The Paducah evening sun., 1910-05-07
DIR. ]. W. BLACKARD'
MAY BE HONORED.
MEMPHIS DELEGATES SUPPORT
HIM FOR BOOK AGENT.
Angry at Report That They Were
Opposed 60 Church Ownership
of Vanderbilt University.
CANDIDATES IN THE FIELD.

asheNllle, n. G., May t-At
meeting of the Memphis conference
delegation to the general conference
II was decided to put DR.. II. b. John
ston and DIR. ]. w. Blackard forward
as candidates for correctional offices,
the former for missionary secretary
and the latter for junior book agent.
Both are strong men.
Thomas b. King was elected chair
man of the new standing committee
on the laymen's missionary move
ment, and John r. Pepper is the
president OF the movement In the
Southern Methodist church. The
members of the Memphis territory
on theis new laymen's committee
are senator G. l.. Jones, of New Al
bany, Miss; l.. p. Brown, Meridian,
Miss; +. N Daniel. Mammoth
Spring. Ark; W. ]. Pinson. Pine
BLUM. Ark: and p. W. Furry, Van
Buren, Ark.
Several of the Memphis brethren
are indignant, not to say angered, at
reports that gained circulation here.
Originating in Memphis. that they
were opposed 10 the church's owner
ship OF Vanderbilt university, which
is the one overshadowing issue In
this conference. Rev. II. W. Hood
and DR.. ]. W. Blackard enter siren
uous and even lusty denials Of this
lrumor.
The latter Is on the committee on
education. and told that he was not
only in favor Of church ownership,
but he wanted only Methodists in the
faculty and on the board Of trustees.
Mr.. Hood signifed his approval OF
this position.
Bishop Gambler presented the spe-
cial message from the bishops on the
Vanderbilt question. and by the mar
gin OF a few votes the conference re-
fused to allow II to be read. There
| is divergence OF opinion as TO the
meaning OF this rather summary
treatment OF an episcopal address
The HOss leaders saying Il has no sig
nifcance. that the conference was
tired of hearing reports read and did
not know the contents OF this mes
sage. so ordered II referred TO the
IcommIttee on education without read
ing The Kirkland Hendrix faction
says that II means a shifting of the
sands in their direction. and that the
conference will finally decide to take
no action on the issue, but leave II
unsettled.
II is but proper to state that the
conference treated another special
message from the bishop on another
grave question as summarily as i'll
did the one on the Vanderbilt quesl
ton and before the Vanderbilt mes
sage was presented.
That Bishop Hoss was willing to
act up to his judgment in the matter
was evidenced a few minutes later. |
when he had a message from the
commission on federation TO present. |
which he did without asking the ron
sent of the conference, reading his
paper right OF the reel.
His address was received with loud
Northern and Southern churches are
getting closer together.
Arbitration Codmission.
The commission reported that the
general conference OF both churches
would be asked to create a perman-
ent arbitration commission, like the
Hague peace tribunal. to which
would be submitted all questions Of
friction and all Issues arising be-
tween the two branches OF Method
ism, and from whose decision there
would be no appeal.
This has reference TO the border
line between the two sections and 10
one church invading the territory Of
the other, either in this country on
in foreign fields.
Miss Belle Bennett, OF Kentucky.
who is the leader in the movement to
give the women equal rights with lay
men. came in today. and at once be-
gan to organize her forces. She is
hopeful Of success. DR.. John Har-
rison, one OF the secretaries. said
that one thousand memorials have {
been presented by the women and
others asking that this right be
granted. Half an hour was taken up
this morning in reading the titles of
these petitions, and many of them :
were from Arkansas. II