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Show PUBLIC SCHOOLS AlOTHCHES Methodists Get Warm . on Question. i Animated Debate in General Conference Over Resolution Resolu-tion on Subject. Overwhelming Sentiment Against Adopting Any Resolution Regarding Regard-ing Matter; Topic Is Buried. LOS ANGEUES, Cal., May 9. The altitude of the Htfman Catholic church toward the public school system of tho United States furnished a subject of a sensational debate de-bate in the Methodist general conference confer-ence today. "While there was a strong disposition on the part of certain delegates dele-gates to have the conference adopt resolutions reso-lutions committing it to extreme utterances utter-ances upon the subject, there was an overwhelming sentiment, It developed, de-veloped, against any such action, and the entire matter was finally disposed of by referring it to a committee, from which It Is unlikely ever to be reported. Several other resolutions bearing upon up-on the subjects of divorce, the termination termina-tion of mejiiberehlp of neglectful members, mem-bers, Sunday closing of the Lewis and Clark exposition, the endowment of the American university at "Washington, "Washing-ton, changes In the wording of various paragraphs In the Discipline, and other matters of importance to Methodists were submitted and debated by several committees. It Is probable that the book concern commltteo will report to the conference during the next two or three days Its recommendation regarding the proposal to consolidated the various publishing houses of the church into one great central cen-tral institution. Judge Sibley of Ohio offered an Important Im-portant resMlutlon on tho subject of dl- Discipline changed to read as follows: "No divorce, except for adultery, final desertion or cruelty, or neglect, such as to compel an Innocent partner to separate sepa-rate from the offender, shall be regarded re-garded by the church as morally lawful, law-ful, and none of our ministers or laymen lay-men shall solemnize marriages where there Is a divorced wife or husband living, liv-ing, unless the divorce was granted Upon Up-on grounds hereinbefore specified. But this regulation does not apply in cases where divorced parties are seeking remarriage." re-marriage." This resolution -was also referred to the committee on the state of the church. The first hour of today's session was devoted to prayer and long service and the reading of future day's programmes. Sensation Is Sprung. The first business that came before the conference this morning furnished a. sensation. The Rev. Dr. J. M. King of Philadelphia was recognized Immediately Immedi-ately after the devotional services and took his stand upon the platform He stated that he -wished to bring before the conference a very Important matter to all Methodists, He commenced by reading an extract from a letter written by the Rev. Father Peter Harnett, vicar general of the Roman Catholic diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, appearing appear-ing In a local newspaper yesterday, and based upon an utterance of the episcopal episco-pal address before the conference by Bishop Foss on Thursday last. Catholics and Public Schools. In his letter the Rev. Harnett took exception to that statement made In the episcopal address that the Roman Catholic Cath-olic church Is opposed to the public school syBtem of America- , The Rev. Dr. King made a spirited attack upon the Roman Catholic church and declared de-clared that the assertions of the Rev. Harnett was contradicted by the facts In the case. He elaborated to some extent ex-tent upon the statement that the Roman Ro-man Catholic church did not Interfere In politics and concluded by reading a resolution embodying his views upon tho subject, which he desired the conference con-ference to adopt. When Dr. IClng finished reading his resolution there was a commotion among the delegates and a hum of suppressed sup-pressed conversation and many cries of "No, No," showing that there wa3 strong dissension with the stand taken by Dr. King. There was a score of delegates del-egates on their feet In an instant clamoring clam-oring for recognition from Bishop Fowler, Fow-ler, who was presiding. The chair recognized rec-ognized Lay Delegate Chief Justice Charles B. Lohr of the Delaware State Supreme court, who made a strong speech in opposition to Dr. King's stand. Catholics Defended. "In regard to Dr. King's attitude upon tho Roman Catholic opposition to the public school system In America." snld Justice Lohr, "I am with him, but I believe be-lieve this Is no place or t:me to Indulge In an attack on the Roman Catholic church, or any other church. I believe that the Roman Catholic church is doing do-ing a great work In this country along certain lines, and we should put our hands under it and assist It, or any other oth-er church In a work of- evangelization." Discussion was cut short by a motion to refer the resolution to the committee on the state of the church and on this motion the previous question was moved, which ended debate and referred the question to the committee on state of the church. After tho Bishops. ' Another matter which aroused considerable consid-erable feeling among the delegates was a reHolutlon by a delegate from Ohio, asking that a detailed statement of salaries, sal-aries, traveling expenses, house rent and all other expenditures of bishops and other general conference officers be prepared and represented to the conference. confer-ence. The resolution waH finally adopted and telegrams are to be sent out asking for specific details of expenditures In each case. |
