Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-07
ADDRESSES CONFERENCE
Has But Little Confidence in Exist
ing Conditions.
BUSINESS MATTERS WEIGHED
Restoration of the Time Limit t.
Pastorates-Anniversary Of
Epworth League.

Episcopal Church in Hamline Church this
morning Representative Sims Of Tennes-
see declared 1t to be his belief that his
bill for prohibition in the District of CO.
lumbia has little chance for passage at
this session of Congress.
do you expect" he asked, "a bill of
of seventeen men gathered from so many
parts Of the country? One is from San
Francisco and others from Chicago. Min
neapolis. st. Louis. Evansville. Columbus,
Boston. New York and Philadelphia. I
mean no reflection upon any one of the
members, but we. know prohibition does
not receive even decent treatment in any
Of these cities.
lone Of the members of the committee
alone has twenty-SiX diStillerieS within
the confines Of his district. and others
know that they would not last twenty
minutes If they stood for prohibition here
We are. so far as I can see. in the
present condition. up against it. g."
Here the speaker paused and, raising
his hand. declared:
But one little committee in one Con-
gress must not hinder this great work.
The ministers of the conference at this
5uncture gave the representative an ova-
t1on He then declared that the tenn
perance leaders are willing to take next
best law If they are unable to get the
best law. but, in speaking Of the liquor
interests. he said: ''They don't want
anything of the sort" He then said the
destroying and criminal making business"
In the country.
Saloon Men Active.
'The effort for its eradication" he con-
tinued. 'is not confined to this ten square
miles of the District of Columbia But
l want to say that the friends of the sa-
loon are marshaling their forces from all
parts of the United States. They do not
want any legislation against the liquor
interests at the Capital city of the ma
ton.
Two ministers of the city are opposed
peared before the committee and given
their reasons. Mr.. Sims then declared
that the claim has been made in some
quarters that the conditions in Washing
ton are ideal, and said:
, II say give us conditions that will fol-
low our legislation
In speaking Of the temperance move
ment and its results. he said:-"I do not
stay. Today there are not better agen-
cies at work for the advancement of this
cause than the forces that are united.
Not the least of these are W. c. T. L.
and the Anti-Saloon League but above
all are the members of the Christian
churches"
Memorial From General Conference.
The session of the conference opened
shortly before o clock when the memo
rial from the general conference of the
church asking that the time limit of pas
torates be restored was taken UP and
discussed.
Rev. Hugh Hollis said that at the proper
time he will move that a time limit Of
four years with the privilege of reap
pointment, provided the ministers are ap-
proved by the appointing powers. Rev
Mr. Campbell declared that the no-limit
system has not had fair trial in eight
years. I've must either have limit or
no limit" he said Let the ministers
stand where they succeed and leave
where they fall Rev. G. G. Bacon. Rev
E. l.. Watson. Rev. w. w. Barnes and
Rev. Fletcher W atson discussed the ques-
ton.
decided for the restoration of time
limit. The ministers stood 100 for and 40
against
Greetings from the National Anti-Sa-
loon League. signed by J. l.. Ewin. cor
responding secretary. were read. after
conference of the church looking toward
closer union Of Methodists in this
country was discussed. Bishop Cranston
1t is stated. will probably announce the
appointments to the pastorates of the
conference late this afternoon The dis
cussion as to time limit for pastorates
took UP the greater part of the session
yesterday afternoon Rev. DR. Frank ~
Bristol of Metropolitan Church presided
in place of Bishop Cranston.
Questions Debated.
The question first discussed was the
proposition to take the power Of appoint
ing the presiding elders away from the
bishops and to give the ministers of the
annual conferences the power to elect
them. This is one of the great prob
lens of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
it is stated. and. in various forms. 1t has
been agitated in annual conferences and
in general conferences for many years
Yesterday afternoon 1t was brought to the
attention OF the members of the Baltimore
to the general conference from the New
York annual conference.
The question was discussed at length.
Rev. DIR. Richardson. Rev. W. w. Barnes,
Rev. j. A. Price, Rev. Dr. Joel Brown
and many others fayOring 1t. while Rev.
DR.. Hugh Johnston Of Baltimore led the
opposition to the election of the presid-
ing elders. After discussing the matter
for nearly an hour and a half vote was
taken and Rev. Barnes motion to concur
in the memorial was adopted by vote of
16 to 81.
The anniversary Of the Epworth League
was celebrated at the evening service.
"Christian Workmanship was the sub
ject of Rev DIR. Edwin NJ. Randall, gen.
eral secretary Of the movement.