The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-22
War Claim Dispute VIII Soon
Be al an End,
SUBSTITUTE IS ADOPTED
Even the Compromise Report VIII Be
Modified by Committee and the
Troublesome Difference
viii Be Adjusted.

Dallas, Texas, May 2l.-The issue which
has been regarded as the paramount con-
tention In the ssions of the general con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
church, south, since the assembling OF
that body In Dallas, on May 7, appears
to be near its final step to settlement.
The minority report of the publishing
committee on the war claim has been
rejected by the general conference, and
| today what is known as the McMurray
substitute was, in an amended form,
adopted in its stead.
Changes even in the compromise meas
ure are still possible, but the indica-
tions are that they will not materially
alter the spirit The principal provisions
Of the McMurray substitute are mild
censure of any agent Of the church who
! may have used improper methods when
the war claim was pending; ratifies the
former action of the college of bishops In
their offer to the Senate to return the
entire sum of the war claim II that body
80 voted; makes this action of the bishops
the legal action of general conference and
of the Methodist Episcopal church. This
latter provision Is embodied in what is
known as the Jordan amendment which
created debate last night and during this
mornings session.
Very few of the delegates seemed per-
fectly satisfied with the wording of the
Jordan amendment and after the amend
ment and the McMurray paper, as
whole, had been adopted today, special
,x,aIt hty ~ general
ference was authorized to be appointed
by the bishop presiding whose duty 1t
shall be to revise and make more perfect
and clear the provisions of the entire
document.
Drafted Hastily.
1t was stated in explanation for the
| necessity of the creation of the committee
that the paper had been drafted hastily,
contained many grammatical errors,
some contradictory provisions. and might
be susceptible of misconstruction be-
cause of these defects. Before adjourn
ment today Bishop Hendrix who presides
| tomorrow, informed the press that he ex-
pected the special committee of five to
! give the matter careful revision and re-
| port early tomorrow morning. Until the
Recommendations or changes to be made
by the special committee are before the
general conference 1t Is Impossible 10
| state for certainty just what position
| the war claim is in, in its final stages.
No radical change in the spirit OF the
paper adopted today is expected, but ex-
! tended debate may possibly be precipitat-
ed in tomorrow's consideration of the
matter
Both delegates and visitors were slow
| in assembling today, and there were many
vacant seats in the auditorium when DR..
| Kenny of the Pacific conference opened
the morning devotional exercises. After
| singing, prayer and the approval OF tne
minutes, Bishop Galloway took the chair.
| A motion to adopt the McMurray sub
stitute was made. Professor Jorden,
whose compromise amendment was
adopted last night, rose with new reso-
! lutions. They changed slightly the YER
biage and the meaning Of the matter
adopted last night. They were read but
not offered A motion to lay the whole
Of the McMurray substitute, the Jordan
resolution and all on the table was de-
feated by big majority.
McMurray Resolution Adopted.
| A motion to adopt the McMurray reso-
| luton was made and Its verbiage was
read again. The pending question was or
dered and carried by large majority.
There were statements from all parts
of the house that the substitute was not
|
| that a committee of five to correct gram
| matical errors etc. be appointed, and
the motion carried.
DR.. G. C. Rankin arose to question OF
personal privilege. He said the substi-
tute adopted did not suit him, but that
as n Ioyal Methodist he bowed to the
will of the majority.
| A motion to reconsider the vote by
which the substitute was adopted was
laid on the table, and the conference pro-
| ceeded to listen to the reading OF routine
reports from the committee.
Bishop Galloway appointed the follow.
| ing committee to correct inaccuracies In
| the McMurray paper.
]. r. Godbey OF Arkansas, T. w. Jordan
| of Tennessee; Paul Whitehead, of Vir-
ginia; w. s. McMurray Of Missouri; e..
B. Winton of Monterey. Mex
| Report No. / of the committee on Ep-
| worth League was read. II is a lengthy
document and was taken up seriatim and
passed The most important change In
the report was one making it possible for
a layman to be chosen general secretary
of the order Formerly laymen were incl
igible.
Efforts to have the minority report Of
the publishing house committee on war
claim matter printed in pamphlet form as
an official act of the general conference
Bishop Isaac Lane of Jackson, Tenn.
fraternal messenger from the colored
Methodist Episcopal church in America,
delivered a fraternal address
Bishop Galloway said the conference
had been glad to hear from Bishop Lane.
He had known Bishop Lane long and we'll
and that he was one Of the worthiest Of
his race.
Reports from the committees on boun-
daries and temperance were read and re-
ferred
Committee on Missions.
Aside from the war claim question. the
matter which engrossed the most earnest
attention was report No. 5 of the COM
mittee on missions. Many minor changes
from present discipline were included in
the report. There was one. however of
much Importance to the mission branch
of the church. 1t provided for decrease
In the number of secretaries so as to
better concentrate the work In that de-
partment. II recommended the election
by the General Conference Of one general
secretary and the election by the mission
board of one assistant secretary, these to
be the only secretaries In the mission