The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-05-12
THEIR ORTHODOXY
is TO BE TESTED
Cases of Liberal Methodist Pro.
fessOrs VIII Cause Sharp
Conflict In Conference.

Los ANGELES, Cal, May Ii
Practically no business was transacted
by the Methodist general conference
today. The early morning session was
devoted entirely to a consideration Of
the report Of the committee on rules as
reported by Rev. DR.. T. B. Nicely,
chairman. The rules on debate of the
various sections governing the man.
ner Of transactions both on the floor
or the conference and the reference Of
resolutions to committees took I'D the
time of the conference until recess.
The report was left unfinished. There
were many sharp passages between the
parliamentary experts which some
what enlivened an otherwise dull and
featureless session.
Long addresses were made by Rev.
William Dobson, fraternaI delegate for
Canada, and Rev. J. G. Kilgore, of the
M. E. church South. DR., KiIgore
aroused the enthusiasm of the dele
gates to degree not heretofore reach
ed in the general conference by his
eloquent peroration, in which he as
| serted that no one could love the Stars
and Stripes more than the people Of
the South. The entire audience arose
at the request of Bishop Andrews and
sang America"
Heat Over Heresy.
The heresy charges which have been
made against several individuals high
| in the councils Of Methodism seem
destined to provoke a spirited conflict
among the delegates. The committee
| on education has appointed a subcom-
| mtttee, which will have consideration
| of this matter. The question as to
| whether this subcommittee shall have
power to call before 1t persons upon
whose testimony will be decided the
| charges of heresy and papers bearing
| upon the subject evoked a contest in
| the main committee.
| The subcommittee was finally voted
| the power of a board of inquiry and
will hear all the evidence bearing upon
| this subject. Memorials on these
| charges have been received from the
! Columbia River Southern Illinois and
| Swedish conferences, asking for an
| examination into the orthodoxy OF
| books in use in Methodist schools and
| of the professors in several of the fac
| ultieS. Members of the Rock River
| conference asked the board of bishops
| to refuse to confirm the appointment
Of professors whose orthodoxy was
| doubtful. All Of these memorials and
| others Of similar import were recon-
mended to the subcommittee.
| Work for Liberalism.
Three prominent educators on the
committee who are standing together
| on the ground that theology in Meth
| odist schools is safe and sound are
| Chancellor ]. r. Day, Of Syracuse;
| President Charles J. Little, of Garrett
| Biblical institute, and Secretary w. f.
| Mcdowell, of the board of education.
In addition to their opposition to here
sy charges, these men are also exerting
a strong influence in blocking Bishop
| McCabe's plan to open the American
university before the $5,O0O,0OO endow-
| ment Is secured
Their contentious against these two
| inpoFtar& clauses are made more in
! teresting by the fact that the three
| gentlemen named are all prominent
candidates for bishOpric honOrs. They
| represent the aggressive element in the
| educational department of the church,
| and as they win or lose the question
| of liberal or conservative policies in
the church may largely be deter
| mined.