The Detroit times., 1910-09-21
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Methodist Conference Adopts Rssolur
ton Providing That "All Gases n
volving Change Of Rslatiop" -
Considered By COMMITTEES.
Move Believed To Be Due TO DssirS
To Prevent Further Public Discus
sion Of Ryerson Case.

ohSefeu uebus IesteQ close 10 tuoD0
OF youth and bowed shoulders touched
those OF straight, vigorous manhood
as the members Of the fifty-Hfth an
nual Detroit Methodist conferences
knelt at the altar rail In the Central
M. K. church. Wednesday morning, for
the sacrament OF the Lords Supper
which preceded the opening OF the
business session. The scene was an
unusual one. for In addition to the
conference the centennial celebration
Of Michigan Methodism has brought
Methodists, old and young. clergy and
laity. from all over the state, and tt
was remarkable gathering In many
respects, to which Bishop w. r. Me-
Dowell administered the sacrament.
Hundreds awaited themselves OF the
love-feast ceremony.
With song on the lips. but tears In
the eyes. the gathering q few mo-
ments later paid tribute to the mem
DRY of those whose absence from roll
call meant that they had found the
brighter home on the other shore. A.
the memorial list was read Bishop
Mcdowell softly started the words Of
the old hymn. I'm the Sweet Bye and
Bye" and all present swelled its
strains with fearful voices.
Conference officers being appointed
| and roll call over, the order of bust
ness was temporarily set aside to per-
NIT the Rev. John Sweet, former dis
trict superintendent, to present q reso-
luton to the conference for immediate
action with the idea OF preventing the
possible washing of dirty linen" In
open conference. The resolution pro
vides: That, In the passage Of char
acter, all cases involving change of
relation be referred to the COMMITTEES
on conference relation. to be passed
upon by the conference after the
aforesaid committee has reported
back" DR.. Sweets resolution alsc
embodied the suggestion that the
findings OF the committee be consid
cred NAL, but vigorous Opposition
| WAS made to this ana the conferences
| foregoing part of the resolution.
II was generally understood that
Dr. Sweets purpose was to prevent
the reopening OF the Rev. Joseph Ry.
| erson's case to undue publicity. and
the majority Of the conference breth-
rem were willing to acquiesce. There
fore, when Mr.. Ryerson's name was
read In connection with the report Of
the Rev. William Dave, superinten-
dent of Ann Arbor district. to which
Mr.. Ryerson had been assigned pre-
vious to his complete withdrawal from
the Methodist denomination, the only
comment possible was the referring
OF his case to the committee on con-
ference relations. The same was done
with regard to the Rev. F.. 8. DeVona,
who resigned In the regular way from
the denomination to become an Epie-
copalian rector.
The Rev. M. C. Hawks. of Ypsilanti.
for several years the popular pastor
of the Cass-ave. church In this city,
will be placed upon the supernumary
list because of the fact that he Is
obliged to temporarily leave Michigan
on account OF the ill-health OF Mira.
Hawks. Following DR.. Dawes report
came similar reports from the Rev.
A. B. Leonard, district superintendent
of Flint, and the Rev. James Pascoes
district superintendent Of Houghton.
Bishop j. M. Walden, OF Cincinnati,
one OF the oldest men In Methodism,
spent a brief hour at the conference
and spoke few words.
The reading OF reports was inter-
rupted long enough to permit the Rev.
David @. Downey. of Chicago. secre-
tary of the board OF Sunday schools,
to anticipate himself to the extent or
addressing the conference on the I'M
portance OF looking to the Sunday
school for the church members and
ministers Of the future. The discus
sion of the relation of the church TO
the workingman was exclusively dis
cussed, Wednesday afternoon, by the
Rev Samuel Jennings, OF Detroit. the
Rev. A. f. Healey, OF Osceola. and the
Rev. II. j. B. Marsh. OF ST. Ignace.
Eyangelistic work and methods was
taken up by the Rev. Charles E. Sted-
man. OF Orion. and the Rev. Norman
LaMarche. OF Bay City, open discus
sion following all OF the addresses
made. The Preachers Aid society
holds an anniversary meeting. Wed
nesday evening.
The Epworth league banquet and
anniversary held Tuesday. evening In
the Central church parlors was large
ly attended by conference members.
The Rev. ID. II. Glass. OF Pontiac, state
president OF the league. presided ana
addresses were made by the Rev.
Howard A. Field. OF Caro-. and the
Rev. Hugh Kennedy. OF Battle Creek.
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