The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-25
CREATE ORDER
DEACONESSES
Methodist Conference Makes a
Decided Departure
AN INTERESTING DEBATE
circuses Put Under the List of Amuse-
nents on Which the Church Has
Placed a Ban-Appoint-
ments Announced.

Dallas, Tex, May 24-Another inpor-
tant step in the affairs of the Methodist
Episcopal church, south, was taken at
today's session of the general conference
when the order of deaconesses was ere
ated After one of the most interesting
debates since the conference began the
legislation necessary to establish the Or
der was passed by the decisive vote OF
1870 to 3S. This is said by church authori-
ties to be the most advanced and radical
step ever taken in the church policy and
discipline.
The newly-elected bishops, DR.. E. q.
Hoss and DIR. A. Coke Smith, were or
dained with impressive ceremonies at the
first Methodist Episcopal church. south,
this afternoon. DR.. Tigert, secretary or
the conference, said today that in his
opinion the conference would finish its
labors and adjourn not later than Mon
day nf-ht.
Bisfsds Duncan presided at today's ses-
sion. -Ibie new book committee was an
nouncetp as follows: o. E. Brown, w. c.
Dibreli, John Bransom, j. R. Morgan
Collins Denny, R. w. Millsap, Paul
Whitehead, Jamnk campbell, j. R. Hind
man aaDI staneyoB Bass.
The ksv.rican Christian convention sent
greetings which were accepted.
DR.. Tigert at this point said that the
original life of amusements prohibited by
the church did not include circuses. This
amusement was placed under the ban.
To Quit Book Selling.
Report No. of the publishing commit
tee recommended that inasmuch as the
business as now conducted resulted in an
annual loss, that changes be made; that
the book agents retire from the book-sell-
- business, and that it was inexpedient
"a, eter upon the erection of building at
this time Without reaching a final vote
on the recommendations they were or
dered returned to the calendar. The ex-
pectation is that a spirited contest Will
take place when they are again brought
before the general conference as the pro-
posed changes materially affect the inter-
ests of the book committee.
The committee on episcopacy fixed the
following donations and salaries Bishops
s3600 superanuated bishops $1,000; widows
of bishops $1,000 per year
Dr. Tigert, when the question of the
made spirited argument in favor Of
delegating that power exclusively to dis
trict conferences. He compared the Eng
lish and American systems, In favor Of
the former.
Other conference leaders spoke on the
subject but the body refused to take the
step desired by DIR. Tigert and his fol-
lowers and adopted the majority report,
which increases the jurisdiction and dis
cretion of district conferences and corre-
spondingly lessons the power of the quar-
terly conferences.
Superannuated Fund.
|. Layman Vandiver of Alabama brought
up, under the head of personal privilege,
the question of superannuated ministers.
He announced that he would subscribe
$1,000 to the superannuate investment
fund, which is to be started with 100000
and is expected to grow to $5.OOO,OO0
Bishop Galloway said he did not like
to deprive Mr. Vandiver of the honor of
being first, but that he had letter from
a friend of so years, in Louisiana, who
proffered that amount. DR.. Whitehead
said the honor was due to Mr.. VandiVer
The preachers took a hand when the
call was made for subscriptions OF $1OO
Within a few minutes $10,500 had been
raised and the subscriptions were closed
of Nashville Tenn, was chairman of
committee who would receive future sub
scriptions which were to be sent him at
Nashville.
The majority and minority reports Of
the committee on revisals concerning the
proposal to create the order of dea-
conesses was laid before the conference.
DR.. Paul Whitehead said he had been
an advocate of the establishment of the
material difference between the prejudice
against trained women and trained
nurses Southern prejudice was against
II, but the common sense of the age and
necessities demanded these women. The
work was for them and they loved to do
it. and provision must be made to train
them. 1t could not be done without
school. He moved the substitution of the
majority repora
w. r. PEBBLES of Tennessee opposed
the legislation. 1t crushed individualism
He would like to see something done fon
the Methodism along the line proposed
without orders He did not approve of
class legislation and considered the fact
that only single women or WIDOWS were
eligible as deaconesses, the legislation or
the class kind DIR. A Coke Smith said
there was a work In cities which only
trained women could do. You could not
pick up women mere anu lneIe' w hSii a
woman marries she legislated herself out,
as she had children of her own to look
out for St. Paul made the distinction.
The call was pressing and he hoped 1t
would be adopted.
Tribute to Catholic Nurses.
w. R. Webb paid a tribute to the Ro-
man Catholic nurses during the war ).
B. Adams followed in a glowing eulogy
on the sisters of the charity with whom
he had been associated in charitable work.
Methodism should follow their steps and
he rejoiced in the attempt TO institute
practical charity. DR.. A J.. Lamar oppos-
ed advertising by garb and dress piety.
Orders weakened a church-had done so
to Catholicism. Sentiment was beautiful
but had no place here.
DIR. ]. A. Clifton, familiarly known to
the conference and visitors as the
South Carolina Irishman," spoke in favor
of the proposed legislation in a speech
full of sentim ent and humorous piety.
"A brother" he said, has spoke of senti-
ment in depreciating terms. Sentiment
makes character and character makes the
nation"