The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-07
METHODISTS OPPOSED TO
 STAR CHAMBER PROCEEDINGS

1 brought into question before the Con- l ference Is over although no steps 10 this effect have been taken so far The alleged misuse of his authority con sists in the removal of Dr. Wilkinson from the pastorate of the First Churca of New Orleans and the substitution Tn the pastorate of Rev. Theodore Cope land. formerly of Birmingnam. Ine proposed charges embody nothing ex- cept the claim that Dr. Wilkinson should not have been removed and | that MT. Copeland should not have bee nappointed.
 fourth set of allegations against Bishop are to be made before the Committee on Episcopacy by Rev. A. Jackson, Mo. Mir. Osborn tried yes terday. to get his grievance before | the Committee. but it had so much to do. that 1t had no opportunity of hear ing him.
 | is against Bishop E.. R. Hendrix. MT. Osborn has filed a suit against Bishop Hendrix in the Missouri courts. The suit Is based upon the action of the
 Missouri Conference over which Bishop Hendrix presided and at which MT. Os- born was expelled from the ministry. The minister had advertised lecture | on spiritualism and had delivered the lecture. He had moreover accepted the nomination for Lieutenant Governor on the Prohibition ticket. After nav | ing been requested by Bishop Hendrix to allow the use of his name. Mfr os- born continued as candidate for Lieutenant Governor
 When Conference met he was expeil- ed from the ministry. And now he wants the General Conferenc to disa- vow the acts of Bishop Hendrix. a thing the General Conference will hardly do.
 What is here set down is not evil dence that there is any unusual amount of dissension in the fireat church rep resented by the General Conferences. It is rather to be taken as evidence of the church's above board policy and It's open way of dealing with questions which come before it's Conference. In the meanwhile the several conn mittees are devoutly and earnestly at work upon other problems far more important to the church, but which do not so quickly catch the eye and the interest of the outside world. Ques- tions which affect the discipline of the church, which affect its government are even now before the committees. And in one or two instances suggestions are before the committees affecting the
  feet the Methodist church and the Methodist teachings only in minor way. The old time honored articles of faith will pass this Conference un- touched in any way.
 The proposition that the "itineracy'' of the Methodist Church be so chang ed that in the big cities a minister may remain longer than four years was presented to the General Confer ence by delegates from the Baltimore Conference. It is now before the Itin- eracy Committee, and a lively parlia- .mentary contest is on.
 Consolidation of Societies. Already suggestions have been made lFto the Conference that all of the young peoples societies of the church be con solidated with the Epworth League and that the wonian's Home Mission and the Woman's Foreign Mission Societies
 be combined. These questions are be-
 fore the committees for action and
 for report. The proper committee has
 also the suggestion that preachers of
 the first and second year be authorized
 to administer baptism and perform the
 marriage ceremony. These any many
 other questions are giving the com
 mittees all the work they can well do
 The great debates will occur when
 these committees have submitted their
 reports. They will be worth going far
 to hear Some of the most eloquent
 ministers and some of the most elo-
 quent laymen of the South hold seats
 in the Conference.
 picturesque feature of Saturdays session was the address of Dr. Young J. Allen, the famous missionary to the Chinese. Dr. Allen is impressive and
 venerable with his long flowing
 beard and his benevolent face. The entire Conferences gave Dr. Allen the compliment of close and absorbed at
 tention. pr. Allen spoke of and de- scribed with pride what the Methodist Church was doing to Christianize China He showed, too, his appreciation of the ancient history of China and her achievements in letters and science, achievements which only emphasized the need of the country of Christianity He deplored the harsh and drastic at
 itude Of the Federal government, to- ward Chinese visiting America. It was, in his opinion. most unjust. He quoted President Roosevelt as saving that America in all her greatness could i'll afford to heap indignities upon any country
 feature of the address of Rev. ].
 H. Mccoy, which has so far escaped comment by the press, but which has been the subject of favorable comment
 among the delegates, was the high
 compliment which he paid to Alabama
 laymen of the Methodist Church, w. r.
 Vandiver of Montgomery. and S. F.
 Morriss of Birmingham. These names
 he declared. had engraved their names deep upon the history of Methodism and
 they would never be forgotten. To Mir
 Vandiver he gave credit for conceiving
 the idea of a fund for the support of
 superannuated ministers of the Metho- dis tChurch and to MT. Morriss he gave
 praise for starting the fund for the
 erection of cottages for the aged min
 isters.
 It was a great work that the two had
 done and the Church would honor
 he fn