hurch is doing a great work in this ountry along certain lines, and we hou1d put our hands under it and as- ist 1t or any other church in a work f evangelization."
 Discussion was cut short by a mo- lon to refer the resolution to a com iitteee on the State and Churches and pon this motion the previous question l 'as moved which ended debate and re- erred the question to the committee n State of the Church.
 Expenses of Officers.
 Another matter which aroused com derable feeling was a resolution by | delegate from Ohio asking that de- | tiled statement of salaries, travelling | xpenses. house rent and all other ex- enditures of bishops and other general | onference officers be prepared and | to the conference.
 Rev. Dr. Bristol, of Washington, D. | ,, protested against this effort to in uire into the private business of the | eneral conference officers, He was ,llowed by State Senator McCallen, of ew York. who wished the resolution iopted. He said the church elected shops and other officers to devote leir time to the church and not to aklng money by writing books. If icy were writing books and having lem published by the book concern. 9 thought the conference should know DIV much money was being mado by lem.
 Dr. Boyle. Of Pittsburg, did not think le general conference should lower s dignity by going Into the private lsiness of Its grand officers and In- their private accounts.
 The resolution was finally adopted nd teIegrams are to be sent out ask g fer specific details.
 It is learned tonight that the sub ,mmittee on the effectiveness of bish- os reported today in favor of the re-