The Washington times., 1904-05-29
DR.. TAGG DENIES
NEWSPAP CHARGE
No Politics in Directory APP
pointmentS.
M. P. CONFERENCE ADJoURNs
Suppression of "Legalized Vice" Dis
cussed at Morning Session-Ser-
vices in Churches Today.

The nineteenth quadrenniaI general
| conference Of the Methodist Protestant
Church was adjourned yesterday after
noon In the North Carolina Avenue
Church, where IT has been in session
for the past nine days.
The final meeting was marked by g
statement Of President Tagg in denial
of the intimation of a Baltimore news
paper that he had Influenced the com
mittee on publishing interests to droI
Dr. Thomas II. Lewis and DR.. Frank
I, Little, of the Maryland conference
from the Baltimore Book Directory.
No Politics in Slate.
Referring to a part Of the offending
article which criticised him for not APP
pointing any member of the directory to
the committee on publishing interests
DR.. Tagg said this action had been in
accordance with his announced policy
Of not wishing to let any Of the dele
gates review their own work. He said
he had never been approached by any
member of the conference with a view
of influencing legislation. and so far as
his speaking to any member Of the COM
mittee In regard to the personnel of the
the intimation had no ground
President Tagg said further that I'M
til the nomination of the committee
had been announced he had not the re-
hottest idea OF what their report might
be. 1t was his earnest desire, he said.
to correct the impression conveyed in
the published report Of the incident.
The trouble in connection with APP
pointment OF members TO the directory
occurred when the committee on pub
fishing interests made its report last
Thursday. In nominating candidates
for election TO the directory. the com
mittee had dropped from its roll the
names of DIR. Lewis, DIR. Little, and
the Rev. John @. Clark, three OF its
oldest members.
Vigorous objection TO the report fol-
lowed. In the course of the discussion
the statement was made that "even
among a Christian body Of men there
seem to be petty jealousies and in
trigue." The committee explained its
action by the statement that the report
of the directory was irregular and i'm
Closing Session Dull.
Other than the statement Of DR.. Tagg
the closing session was OF little in
terest A few details Of routine BUSH
ness were arranged, and before adj
Journment the president again address,
ed the conference. thanking the mem
bers for assistance during the sessions
and deplOring the fact that any feeling
had been engendered. He also referred
briefly to the plan of UNCONVENTIONAL
union. and said he hoped soon to see II
contaminated.
DR.. Kinzer delivered the closing pray
er. and the conference was declared adj
iourned.
An interesting discussion Of the sup
preston of liquor traffic, the tobacco
habit, and all forms of '1egalized vice.
occurred at the morning session.
The matter was brought TO the atten-
ton Of the delegates I'm the report OF
the committee on temperance. embody-
Ing an appeal to the Christian world 10
assume firmer and more vigorous at
titude on the question.
Objection to the report was made by
DR.. ]. n. Holmes. Of Baltimore who
maintained that the inference TO be
drawn was that the Christian poptiIa-
ton Of the country fails to carry out fits
duty on the temperance problem. Under
the great difficulties which church peo-
pie face In their efforts to suppress the
EVIL. he said. IL is impossible for them
to do more than they are already doing.
The population Of the country. he pointed
out, was over 100000 people, of whom.
II is estimated. 10000. 900 are church mem
bers
IF 100000 vote in favor of these
great evils" he said. "and only 30 600 eO0
take the other side, we are powerless 20
proceed further. and In view Of this |
object to this reflection on the efforts OF
the church"
just Averts Temperance Debate.
These remarks brought several men,
bers TO their feet, and the contention
was made the Christian world Is IN posi-
ton TO combat with the problem, and
will I'm the end prove triumphant. IL tS1
interest taken IN the question remains
at its present standard.
Discussion Of the report was cut snort
by the announcement of President Tagg
that II the members embarked on tenn
perance debate it would be impossible
for the conference TO take final adjourn
ment at noon. 1t later developed.
however. that the session would have 10
be carried over until the afternoon, and
a motion to extend the time was
adopted.
Devotional exercises at the opening of
the meeting We're conducted by the Rev.
NJ. G. Jackson, OF Arkansas. The read
ing OF the committee reports was the
first order Of business, and occupied the
attention Of the conference throughout
the entire session.
In the report Of the committee on
property statistics, the total member
snip OK the church is shown 10 be 1885,
49, while the total value Of its property
is estimated at S7.224,572
Home Missions.
The report of the committee on home
missions shows that the total receipts
OF that body in the quadrennium have
been S4s.275.77. with the total resources
s53, S2S.67, representing an increase in the
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