Gilpin observer., 1904-05-12
ATTACK CATHOLICS.
eENeATIoNAL DEBATE IN METH.
opIsT CONFERENCE.

ooIsT CONFERENCE.
Several Delegates viii Try to Make
colored Leader q eishop-Question
10 to Be Considered Later-Many
Subjects Discussed.
Los Angeles. CAL, May 10.-The at
titude Of the Roman Catholic church
toward the public school system OF
the United States furnished the sub.
5ect OF sensational debate in the
Methodist general conference. While
there was strong disposition on the
part Of certain delegates to have the
conference adopt resolutions commit
ting 1t to extreme utterances upon
the subject, there was an overwhelm-
ing sentiment as 1t developed,
against any such action, and the en-
tire matter was finally disposed Of
by referring It to committee, from
which 1t is not likely to be reported.
Several other resolutions bearing
upon the subjects of divorce, the
termination of membership Of neglect.
full members and other matters Of i'm
portance to Methodists were submit
ted and debated by several commit
tees. Rev. ]. r. King. secretary of the
Church Extension society of Philadel-
phia. having secured the floor, pre-
sented a resolution strongly criticis-
ing the Roman Catholic church. de-
claring that "its efforts to control the
secular press, its influence in politics
and its assaults on the public school
system demand the vigilance OF Prot
estants and patriots"
When DR.. King had finished there
was commotion among the delegates.
Many sought to gain recognition from
the chair in order to reply. Charles
B. Lohr. chief justice Of the Delaware
supreme court, lay delegate, was rec
ognized. After agreeing with DR..
King regarding the public schools,
Justice Lohr continued: But are we
to gain anything by any phase of de-
nunciation against any other church.
(Cries Of No. no.J The Roman Cath
olic church has done a magnificent
work in this country. 1t has taken
hold Of class OF people whom. per
haps, no other form of religion could
have nodded So well for the well-be-
Ing Of our common land. ! feel like
gelizing agency in this world that
helps to uplift men and not pull them
down.
This expression was received with
applause by the delegates and the
galleries.
A motion to refer the resolution to
the committee on the state OF the
church was carried. In the opinion
of many prominent members this dis
poses of this matter finally.
Judge Sibley Of Ohio offered an i'm
portant resolution on the subject of
divorce. He wanted paragraph 80 of
the discipline changed to read:
mo divorce. except for adultery.
final desertion or cruelty or neglect.
such as to compel an innocent partner
to separate from the offender, shall be
regarded by the church as morally
lawful. and none of our ministers or
laymen shall solemnize marriages
where there is a divorced wife or hus-
band living. unless the divorce was
granted upon grounds hereinbefore
specified. But this regulation does
not apply in cases where divorced
parties are seeking re-marriage."
This resolution was also referred
to committee on state of the church
Four Bishops to Be Retired.
1t is learned that the subcommittee
on the effectiveness of bishops re-
ported in fa-or of the retirement of at
least four of the present bishops.
These will be, it is said, Bishops An
drews, aged seventy-nine; Mallalieu,
seventy-five. and Walden and Vincent,
aged seventy-three. Bishop Andrews
is the same age as Bishop Merrill.
who has asked to be retired. If this
forecast is correct, at least seven new
bishops will be elected by the present
general conference.
II colored bishop is to be named
It seems to be practically settled that
the man will be Rev. DR.. j. w. E.
Bowen, professor of systematic the
ology in the Cannon Theological
seminary OF Atlanta. The colored
delegates to the conference have met
in caucuses and by unanimous vote
agreed to concentrate their strength
upon single candidate, that candi-
date to h. DR.. Bowen.