The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-17
RULES TO STAND
Methodist Committee on the
State of the Church.
Reports Against Raising the Ban
on Amusements.
STRUGGLE NOT OVER
A Lively Contest Looked for in
the Conferences.
DIR. Buckley and DR.. Neely Have
Tilt of Words.
STRUGGLE NOT OVER

Los Angeles. Cal, May 1.-THE COM
mittee on state of the church of the
Methodist general conference having in
charge for consideration the proposed
change of the rules in regard to dane
ing. card playing and theater going,
has decided against recommending any
change by vote of 55 to 43. This re-
suit was reached only after a vigorous
and prolonged contest in the committee
meeting. A minority report, presented
by members of the committee who IA
vOr a more liberal construction of these
rules will be offered before the confer
ence. 1t is expected the submission of
these two reports to the general body
viii be the signal for the most spirited
struggle that will occur on the floor
during the present conference.
AS the day approaches for the cleo
ton of bishops additional candidates
are appearing. Probably 20 names have
been suggested in connection with this
high office. Prominent among those
announced today as strong possibilities
is DR.. George Edward Rec, president of
Dickinson college, Carlisle. Pa. Anoth-
er is Dr.. T. B. Ford, of Oregon. The
election will probably occur at tomor-
rows session.
day took up the report of the judiciary
committee on the question of district
ing the bishops and heated debate en-
sued Dr. Buckley and DR.. Neely en-
gaging in a verbal encounter in which
Dr.. Buckley charged DR.. Neely with
misrepresenting the statements of
Bishop Harris upon the general super
intendency of bishops. Other prominent
speakers We're Senators Mcclellan OF
New York; DR.. 1. ]. Cook of Chatta-
InT1r Tlr- axa1a r,fN
and DR.. Charles W. Fish, chairman of
the judiciary committee. The debate
was still on at recess and probably will
| take up the entire time of tOdays ses-
sion.
The judiciary committee, which was
appointed last week for the especial
purpose of passing upon the constitu-
tiOnaltty of questions that might arise
at this conference, had under consider
alton for several days a resolution re-
ferred TO it by the general conference
as to the constitutiOnality of assigning
general superintendents Ito particular
years, with the possibility of continuing
said general superintendents in said
districts for longer periods
In lengthy and argumentative re-
port the judiciary committee recon-
mended no change in the present plan
of the episcopacy. For this report DR..
Neely offered a very brief substitute as
/ follows:
Resolved That as to the assignment
/ of general superintendents in the
| United States for a quadrennium there
| is nothing in the constitution of the
/ church to prevent it as it is purely a
matter of expediency."
DR.. Neely spoke 10 minutes to this
resolution and there was an effort
made by several of the delegates to
have his time extended for half an
hour. but Bishop Moore, the presiding
officer, ruled against extension. DR..
| Neely was repeatedly applauded, not
\ withStanding that Bishop Moore sew
eral times stated that the rules abso-
lutely prohibited any demonstration
| by the delegates.
DR. Buckley replied to Dr. Neely,
opening with the observation that
long experience has convinced me
| that the more VociferouS the applause
the less the thinking"
He then proceeded to combat Dr.
! NeeIy's argument, quoting from the
proceedings of former conferences 70
show that DR.. Nicely had failed to eff
feet a change in this rule, although he
/ began his fight against it in 1884.
DIR. Neely- has totally misrepresent-
ed Bishop Harris in this matter" he
said.
.sNIr. Chairman said DR.. Neely, ''I
rise to a point of personal privilege.
Does the doctor object to totally
misrepresented.' asked DR.. Buckley.
7 do" replied DR.. Neely.
Very well, then said DR.. Buckley,
Il withdraw it, and will say that any
one who construes the language of
Bishop Harris on this matter as DR..
Neely mas, is in error.
Dr. Neely insisted that he had a
right to clear up any charges of mis-
representation and was given the
! privilege to explain He then read the
paragraph from Bishop Harris, Opin-
/ ion and said:
Il will not permit any man to say
I am not absolutely square in anything
say or do.
No sooner had DR.. Neely taken his
seat than DR.. Buckley reaffirmed his
statement that the paragraph read by
/ DR.. Neely wholly misrepresented
Rishop Harris in the matter.
DR.. Neely was on his feet instantly
and said:
Does the doctor deny the quotation
I have just read?'
mo. sir replied Dr. Buckley,
and he proceeded to read at length
quotations from Bishop Harris on tnis
matter.