The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-23
..wAR CLAIM" IS SETTLED
Onlyethe United States Senate
 Can Reopen It.
Harmony Again Predominates in the
 Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, south-Dr. Collins Denny Exonerated.

Dallas. Tex, May 22-The sessions of ths conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. South. today were more produc- tive of results than any of their prede- cessors. Harmony prsdominsted and the burning question of the war claim" was finally settled. so far as legislation of the present General Conference-the highest legislative body of the church-is con- ccrned.
 The questions coming next in import ance. those of the elections of the Bishops and the unihcation of the churches in Ja- pan, were also safely concluded. Dr. P. E. Hoss of Nashville. Tean.. and Dr. A. Coke Smith were elected bishops.
 The status of the war claim fund is now that the United States Senate Is the only power which can disturb it. If the Sem ate passes a resolution asking the funds return to the general government, the church is bound. by the action of its General Conference. to comply. If no such resolution passes the Senate. the incident is considered permanently closed.
 The interest in today's work of the Con- ference was shown by the big attendance that came early. The devotional exer- cises were conducted by Dr. J. S. Hutch inson of the Baltimore Conference.
 .x Mode of Choosing Bishops
 After the reading and approval of the minutes. Bishop Hendrix took the chair. Rev. W. L. Nelms of Georgetown, Tex, moved reconsideration of the rule adopt ed yesterday providing for the election of one Bishop at time, The motion was opposed by pr. Paul Whitehead and Dr. James Cannon. Jr.. of Virginia. and was supported by Rev. Horace Bishop oi Texas. The Nelns substitute prevailed and the old-time honored rule was ordered followed: A3
 Nine members of the nineteen origina signers of the minority report on the wal claim issue presented a paper to the. Gen eral Conference. the substance of whicf was that they wished to exonerate Dr Collins Denny of any reflections that the minority report might contain concerning Dr. Denny's connection with the efforts to procure the war claim appropriation from Congress and to clearly state theii belief that his course had been an emi nently proper one. The request was also made that the paper presented be spread upon the records of the General Confer, ence. The General Conference so ordered
 The report of the Committee on Epis. copacy passing the characters of all the Bishops of the church was passed under a suspension of the rule. A second report from this committee, saying Bishop Hem drix should not be censured for appoint ing a minister over the action of the Pa. cifc Conference was adopted
 New Sunday School Board.
 The new Sunday School Board was nom, mated and elected as follows: John R Pepper of Memphis, B. M. washburn of Alabama, John O. Wilson of South Caro- lima. B. M. Burgher. North Texas; M Frank Walton. Baltimore.
 The report of the Federation Commit tee on the proposition to reunite the Northern and Southern Methodist Churches was read. It detailed carefully the work of the committee at its session in Baltimore. which was full of senti- ment for harmonious relations between the two churches. No recommendation for the unifcation was made. The report provided for a joint hymnal and express ed the opinion that the Southern and Northern churches should work harmoni- ously together in their respective spheres The report also favored the unification of the mission in Japan into one Japanese Methodism. It was adopted.
 Bishop Hendrix said the special order of the day. the election of two Bishops, should be followed after special religious exercises. The Conference sang Draw Near and Bishop Cranberry offered prayer. The venerable Bishop prayed for special Divine guidance on the action about to be taken and prayed that all the church might accept the new Bishops as the chief shepherds of the denomina- ton.
 Tellers were named and the conference al lph hAf fhAtv yOfa A total of 260 votes were cast; necessary to choice 1S1, The regular order was resumed while the tellers retired to count Unification of Missions.
 pr. J. H. Wainwright called ur the report of the Committee on Missions concerning the consolida- ton of missions in Japan L. A. Keener of Louisiana opposed unification vigorously. pr. Wainwright, chief of the church missionaries in Japan ex- plained the objects of the unifcation. He declared that 1t was impossible for Methodism to make proper progress among the Japanese natives while their status was that of six missions. which Is practically six separate churches. The report so far as it related to the uni fication of missions in Japan was adopted as separate item and after genera discussion the report was adopted as 8 whole.
 The tellers announced that they were ready to report on the first ballot fol bishop. The first name called was that of pr. E. F. Hoss
 ''Hoss. 1e0 votes," read Bishop Hendrix and the conference broke into applause.
 A Coke Smith of Virginia. came nex with e7 votes. Among others voted fol were John J. Tigert. G6; Collins Denny 6; James Atkins. @; J. o. Hammond. ?5 The remainder of the votes were scat tered.
 Dr. Hoss Declared Elected.
 Bishop Hendrix declared Dr. Hoss elect ed a bishop, and ordered the second bal lot to be proceeded with. The result o the second ballot was: Dr. A. Coke Smith. 7s; John J. TiEert. 6S: Jamei Atkins, F; J. c. Kigo, g; remainder scat; tering.'
 The third ballet was ordsred
 After the ballot had bsen taken. plan: for beginning the suPeraanuatsd funl were diScussed. James Cannon. Jr.. moved ca amendment to the report It provided