Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-03-16
METHODISTS
FOR REFORM.
New Jersey M. {. Conference
Endorses the Bishops Bills"
No Sectarian Issue.

( Jersey NJ. Il. conference yesterday
placed itself on record as fayoring
the bishops bill'' for the reform of
the saloon. now pending in the legis-
lature. The one voice raised against
the Endorsement was that of Rev. j.
f.. Thompson. of Trenton, and his
sentiments we're received with a cold
ness than indicated strong disapprov-
al.
The discussion became heated for
a few minutes. 1t started when Rev.
J. Ward Gamble, of Trenton, who had
been one of the leaders of the local
option movement. presented the reso-
luton for the Endorsement of the
bishops bill" which, he declared, is
a step in the direction of reform of
the saloon evil, which the conference
could not afford to ignore. The most
important feature. Dr.. Gamble de-
clared. is that requiring the removal
of all screens from saloons.
The speaker declared the men who
turned down the local option bill in
the assembly declared they were be
tween the devil and the deep sea.
The real troubl. he said, was due to
the fact that certain Christian people
do not compel themselves to be rep
resented by the Assemblymen and
Senators.
Here DR.. Thompson interrupted: Il
rise as a Methodist minister and have
a right to my opinion as well as DR..
Gamble he said. 1T is not only a
question of whether We make a bet
ter liquor law. but whether we make
a tail to a Roman Catholic kite"
Didn't Like That.
At once there were expressions of
disapproval from all over the auditor
ium, but, not needing the Interrupt
ton, the speaker continued: Il would
not go to a rum-seller's funeral if he
was a member of my own family. 7
wouldn't act as a pail bearer at a rum
sellers funeral. The Roman Catho-
lies came out with this bill when we
have a prohibition bill all ready. We
have no business with their bill. |
don't propose to favor it, and | will
talk all eternity against it,
Dr.. Gamble called attention to the
fact that the resolution was signed by
Dr.. J. F. Shaw. DR.. John Handley,
and DR.. John Fox, as well as himself.
DR.. Fox said: The liquor men are
tooth and nail against these bill and
would be delighted to hear this con-
ference was divided as to this ques-
ton. 1t would be sweetness to
them"
The resolution was adopted almost
unanimously. only four hands being
shown against it.. After the result
had been announced, DR.. Thompson
insisted that his name be entered on
the records as protesting. Some OBJ
iected, but he insisted it was his
right.
Another little breeze was raised
when a resolution indorsing Rev.
George b. Wi9ht's administration of
the Office of state commissioner of
charities was offered. DR.. Thompson
spoke warmly against the resolution,
declaring that the Office held by Dr..
Wight is "A political one and should
not have the Endorsement of the con
ference. He had as little sympathy
in that movement as he had in the
other. however, and the resolution
was adopted.
TO Try Aged Pastor.
Bishop GoodSell announced the
committee TO try Rev. l.. o. Manches-
ter, the aged minister of Sharptown,
salem county. who has been charged
by the official board of the Toms Riy-
er church, where he was formerly sta
toned, with contracting debts, giving
notes and never meeting them. Rev.
w. w. Moffett, of Princeton, will pre-
side. with Rev. William Mitchell as
secretary. Rev. J. ". Gamble will
act as counsel for the church and Rev.
!. r. Thompson will defend the ac-
cused pastor.
Rev. James Moore, presiding elder
of the Camden district, read his re-
port showing 81 pastoral charges
with aggregate salaries of $55,503.
There are so churches, worth ST.
231 900; 81 p~arsonages, valued at
$156, zoe. Il total of church property
of $1.3S7,700. The Indebtedness
against llIS Is 9-Zf,ofl, Il IeuuCtioh
of S25,72S. The membership is 49,
3G1, with 22,2S3 Sunday school pu-
pills. During the year five new
churches were dedicated-at Pleas
antville, Haddon Heights and Atco,
with IA new parsonage at Hurffville.
The total spent on building and i'm
~provements was $4,000. There have
I4.. - m +. ~ ;atn;aE
during the year.
DR.. Frank Moore, as president Of
Pennington Seminary, reported 202
students enrolled, as against LAG last
year. On the 500, 900 endowment
fund the subscriptions so far total
$62,24S.
G()nn TIME TnNIEHT