Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-29
METHODISTS IN
FINAL MEETING
ANNUAL. CONFERENCE COMES
TO ITS CLOSE
QUESTIONS OF VITAL IMPORT TO
CHURCH SETTLED
Divorce Problem Discussed and Re-
ports from Temperance Society
and Antl-saloon League Re-
celved with Applause


Southern California annual conference
of the Methodist Episcopal church
closed last night after a weeks session.
1t was one of the most successful ever
held In Southern California. Bishop
Henry w. Warren, senior in the episco-
pacy of the church, has been popular
presiding officer, and 1T was with great
feeling last night that resolution was
passed unanimously thanking him for
| his services
At the morning session yesterday the
two subjects of interest were the report
of the committee on marriage and di-
yorce showing that Los Angeles
county, with a smaller population than
| South Dakota, came up to that state, II
1t did not equal 1t, in the number OF
divorces granted, and asking that
ministers refuse to remarry persons
unless the divorce has been granted on
scriptural grounds.
Another question that caused much
discussion was the advisability of ad-
mitting the Rev. William Chew to the
| conference relations. Rev. Mr.. Chew is
40, and the age limit seems to have been
set at 40 years. An executive session
was called for, when this subject was
brought under discussion, but Bishop
Warren said:
discuss any man in a proper method
before any audience. We will throw no
slurs but just state our genuine opin-
IONS" After which the conference
continued in open session.
In an executive session held earlier
In the week there was a warm discus
sion in regard to the age limit to be
placed on the admission of eastern
clergymerf, and this was resumed yes
terday. Mr. Chew came to California
on account OF the illness of his daugh-
ter He has done good and efficient
work since coming here and the district
superintendents were very anxious that
he be admitted.
The question of the conference being
liable to be called on for superan-
nuated claim by Mr.. Chew was stated,
and Rev. p. H. Bodkin replied:
''Let us lose sight of the dollars and
cents and look at the man. who is in
the prime of life, and, according to the
standard set by our bishop, has twenty
years Of good work before him."
BY unwritten Law
A session of the committee on con-
ference relations was called and re-
ported against the admission, solely on
account of age. Rev. J. B. Green in
making the statement expressed deep
regret, as he said that Rev. Mr.. Chew
had done good work and was very
popular. The action of the committee
was upheld by a majority vote or the
conference and an unwritten law was
made that eastern pastors over 40 years
of age, except on special occasions,
were not to be welcomed to the South
ern California conference.
| The morning session opened with en-
| thusiastic reporst and much routine
| business. The report of Rev. Eli Nc
| hn W nj
| ifornia called forth much enthusiasm.
Interesting statistics were given re-
garding the university and the endow-
ment fund, which is steadily growing
1t was stated that Andrew Carnegie
is only waiting for 100000 to be raised
on the part of the university before
giving the institution $4,000.
DR.. c. f. Evardy, president OF the
institution, made a short address, stat
ing the aims of the institution. The
following were elected as board or
trustees: A. e. Pomeroy, j. L. Pitner,
w. A. Knighten, d. F. Edwards, ]. b.
Green, George I. Cochran and C. M.
Jacques.
Rev. A. E. Healy, dean of the Nc
Clay College of Theology, made
short address, setting forth the work
of the college which was established at
the conference last year. DR.. Healy
also stated that twenty-four graduates
the conference.
DR.. Healy paid a high tribute to
Bishop Warren, q graduate of the
WESLEYAN university, saying that 1t was
such men as this that Christian
schools have sent out. Bishop war
lister, have preached over one hundred
years between them, each having
served in the ministry fifty years.
Bishop Called For
There were calls from all parts of
the house for an address by the bishop,
who responded in his usual happy
manner.
DR.. Iamport read the report of the
committee on public morals, favoring
the weekly day of rest and also recon-
mending that an extension of the re-
call be made SO that 1t may include
any judge who, on technlcallties' hper-
ates criminals.
A letter was read from Rev. Benja-
min S. Haywood, a member of the con-
ference. who is superintendent of the
Methodist work in Porto Rico.
The usual routine business. including
the various reports from the commit
tees and many resolutions offered, was
completed at the afternoon session,
which was presided over by Rev. j.
Yesterday afternoon many of the
conference members and delegates at
tended the dedication OF the Morrow
cottage of the Frances de Paw Indus
trial school for Spanish children at
Prospect Park.
Last night the anniversaries Of the
Conference Temperance society and
the Anti-Saloon league were held, John
Oliver presiding. Stirring addresses
were made by the presiding officer and
Revs. Scott and Gambler. who are
prominently connected with the anti
saloon work. The latest reports were
given In regard to the saloon suppress