Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-20
METHODISTS BY
VOTE TAKE UP
PREPAREDNESS
War Topic viii Be Referred to
a General Conference
Committee

SARATOGA SPRINGS, ~ Y. Nav
1.-The famous ballroom adjoining
what was once the gambling hall in
Richard Canfield's Saratoga Club, now
known as the Casino, was "reGonse-
Grated" at remarkable service held
here this afternoon by Bishop Luther
b. Wilson of New York, Bishop Jo-
seph f. Berry of Philadelphia, Presi-
dent Ezra S. Triple OF Drew Theo-
logical Seminary and ether high dig
nitaries attending the conference OF
the Methodist Episcopal church,
The service. which followed the
second session of the general confer
ence in convention hall, marked the
formal opening of the former gam
bling club as the missionary exRSsi,
ton and social center OF the CO Ger.
enee. The clubhouse was purchased
four years ago by Saratoga Springs
village and loaned by II to the confer
ence. .-.....
More than 100 men and women, un-
able to find seats in the long colon
nnaded ballroom, were given places IN
the old gambling hall itself. about the
walls of which were stu hung some
of the old pictures of Garfield days.
Many of those who came here in
other days." said Bishop Wilson,
stood about the tables mere and haz-
arded the wages of a day or week,
or the price of farm, or their stocks,
on the turn of the wheel. And VINO
knows how many of them, when taey
lost, went out of this room 20 their
deaths
There is lesson in this. Let US
as Methodists lay our gold on the
black of sin or on the red OF the
crimson life so that we may lose With
God. Let us turn the black TO gray
and the red to Christian lecency and
purity.
Or. Freeman d. Bovnrd OF Philadel-
phia, one of the secretaries Of the
Board of Home Missions, and s. Earl
Taylor, one of the secretaries OF the
Board of Foreign Missions, also made
reference to the clubs previous his
tory and thanked God "a heather
place had been converted into a tenn
pie of Christian worship.
At the morning session, after Bishop
John w. Hamilton of Boston had de-
Iivered the episcopal address, tSere
was another demonstration.
II began when DIR. Ernest j. Rich
ardson of Brooklyn, mentioned for
election to the episcopacy, offered
resolution to refer all matters intro
duced thereafter in connection With
the war to special committee Or.
Austin Courtenay Of Columbus, o..
demonstrated earnestly against war
discussions in the conference.
"The war ought to find no place in
this conference" he said. I'VE have
brothers in all the armies. Whatever
the private feeling or opinions Of in
dividuals, they should find no express
sion here"
This brought a hot remonstranee
from DR.. Robert Watt OF Wilmington,
Del, who declared that silence in
such an hour as this would be a
crime"
Has 1t come to pass that world.
wide Methodism cannot touch with its
fingers or use it's mother tongue in a
sane, intelligent discussion of such
situation he demanded IF we are
going to solve a thing like this by
silence, let us also soiye the problem
of sin by silence.
ireland greets YOU" he cried, re-
ferring to his race and ability to stand
his ground. Although | am not an
Irishman of the Dublin type"
The conference adopted pr. Rich
ardson's resolution and a committee
will be named by the board of bisks
tomorrow.