Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-05
METHODIST EPISCOPAL TO APP
PRoAcH PROTESTANT BRETHREN.
Recommend Fund Of $500, 600 for Wo-
mans College-Expressions on
Opening Of University.


provide that the delegates from the Balti-
more conference to the general conference
of the denomination at its approaching ses-
sion at Los Angeles be instructed to re-
quest the general conference to appoint a
commission to confer with a similar con-
mittee from the corresponding body of the
Methodist Protestant church to formulate
a plan for the consolidation of the two de-
nominations.
If the resolution is adopted by the con-
ference 1t is highly probable that some ac-
ton will be taken by the Methodist Prot
estant conference, which will open at ALL
mutt Memorial Church tomorrow. looking
toward the appointment of a committee
which shall present the matter at the quad
rennial meeting of that organization. The
Methodist Protestants now have under con-
sideration an invitation which has in view
the union of that denomination, the United
Brethren and the Congregationalists.
Will Ask for Opening of University.
After an extended debate the Baltinor
conference decided yesterday to memorial
ize the general conference to remove the
restriction now resting upon the trustees
of the American University (Which the de-
nomination proposes ito erect in Washing
toni and which prohibits them from OPEN
ing the university until a productive en-
dowment of 5000, 600 has been collected.
The aims and needs of the university were
outlined to the conference at the session
last Friday by Rev. DR.. Davidson, the Sec
rotary of the trustees, who stated that
they now have on hand productive en-
dowment of about 100000 and property
worth $2,OOO,OOO. At the conclusion of DR..
Davidson's address the resolution that was
adopted yesterday was presented.
Rev. DR.. John f. Goucher, president of
the Woman's College, protested against the
adoption of the measure On general prin-
ciples, he Said 1t was not expedient for a
church to maintain postgraduate univer-
sity, and he contended that in view of the
enormous expenditure demanded of the up
to-date university of today it would be par
ticularly unwise to open the university until
its endowment was sufficiently adequate to
prevent financial struggles and to insure for
the institution q position commensurate
with it's aims.
Advantages Offered in Washington.
Rev. Dr. c. W. Baldwin spoke, on the
other hand, for the removal of the restric-
ton. He contended that the opportunities
for research and investigation offered to
the student resident in Washington by the
great collections in the national museums
offset the advantages offered by the equip
ment of universities in other cities.
Rev DR.. c. Herbert Richardson and Rev.
M. f. B. Rice also spoke in favor of the
removal of the restriction.
Rev. Mr.. Gardner took the opposite side,
and seconded the arguments employed by
DIR. Goucher What the trustees proposed,
he said, was to build sort of catboat
university, while the plan of those who
favored waiting until the 100000 endow-
ment had been secured wanted to build an
ocean liner type of university
In answer to this DR.. Rice said that 1t
was unfair to refer to the endowments of
universities like Harvard and Columbia in
connection with the proposed Methodist
University; that the collateral endowments
offered by the collections at the national
capital fully equaliZed matters. Moreover,
he said that Methodsm was losing her OPP
portunity, that while she had tarrfed the
Catholic University had become fact that
nothing would please Roman Catholicism
more than for the idea of the Methodist
University to be abandoned.
IF Professionalism is to outstrip Roman
Catholicism, give the American University
chance and fair one," he said in con-
Guiding appeal. Put to a vote the meas
ure. has already been stated, was
adopted.
Asks That Time Limit Be Restored.
By vote of 1913 to Al the conference de-
cided to memorable the general conference
to restore a time limit for the pastor
ate, the regulation to be safeguarded by
provisions to meet exceptional cases.
A disposition was manifested when the
debate on the topic was begun at Saturdays
session to require the delegates who will
represent the conference at the meeting OF
the higher tribunal of the denomination to
vote in favor of the restoration of the time
limit, and the initial resolution in the de-
bate contained such clause. AS the as
cussion progressed it became evident that
the delegates themselves were not of one
mind the subject
Presiding Elder Luther B. Wilson, who is
to be one of the repreSen tatiyeS from the
conference to the auadrennial meeting,
speaking strongly in favor of the restora-
ton of the time limit, and Rev. DR.. Michol-
son, another of the delegates to the gem
eral conference, opposing the change of the
no-limit law, now operative.
A number of the speakers who We're In
favor of the restoration of the time-lImit
rule and others who opposed it argued that
it would be unjust to the delegates to bind
them to such action, in view of the fact
that the needs of the church, as a whole,
and not merely those of an individual con-
ference would be presented at the general
conference.
Called It Glass Legislation.
The adoption of hard and fast time-limit
law was greatly preferred by some of the
members of the conference to that of law
containing an emergency clause, which, they
said was in the nature of class legislation,
and would initiate in favor of the larger
and more influential churches and would
work hardship to the poorer churches.
Rev Dr. w l.. Mcdowell spoke in favor
OF the restoration of the time limit as a
means of preventing the unrest that had
been felt since the no limit law had been
liz force.
Rev. Dr. NJ. F. B. Rice favored the emer-
gency clause and opposed the idea that the
adoption clause would work in favor of the
weather. churches.
The resolution finally adopted was a sub
stitute for the original motion offered by
Rev. w. A. Koontz and was offered by Rev.
Hugh Johnston. 1t differed mainly from
DR. Koontz's motion in leaving the dele
gates free to vote as they thought best
This was the resolution:
Resolved that while We decline to in
struct cur delegates as to their action, we
most respectfully memorabilia the general
conference to restore a time limit for the
pastorate; provided nevertheless, that
where there are unusual and critical condi-
tons the pastoral term may be extended If
IT. the Cody Judgment of the presiding
bishop it is impracticable otherwise to sat
isfy the needs of the work
$5OO,OO for Woman's College.
The committee on education. Rev. Dr. ].
St Clair Neal chairman, and Rev. Harry
D. Mitchell secretary. recommended In its
report the Endorsement of the proposition
of the Association of College Presidents of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. at its meet
ing in Evanston in February, that the Meth
odist Episcopal Church should undertake to
raise In the immediate future $500O0 to