The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-10
METHODISTS DECLINE
 TO CRITICISE CATHOLICS
DISCUSSION AT. THE GENERAL
 II. E. CONFERENCE


 Resolutions on the Attitude of the
 Roman Catholic Church Toward the
 Public Schools of the CouDtry--Chicf
 Justice Lore, of Delaware, Speaks
 Against Them-Divorce Question.
 Los Angeles, Cal, May 9.-The atti- tude of the Roman Catholic church to- ward the public school system of the United States furnished the subject of an exciting debate at to-day's session of the Methodist Episcopal General con- ference. While there was a strong dis position on the part of certain delegates to hay 3 the conference adopt resolu- tions committing it to decided utter ances on the subject, an overwhelming sentiment developed against such ac- tion and the question was finally re- ferred to committee, from which it is unlikely ever to be reported.
 Several other resolutions bearing on divorce. termination of membership of neglectful members, Sunday closing of the Lewis and Clark exposition, endow- ment of the American university at Washington, changes in the wording of Ivarious paragraphs in the discipline and other questions of importance to Methodists were submitted and debated by. several committees.
 Rev. J. R. King, secretary of the Church Extension society of Philadel- phia, presented the resolution which adversely criticised the Roman Catholic church, declaring that, in the language of the Episcopal address, its efforts to control the secular press, it's influence in politics and it's 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 Harnett sought to refute statements made in the Episcopal address. Dr. King then spoke at length in support of the resolution.
 Charles B. Lore, chief justice of the Delaware supreme court lay delegate, after agreeing with Dr. King regarding the public schools said: But are we to gain anything by any phase of de- nunciation against any other Christian body? (Cries of No, mo-.
 "The Roman Catholic church has done | a magnificent work in this country. It has taken hold of a class of people that lperhaps no other form of religion could 1 have moulded as well for the well being l of our common land. I feel like putt ting my hands under every evangeliz- ing agency in this world that helps to upnft men and not put them down.
 This expression was received with ap- plause 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.
 Judge Sibley of Ohio offered a reso- Hutton on the subject of divorce. He Wanted paragraph 39 of the discipline changed to read as follows:
 NO divorce, except for adultery, final desertion or cruelty or neglect, such as to compel an innocent partner to separ- ate from an offender, shall be regarded by the church as morally lawful, and none of our ministers or laynen shall solemnize marriage where there is a di- vorced wife or husband living, unless the divorce was granted on grounds hereinbefore specified. But this regula- tion does not apply in cases where di- vorced parties are seeking re-nlar- riage."
 This resolution WIS referred to the committee on statS of the church. | It was learned tonight that the sub- committee on the effectiveness of bish- ops reported to-day in favor of the re- tirement of at least four of the present bishops. These will be, it is said by a prominent leader in the church coun- cils, Bishops Andrews, aged seventy nine; Mallalieu, aged seventy-five, and | Walden and Vincent, aged seventy three. Bishop Andrews is the same age as Bishop Merrill, who was asked to be retired. If this forecast is correct, at least seven new bishops will be elected by the present General conference. 1 No action was taken on the sub-com- mittee's report, pending the report of the subcommittee on the age limit.