The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-05-14
Methodist Conference Discusses
Charges Of Htr6sy
DR. MUNHALL IS VERY ACTIVE
Charges Certain School With Teaching
Heretical Observation-Disclosures of Re-
tiring Bishops Also Provokes
Much Discussion.

Los Angeles, CAL May 13.-rhe Metho-
dist general conference today, after the
conclusion of devotional services, resumed
certain of the revision rules Of order.
The work of formulating the official rules
of order have been franght with many
clashes between the opposing parlamen-
tary leaders on the floor of the confer
ence, who sought to secure the adoption
of rules that would tend to give their
particular advantage in the work of leg
lslatlon. The general body. however, has
been watchfnl and the rules as finally
adopted have been framed with a view
of absolute equity and fairness.
The report of Missionary Bishop F. W.
Warner was the special order Of the day
Immediately after the morning recess.
The charges of heresy made by DR..
Munhall and others against the Garrett
biblical institute and the Boston school
Of theology continue to occupy the atten-
tion of the members of the committee on
education. and TO be the absorbing topic
among the conference delegates The
subcommittee of five having in charge
the investigation of this important nat
ter has made a report to the fun COM
mittee; but the attacks Of DR.. Munhali
and other supporters of heresy charges
were so spirited that the committee voted
not to accept the report. but to re-submit
1t with instructions to give the matter
more careful and thorough consdera-
ton.
Report of Subcommittee.
The report of the subcommittee states
that there were only eight memorials be-
fore them on the subject, only four pur-
porting to come from annual conferences.
that three of these memorials had been
signed by a total Of thirty-fve persons,
and that two of them were in he form Of
a printed circular.
"Ths," the report said, seems to be
the total result OF any effort to stir IN
the conferences of the country on tn6
subject After a lengthy and Homewhat
aerd debate, In which the report was
characterized by Or. Munhall and his fol-
lowers as an attempt to whitewash tho
accused institutions the report Of the
subcommittee was finally referred back.
with Instructions for a more extended In
qulry.
The first taste Of stirring debate par
ticipated In by the conspicuous figures OF
the conference. was given the delegates
when the report of the episcopacy COM
mittee upon the matter of retiring bsh-
ops and fixing their subsequent relations
to the church was taken up. The para-
graph that provoked discussion read as
follows:
Paragraph Under Discussion.
"A superannuated general superintt- !.
ent Is relieved from the obligation
travel through his connection at large and
may choose the place of his residence. He
shall not be assigned to the presidency OF
annual conferences nor make appoint
ments, but II requested by bishop pre-
siding he may take the chair tempor-
arily in a general or annual conference,
and at the request of the bishop presiding
In the annual conference, he may ordain
candidates previously elected TO orders
| After spirited debate and an attempt to
modify the committee report. the vote
was practically unanimous IN ravor of It's
| adoption.
The Rev. A. G. Kynett of Philadelphia
presented a report on church extension
which contained a change of great inn
| portance of the more wealthy congrega-
| tions 1t takes away the right of the board
on church extension to assist churches
costing more than $4,000, but gives the
board the right to take especial recom-
mendations in special cases. This change
was adopted by the conference.