Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-05-10
THE METH0DlSTS
Still Holding Forth in Los
Angeles General Conference.
Interest in The Report Of the Com.
mittee on Itinerary.
Sensational Speech by Rev. Dr.. J. NJ.
King on Catholicism.

Los Angeles, Calf, May 9.-There was
full attendance when the Methodist
general conference convened, today. A
| general air Of expectancy prevailed
among the delegates, showing that they
| anticipated that the session of today.
and those which are to follow would
bring 10 the front much of the impor-
| tant legislation that the delegates have
| met to consider.
1t IS probable that the book concern
| committee will report to the conference
during the next two or three days. re-
| concentrations regarding the PROPOSAL
| to consolidate the various publishing
houses Of the church into enc great
central institution. Inasmuch as there
is an almost equal division Of senti-
ment as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF this ac-
| ton, Il lively debate will surely follow,
The committee on itinerancy is also
expected some time during the week to
| make some sort of report to the con-
| ference OH the all-absorbing question
Of restoring the pastoral time limit.
1t is scarcely likely that the EpiscO-
| Dacy committee Will have ready it's
| recommendations on the retirement of
bishops and the choosing of others be-
fore the last days of the week. If a
| colOrcd bishop is to be named by the
present conference, it now seems to be
practically settled that the man will
be DR.. ]. w. f. Bowen, professor of
systematic theology in the Cannon
| theological seminary OF Atlanta, Ga
| The selection of the co!ored candidate
| by their own people meets with the ap-
| prevail Of a majority of the white dele
gates, who favor the selection Of a
cclored bishop.
| The first business that came before
the conference, today, furnished a
sensation. Rev. DR.. J. NJ. King, Of
! Philadelphia. was recognized immcdi-
atcly after the devotional services and
stated that he wished to bring before
| the conference 6 matter very important
| to all Mcthodists. He commenced by
reading an extract from a letter writ
| ten by Rev. Father Peter Harnett,
vicar general of the Roman Catholic
diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles,
appearing in local newspaper, yes
to-day, and based upon an utterancc of
the Episcopal address read before the
conference by Bishop Foss on Thursday
last.
| In this letter Rev. Harnett took ex-
| ceptiUn to the statement in the address
that the Roman Catholic church is op-
posed to the public school system OF
America. Rev. DR.. King made Il spirit
ed attack on the Roman Catholic
| church and declared that the asser-
| lions of Rev. Harnett were contrad dict
| cd by the facts in the case. He elabor-
atcd to some extent upon the state
| mcnt that the Catholic church did not
interfere in politics and concluded by
reading resolution embOdying his
views upon the subject, which he de-
| sired the conference to adopt.
| When DIR. King finished reading his
resolution the Chair recognized Lay
| Delegate Chief Justice Charles b. Lohr,
Of the Delaware state supreme court.
| In regard to DIR. Kings statement
upon the Roman Catholic opposition to
the public school system in America"
said Justice LOhr, Il am with him, but
| j believe this is no place or time to in
GulGc in an attack on the Roman Cath
! Ole church, or on any other church. l
| believe that the Roman Catholic church
| is doing Il great work in this country
along certain lines, and we should put
| our hands under it and assist it or any
other church i'll Il work of evangelical
ton
Discussion was cut short by referring
| the question TO i committee on state Of
the church.
| Another matter which aroused con-
siderable feeling was a resolution by a
delegate from Ohio asking that de-
! tailed statement OF salaries, travelling
expenses, house rent and all other cX-
penscE Of bishops and other general
conference officers be prepared and pre-
scented to the conference.
Rv. DR.. Bristol of Washington, D. c.,
protested against this effort to inquire
into the private business Of the general
conference officers. He was followed
by State Senator Mcclellan of New
York. who wished the resolution adopt
ed. He said that the church elected
| bishops and other officers to devote
their time to the church and not to
making money by writing books.
The resolution was finally adopted
and kilograms are to be sent out for
specific details and expenses in each
case, so that information that is al
| ready in the hands of the book concern
ana Quiet duult1nS committees S1dll Dt
put in the hands of every member of
the conference.
After recess Rev. r. Z. Nicely, Of
! Philadelphia. offered resolution to in
| struct the IIoisco2acy committee to
| consider the question of assigning gen.
oril superintendent to special districts
| for 4 period of four years and IL SO as
signed whether it would be practicable
| 10 continue them in the same districts
for another quadrennium. After much
| debate DR.. Nicely moved a substitute,
| providing for the reference of the ques-
| ton TO the judiciary committee and to
the Episcopacy committee. The substi-
tute was adopted. Bishop Andrews ask
ed that the conference grant permission
to the bishops to suggest minor changes
in the discipline. these suggestions to
be made direct to the appropriate COM
mittee and it was granted.
The conference adjourned at noon.
| 1t was learned, tonight. that the sub
committee on the effectiveness of Bis
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