Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-05-16
CONFERENCE is STIRRED.
Proceedings of the Day Take Wide
Range.
RADICALS COME TO THE FRONT
Action on the Social Problem--uni
With the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South.


Baltimore, May 9.-The radical ele-
ment at the Quadrennial General con.
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
church, now in progress at the Lyric,
came strongly to the front at the ses-
sion yesterday and some propositions
were there submitted that made the
conservative forces and leaders gen
orally sit up with start.
The session was an eventful one in
many particulars. The business OF the
conference took up a lively turn as
soon as the reading OF the journal Of
the previous days session was COM
pleted and the interest did not lag for
a moment
The most startling one OF these
propositions--that to abolish execu-
tive sessions OF all standing commit
tees, which would mean that any
member of the conference could at all
times be present at the meetings of
the committee on episcopacy-prec
itated a hot fight on the floor OF the
conference. 1t took a vigorous and
earnest appeal from Rev. DR.. James
NJ Buckley, the editor of the Chris
tian Advocate and perhaps the strong
est Individual man in the church, who
lis also chairman of the Episcopacy
committee, to suppress this resolution,
and he succeeded only after consider
able feeling had been aroused and
some strenuous speeches had been
made on both sides.
Other matters radically differing
from the policy laid down by the lead
ers, including proposal to elect all
missionary bishops, general superin-
tendents and for an organic union
of all churches whose creed. policy,
spirit and purpose are similar to that
of the Methodist Episcopal church,
were presented. but action was de-
ferred
The Social Problem.
One of the first propositions was
that made by Rev. DR.. w. M. Balch,
of Nebraska, to have the board Of
bishops appoint commission to
consider the relations of the church to
the social problems and to report to
the general conference in 1912.
In introducing the resolution DR..
Balch made a stirring address. In
which he stated that it is the duty of
the church to take the matter OF the
social and Industrial unrest Throughout
the country and to try to find some
remedy. He pointed out that the
church of God is under obligations 20
the Maker of the church. Jesus Christ;
to it's membership, which Is morally
materially and religious affected by
the unrest and to society. which 1t is
bound to preserve intact, to see that
all men are dealt with in equity,
justice, mercy and righteousness. DR..
Bach strongly favors a campaign OF
education as one OF the best ways to
remedy the evil which now confronts
the country. He believes that il the
ministers are taught in the theological
seminaries the true principles OF
government, religious sociology and
Christian citizenship they in turn will
in few decades educate the people
into right living, right thinking and
right action. At the conclusion Of his
address he moved that the resolution
be adopted and his motion was
carried unanimously. The commission,
which is to consist of nine members,
will be appointed during this session
of the conference.
Union With Churches.
Judge Herbert T. Ames, one of the
lay delegates from the Central
Pennsylvania conference. introduced
and had referred to the committee on
federation set OF resolutions looking
to organic union with the Methodist
Episcopal church, south. Heretofore
all talk OF union was Of a working
union. but IL Judge Ames' proposition
is carried out it may eventually result
in the actual union with the Southern
body OF the church which separated on
the question OF slavery and states
rights during the civil war. The.
resolutions were as follows: