The Washington herald., 1908-05-07
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
First Act of MethOdistS in
General Conference.
MEETING IS TO LAST A MONTH
Telegram Recording Attitude of
Church on Drink Question Is Sent
Rev. DR.. F. N. Bristol, of Washing
tOn-Distinguished Men Present.

Bd4tliiiOIts M0.s May b.-1ne general
OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in session at the Lyric. put itself
on record this afternoon in opposition to
intoxicating liquors.
A resolution was offered by Rev. DR.. A.
B. Leonard. secretary Of the board Of
foreign missions, that the conference go
on record in regard to the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors In national soldiers homes
He said he had received a telegram from
that the question was con
sidered in the House Of Representatives
to-day.
Rev. Dr. Frank NJ. Bristol, OF Wash
ngton, a delegate Of the Baltimore an
nual conference. moved that a telegram
stating the position Of the conference be
sent TO Speaker Cannon. There was a
discussion from the floor as TO whether
The names beer" intoxicating liquors. >"
Or saloons" should be incorporated IN
The resolution offered by Rev. DR.. Leon
ard Some thought beer" did not cover
the case
Finally the following telegram was de-
'ided upon, and was sent to Speaker Can
non
Methodist general conference, repre-
senting 100000 members. urges continued
exclusion OF intoxicating liquors from the
branches Of the National Soldiers Home.
JOSEPH B. HINGLEY, Secretary
Bishop Not AII-pOwerfuI.
The first manifestation that the bishops
viii not be all-powerful at the General
was when the appointment Of
he committee on rules came before the
Bishop J. ". He..2ilton stated from the
platform that the bishops had decided TO
meet In the afternoon and appoint the
i've members, and would announce the
this morning. In concluding,
Bishop Hamilton observed:
This, Of course. viii be satisfactory to
he members OF the conference.
Mr. President. that most certainly will
Tot be satisfactory 10 the members or
his conference said Rev. DR. G. W
smith. 1T will be unsatisfactory We
want the bishops to retire and appoint
his committee at oIce. and are not will
ng 20 wait until tomorrow morning for
he appointment Of the most important
Of the whole conference.
Matters upon which the organization
i this body depends have been referred
o that committee. We want il TO meet at
,nce."
AS Dr. Smith took his seat, cries OF
That's right and That's So came
rom all over the floor. Bishop Hamilton
his proposition. saying the bish-
,ps would retire at once and select the
members Of the committee.
They were not out OF the room for more
han FIVE minutes. When they returned
Bishop Walden announced the committee
md Or. Smith was made chairman.
The delegates were welcomed TO Balti-
more tonight in addresses by Gov. Austin
4. Crothers and Mayor j. Barry MahcoL
Despite the isagreeable weather this
morning, the Lyric was the objective
'oint OF all roads. and before the exer-
Uses began at 10 o'clock the auditorium
vas crowded.
Bishop Warren Presides.
Promptly on the hour Bishop II. ".
Warren. the senior active bishop OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, brought
is gavel down, and with the words.
The General Conference Of the Metho-
list Episcopal Church is now assembled
q twenty-hfth delegated session-the re-
gious programme fittingly represents
he ecumenical character of the church.
aen being present from China, Japan,
nda, Africa, Europe. and America"-he
pened the session.
lie then announced the hymn, "Au
iail the Power Of Jesus Name" Every
ne IN the house stood for the singing
( the hymn. led by Rev. DR.. Harry D. /
litchell.
Bishop John H. Vincent, Of Indianapolis.
nd, with the people stiIl standing, Of
cred the opening prayer.
The devotional exercises concluded with
he recital Of the creed, the reading OF
he Seventy-second Psalm by Bishop
hoburn. Of India. and a Scripture read
~ by Rev. DR.. K S. JansOn, OF Stock /
olm, Sweden; prayer by Bishop Hart /
ell. OF Africa, and the singing Of the
ymn i Love Thy Kingdom. Lord"
Roll Call Takes Long Time.
The roll call Of the bishops followed. !
IL answered with the exception Of
bishop Thomas Bowman, the only re-
red member Of the board. and Bishop
. y. Foss. who is i'll at his home in
The roll OF bishops who
ave died during the last four years was
hen read, every one standing. and in alb /
olute silence. The difficult task Of call |
lg the roll Of the 7S7 delegates by DR..
oseph B. Hingeley, the secretary, fol- /
WED, Il took some time.
The election Of d secretary was looked /
lrward TO with great interest, as the re-
llt is generally uncertain. Rev. DR.. Jo- /
aph 3. Hingeley, the former secretary. /
'as put In nomination when names were
allied for. To the surprise Of many dele |
ates. no other names were offered. His |
lection was unanimous. This is his sec
nd term. having been elected secretary
t Los Angeles. Cal. four years ago. He /
ominated as his assistants:
Stephen o. Benton. New England Southern Con-
renee,
Charles C. Townsend. Northern New York Con-
renee.
Ebenezer S. Johnson Northwestern Iowa Confer
Alpheus S. Mowbrsy. OF W imington Conference
William C. Wilcox. Central Pennsylvania Con- 1
renee
Charles B. Perkins, California Conferences.
Frank B. Smith. Louisiana Conference
Matthew ". DOgsn. West Texas Conference.
d. Lee Aultman. Cincinnati Conference.
Charles r. Benedict. Des Moines Conferences.
Chen Wei Cheng, North China Conference.
Ezra c. Clemans. Northern Minnesota Conference /
Carlo ". Ferrari, Italy Conference
Christian l. Hanson. Western Norwegian-Danish 1
difference.
Griffin c. Logan. Upper Mississippi Conferences.
Joseph A. Matlock Rock River Conference.
Sterling J. Miller. West Virginia Conferences.
BayaTd II. Paine Northern Nebraska Conference.
Charles A. J. Walker Central German Conference 1
Mr.. Potter Presents Rules.
The rules for the action Of confer /
ice were presented by John A. Patton. /
Chattanooga, Tenn. From all over /
le hall men jumped to their feet de- /
landing recognition in order to have 1
Dme one point modified.
Among the first to gain the floor and 1
} recognized was Rev. DR.. ]. NJ. Buck