The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-22
CONFERENCE ENDS
LONG HARD GRIND
Continued from First Pase)

which was presented to the young men.
They are also to be given Bibles in recog-
milton of their services.
Just before the final adjournment reso-
luton of thanks was read and adopted. 1t
was an omnibus document and extended
thanks to practically everything and
everybody that has conduced to the pleas
ure of the delegates during their stay
and helped to facilitate the work of the
general conference. Just before adjourn
ment Bishop Wilson gave few words of
paternal advice and his benediction was
touching
The attendance was small yesterday
because so many of the delegates had
gone home, realizing that the most Inn
portant work of the conference had been
finished. Most of the other delegates left
for their homes last night.
Answer to Protest Read.
The answer to the protest of several
members of the general conference against
the proposal to revise and restate the
church's creed was read before the con-
Reply to the paper entitled Protest
Against the Action of the Conference on
Revision of Faith"
To the General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, south:
Dear Fathers and Brethren-Your COM
mitee appointed to reply to the protest
bearing the above caption, beg leave to
report as follows:
We have read with sorrow and amaze
ment the paper which processes to be a
protest against the action of this con-
ference on Monday May IA, authorizing
the appointment of a commission look
ing to a statement of the common faith
of worldwide Methodism.
a. This paper charges in its caption
and in its first paragraph that this con-
ference has taken affirmative action ON the
revision of faith and the revision of our
Article of Faith" We respectfully reply
that this charge utterly misunderstanding and
msrepresents the action of the confer
ence, and the purpose of the movers of
the original paper. 1t has at no time
been suggested by amy representative of
the majority that there should be, or
that there was needed. a revision of the
faith of Methodism. The conference only
authorized the appointment of a commits
sion, who shall invite other branches of
our great church to unite with us in the
preparation of an adequate statement of
our common faith as the followers of
John Wesley. And the charge, found later
in the paper, that in this matter 1--WE
differ unalterably upon the very foun-
dations of our faith" Is either based
upon a strange misunderstanding of the
position OF the majority. or is another ex-
1 DlDlClO1l OF UlldC TeDliTkdDle inconsistency
shown upon the floor of the conference
by certain speakers of the minority who
seemed to claim that Methodism has no
place for a creed, and no identified STAN
dards of doctrine
What the majority desires is simple
statement of the faith always held. and
everywhere held, by all loyal Methodists.
Majority Was Ample.
e. This protest affirms that the reso-
luton was carried by a majority so small
that only a few votes would have changed
the result On the contrary 1t was carr
ried by total majority of forty-four; the
clerical vote being SO for and Sc against
a majority of 81; and the lay vote being
6S for and 81 against-a majority of H.
The vote was taken with unusual deliber-
alton and in that manner that has been
provided to prevent unwIse and partisan
action on the part of the conference, viz.
by a separate vote of clergy and -laity
and by a recorded vote by yea and nay
a. This paper charges that this gem
eral conference has been guilty of enact
ing needless and hasty and radical leg
islation.
We respectfully reply that there has
been no law passed of any kind what
soever, but a commission appointed with
the view of accomplishing a much needed
work in the safest and most conservative
manner possible. We declare that the
need of this action is proven by the
facts brought out upon the conference
floor viz: That those connected most
closely with our students of theology
with the converts in our mission fields
and with enquirers youndg and old in
various pastoral charges, united in the
appeal for this action. We sincerely be-
lieve that it was widely desired and uni
versally needed.
We further declare that this action was
not a hasty one on the part of the con-
ference. On the contrary. the conference
had the resolution on the calendar for
two days, and then took 1t up and consid-
cred 1t for three full days The minority
tried twice to dispose of it hastily by lay
Ing II on the table. which the conference
refused to do by an overwhelming vote
thus expressing its desire to consider 1t
fully and carefully. More time was de-
voted to the consideration of this matter
than to the consideration of anything else
that has come before this general confer
cree. Besides all this. its considera ton
was marked by the very exceptional feat
ure of granting the floor of the confer
ence to the whole college of bishops for
their unlimited discussion of the uues-
ton, which it is charged was ''hasty" leg
islation.
Action Not Radical.
we 1urtner declare that this action of
the conference was not a radical one "af-
fecting the very foundation of the
church." unless, first, the commission
should bring in a statement of new faith
and new doctrine rather than. as they
have been instructed to do bring in a
new Statements new statement of the
faith and doctrine that has been believed
in and taught by all Melnodists from the
beginning; and unless secondly. each of
the annual conferences. supported by a
two-thirds vote of the general conference,
shall at some future time make the sup
posed statement of new faith and new
doctrine to suppant the faith that we
have held from the beginning.
a. Complaint is made in the protest
that the movement was kept from the
church and was precpifated upon the con-
ference; that it should have been in con-
sheraton beforehand, and under discus
sion In the papers for some time in order
to prepare the members of the conference
for acting wisely upon il. The protest fur
Their complains that what has been done
by the conference will cause widespread
discussion about our doctrine in every viii
lage and hamlet in the church during the
next quadrennlum. thus causing great un-
rest and doing great harm. To this we
reply that the two complaints contradict
each other. The first says that there
should have been opportunity for free
discussion during the preceding quadren-
mum. while the second complaint deplores
the fact that there will be much discussion
of the subject during the coming quad
re nnlum. We do not ourselves believe that