The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-04

ISOLATION of America and the United
Brethren in Christ were not represented.
Two days of prayerful painstaklng con-
sideration were given to the question be-
fore the said commissioners; but not being
able to reach definite and final conclusions,
1t was decided to adjourn subject to call.
A second meeting was held In the Meth
odst Publishing house, Nashville, Tenn,
March l, 1906. After some hours of de-
liberation, being unable to agree upon
satisfactory basis of union, the following
resolution was adopted Resolved, That
the joint commission do now adjourn, sub
ject to call as formerly provided, leaving
each commission free to proceed with such
action as may be thought wise to effect
union with one or more bodies in Japan,
under the authority granted by their sew
eral general conferences, praying that the
time may soon come when all members
of our Methodist family in Japan shall
be one church."
Upon the adjournment of the joint COM
mission, the commissioners of the Meth
odst Episcopal church, South. met for
conference, and resolved to proceed at
once to effect the union of our churches
in Japan.
On March Is. 1906, the commissioners
met again in the city of Baltimore and
adopted a basis of union, unanimously
agreeing upon every detail. The Method
list Episcopal church of Japan, when or
ganized, will be episcopal in form OF gov
ernment and conform in every essential
element with the two great churches in
the United States. At the next session of
the annual conferences In Japan delegates
will be elected to a general conference to
meet in Toxic on the fourth Wednesday
in May, 1907, for perfecting the organiza-
ton of the new church.. The church will
begin its Independent existence with more
than 100 American missionaries Including
women), seventy-fve ordained Japanese
preachers 1000 members, 100 Sunday
schools and 1900 scholars, thrty-nine
schools and colleges, with 1856 students,
one publishing house and 100000 worth of
property
The last general conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church and the Meth
odist Episcopal church, south. adopted,
without amendment, the report of the
Joint commission on federation. That re-
port provided, among other things, that
where either church is doing the work
expected of Methodism the other church
shall not organize a society or erect a
church building until the bishop having
jurisdiction In the case of the work pro-
posed shall be consulted, and his approx
al obtained" The joint commission was
continued and will have q report to sub
NIT for your consideration.
The general conference also instructed
your bishops to act in concert with the
bishops of the Methodist Episcopal church
in the work of preparing a common
hymnal, common catechism, and a COM
mon order of worship. Members of the
two joint commissions We're appointed,
their labors have been concluded and APP
proved, and in 1905 the common hymnal
was published, the catechism prepared,
and the common order of worship adopt
ed. In order to perfect it's work the COM
mission should be continued.
Inter-church Conference on Marriage
and Divorce.
The representatives of the fifteen
churches composing the nter-church con-
ference on marriage and divorce have held
several meeting during the quadrennium
and by means of published addresses and
appeals have done much to stimulate ma
tonal interest in this vita: matter. Bishop
Wilson. by appointment, represented the
Methodist Episcopal church. south. The
one declared purpose of the conference
was to emphasize by reiteration the great
truth of the sacredness of marriage as
not contract rightly formed and easily
broken, but an estate, first among the in
stitutions of God for man, and fore
most among the sanctities of life. The
proceedings of the conference will be sub
mitted for your consideration and such
action as may be deemed wise.
Death OF Bishops Hargrove and
keener.
1t gives US pain to report the death of
two of our noble colleagues, with whom
we took sweet counsel and held high fell
lowshp. At the last general conference
Bishop Robert X. Hargrove, at his own
al -.
ties and responsibilities of the Episcopal
office In this relation he continued to
serve the church with wise and helpful
counsel, but was not able to render much
public service. After months of failing
health he died in great peace at his home
in Nashville, Tenn, on the early morning
of August g. 1905. A man of apostolic
spirit an able preacher and well-finished
scholar, he was eminently distin-
guished for the dignity and purity of his
life, the firmness of his clear convictions,
the genuineness of his Christian courtesy,
and for his chaste speech and perfect sim
certify.
On the 18th of January, 1906, at his
home in New Orleans. La, Bishop John
Christian Keener went up to his great
reward. He was in the eighty-seventh
year of his age. As pastor, presiding ell
der, editor and bishop he had served the
church long and with conspicuous fidelity.
His was a really great life, and he will
have a large but unique place in the his
tory of his time A man of brilliant gifts,
prophetic vision. apostolic zeal and sin
gular conservation, he was, in many re-
spects the most majestic personality in
all our Israel There was a royalty in
his priesthood that commanded rever-
ence, while it inspired confidence.
Episcopal Service.
We record the fact with devout thanks
giving that during the quadrennium We
conferences in the home land, as also in
Mexico and Cuba. and to make biennial
visits as heretofore, to our missions in
the orient and in South America. So
far as we are able to judge. there has
been no lack of efficient episcopal super
vision in any part of our wide connection.
For the successful prosecution of our
work during the next quadrennium it
may be deemed wise for you to elect two
bishops.
A Triumphant Tomorrow.
And now, dear brethren, with this re-
view of the past, we invite you to look.
with cheerful faith upon triumphant
tomorrow. and grid yourselves for momen-
tous duties
Great changes have resulted in the past
several decades, and mighty revolutionary
forces are now at work. The map of the
world has entirely changed. Deserts and
dark places have been explored and found
The ports of all nations have been un-
locked and missionaries permitted TO en-
Tor with nrorpfsad profecfior Of person