The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-01-20
AGREE ON PLAN ID
 DIVIDE DIOCESE
Committee of EpiscopaIianS
 Meet Here
LINE PASSES NEAR CALERA
Report of Committee Will Be Submit ted to Diocesan Council Which Meets In Birmingham
 Next May.

 pal diocese of Alabama If the report of a special committee appointed to look into the matter be accepted. This committee met yesterday in the directors room of the First National bank and their report Is to be submitted to the general coun- ell, which meets at the Church of the Advent in Birmingham next May.
 The feature of the meeting yesterday, which included a morning and afternoon session, was that the report was unan- imously agreed upon. It calls for northern diocese and southern diocese, the line of division being the southern boundary of the following counties: Ran dolph, Clay, Talladega, Shelby, Bibb, Hale, Greene and Sumter.
 An equal division of the bishops and all minor funds was decided upon, while the orphans home property, near Mo bile, and Hammer hall property at Mont gomery, will remain the property of both 6ioceses.
 The proposed division would also cause the creation of a new bishopric and the report of the committee suggests that the present bishop be allowed his choice of either diocese. while the new bishop would, of course take the other one.
 The special committee was appointed at the council held last May in Huntsville and it's personnel is as follows
 The Rev T. J. Cobbs of Greensboro, the Rev T. J. Beard of Birmingham, the Rev. w. N Claybrook of St. Mary $ church, Birmingham, and the Rev Mat thew Brewster D. D., of Mobile; A. r. Agee. chancellor, of Anniston; D. M. Drennen, secretary. of Birmingham; Maj. w. w. Screws of Montgomery and R. H. Mabry of Montgomery. Dr. Beard was elected chairman of the committee and MT. Drennen secretary.
 Most of the morning session was taken up in general discussion. Recess was taken at noon and the committee removed to the Hotel Hillman for lunch. At the afternoon session the committee unani- mously agreed on the division and boun- dary lines, and adjourned after being in session for short while.
 The dividing of the Alabama diocese has been discussed for a long time among
  committee will be read with interest all over the state. Just what action the coun- ell will take on it, however, at it's meet ing next May is a matter of conjecture. If it Is approved by the council 1t will be submitted to the general convention in 1910 for approval
 The resolution calling for the appoint ment of this committee was introduced at the last council by the Rev. James c. Glass and reads as follows;
 "Whereas, the diocese of Alabama be- ing co-terminus with the state Of Ala bama, embraces a territory extending $50 miles north and south, and 200 miles east and west and covering 51.540 square miles with A population of nearly 100000, is un- wieldy, and
 whereas, The rapid growth of the church, both in the cities and in the mission field, Is in direct proportion to the ability of the church to take advan- tage of opportunities and
 whereas, The work of the bishop of Alabama is already rapidly increasing, taxing all his powers, mental, physical and spiritual to even measurably meet the demands made upon his strength and time; and
 whereas, If the work continues to in- crease in like proportion it will easily be beyond the ability of any one man to successfully meet it's requirements; and
 Whereas, Decreased territory will, in this case, mean increased capacity for effective work, centralization of local in- terests, and conservation of vital energy, therefore, be it
 Resolved. That a committee be ap- pointed by this council to take under consideration the entire matter of pos sible division of the diocese of Alabama by the general convention of 1910, said committee to be appointed by and with the full and free consent of the bishop of the diocese, and report back to this council in 1909. The committee is at lib- erty to report and suggest lines of divis- ion. and any other matter that may bear upon the question: