The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-05-12
GIVES RISE TO
A WARM DEBATE
METHODIST DIVINE cRITICIsEs
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
FINDS MucH OPPOSITION.
Resolution Denouncing Attitude Of
Romanists Toward Public School
System Is Squelched-other
Topics Discussed.

Los Angeles, May 10.-The attitude
OF the Roman Catholic church toward
the public school system of the United
States furnished the subject Of a SEN
sational debate in the Methodist gen
eral conference Monday. While there
was a strong disposition on the part
bf certain delegates to have the con-
ference adopt resolutions committing
It to extreme utterances upon the sub
feet, there was an overwhelming SEN
timent, as it developed, against any
such action. and the entire matter was
finally disposed of by referring it to
q committee from which it is unlikely
ever to be reported.
Anti-Catholic Resolution.
Rev. J.. r. King, secretary of the
Church Extension society, of Philadel-
phia, having secured the floor, pre-
scented a resolution strongly criticizing
the Roman Catholic church, declaring
that sits efforts to control the secular
press, its influence in politics and its
assaults on the public school system
demand the vigilance of Protestants
and patriots"
DR.. King read extracts from a letter
written by Vicar General Peter Har-
nett, Of the Roman Catholic diocese of
Monterey and Los Angeles, in which
the latter sought to refute the state
ments made in the above quotations
from the episcopal address. DR.. King
then spoke at length in support of the
resolution.
When DR.. King had finished there
was a commotion among the dele
gates. Many sought to gain recogni-
ton from the chair IN order to reply.
Charles B. Lohr, chief Justice of the
Delaware supreme court, lay delegate,
was recognized.
Pays a Tribute.
After agreeing with DR.. King re-
garding the public schools, Justice
Lohr continued: "But are we to gain
anything by any phase of denunciation
against any other Christian body?
(Cries Of mo! No!") The Roman
Catholic church has done a magnificent
work in this country. 1t has taken
hold of a class of people who, perhaps,
no other form of religion could have
nodded so well for the we'll being Of
-eH-ern%oa~ faaHne. +fgef Hike putting
my hand under every eYangelizing
agency In this world that helps to up
lift men and not pull them down"
This expression was received with
applause by the delegates and the gal
leries. A motion by DR.. S. L. Beiler to
refer the resolution to the committee
on the state of the church was carried.
In the opinion of many prominent del
egates this ~disposes of the matter
finally.
Rev. R. F. Bishop presented a reso-
luton to make certain changes in the
discipline that would provide a more
simple method of terminating the
membership of persons living in "ha-
bitual neglect to their obligations to
the church" 1t was referred to the
committee on the state of the church.
The Divorce Question.
Judge Sibley, of Ohio, offered an i'm
portant resolution on the subject of di-
vorce. He wanted paragraph 80 of
the discipline changed to read as fol-
lows:
mo divorce, except for adultery,
final desertion or cruelty or neglect,
such as to compel an innocent partner
to separate from offender, shall be re-
garded by the church as morally law
ful, and non of u ministers or lay
men shall solemnize marriage where
there is a divorced wife or husband liv-
ing, unless the divorce was granted
upon grounds hereinbefore specified.
But this regulation does not apply in
cases where divorced parties are seek
ing remarriage."
This resolution was also referred to
the committee on the state of the
church.
The Color Line.
DR.. Edward S. Hammond, of Ten
nessee, a noted colored educator, OF
fered a resolution this morning con-
demning the attitude of two or three
Los Angeles hotels toward the color
ed delegation. The resolution was
unanimously passed. Several hotels
and restaurants have refused to serve
meals to the colored delegates.
A resolution was passed looking to-
ward the continuation Of the activity
Of superannuated bishops as long as
possible.