The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-05-12
GIVES RISE TO
A WARM DEBATE
METHODIST DIVINE CRITICISES
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
FINDS SOME OPPOSITION
Resolution Denouncing Attitude Of
Romanists Toward Public School
System Is Referred-Other
Topics Discussed.

OI the ROMAN CatAODC chuTcn toward
the public school system of the United
States furnished the subject of sen
sational debate in the Methodist gen
eral conference Monday. While there
was strong disposition on the part
Of certain delegates to have the con
ference adopt resolutions committing
1t to extreme utterances upon the sub
1ect. there was an overwhelming SEN
timent as 1t developed. against any
such action. and the entire matter was
finally disposed of by referring it to
committee from which 1t 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-
sented a resolution strongly criticizing
the Roman Catholic church, declaring
that "its 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"
~ Mig Itdu cAtl tiNlS IibI 81 it''~'
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 tho
resolution
When DR.. King had finished there
was 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, NOD The Roman
Catholic church has done a magnificent
work in this country 1t has taken
hold of class of people who, perhaps,
no other form of religion could have
nodded so well for the we'll being of
our common land. | feel like putting
my hand under every evangelizing
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. Boiler to
refer the resolution to the committee
on the state of the church was arried
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 Sibfey, 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:
No 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
full, and none of our ministers or lay
men shall solemnize marriage where
there is 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.
Bishop to Be Retired.
It is learned that the subcommittee on
the effectiveness of bishops reported in
favor Of the retirment OF at least four of
the present bishops. These will be, il is
said by prominent leader in the church
councils, Bishops Andrews, aged 70: NAL
aleu-, 70, Walden and Vincent, q. Bishop
Andrews is the same age as Bishop Mer-