The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-10
Cannon Resolution an
Ultimatum to Ran
dolph-Macon Board.
DEBATE QUESTION
TIL is M OR N ING
Methodist Conference Opens
Busy Session at Centenary
Church-Mr. Chandler Ex-
plains His Request to BE
Transferred from Clay
Street Church.

That the question OF the relations of
the RandolphMac system OF Coll
leges to the Methodist Church in vir-
ginia will be the chief topic OF discus
sion in the one hundred and twenty
eighth session or the Virginia Annual
Conference. which opened in Centenary
Methodist Church yesterday morning.
Is shown by a series OF resolutions
offered by Rev. James Cannon. Jr,
which carry the yelled threat that in
case the college board fails to come to
the terms offered BIZ the conference.
the Methodiats Will take steps to or.
ganlze independent Institutions under
direct church control.
series of resolutions on the SUD
ject from the Randolph Macon board,
refusing to consent to charter change
making the board of trustees subject
to conference control was also re-
ported, and the whole matter was made
the special order for debate this morn
ing at 10 o'clock
Conference Organizes.
The conference organized yesterday
morning with Impressive communion
services. conducted by Bishop Alpheus
W. Wilson. An unusual amount of
business was transacted OH the opening
day. the roll OF several districts beins
called and large number af minis
terial chraGters passed, the reports in
nearly all cases being of an encourage
Ing nature. Rev. r. NJ Chandler, of
this city. requested TO be transferred
from Clay Street Church. to which he
was assigned last year by Bishop Nor
rison. Mr.. Chandler intimated that he
had not had a hospitable reception. his
predecessor. Rev. George Wesley Jones.
having written him a letter saving thar
the doors OF the church would he naile1
against him. The character of Mr..
Chandler was passed. The name of Mr.
Jones has not been reached on the
register. Last night Rev. Charles F.
Holiday preached the annual confer
cnce sermon by appointment. me
bishops cabinet was In session 70. sev-
eral hours yesterday afternoon. and
there were number, OF committees
sitting at Centenary and Broad Street
churches and at the Central Y. NJ c. A..
building. Arrangements for the enter
ta!nment of delegates have been gen,
orally approved by the visitors. Cards
for daily lunch at downtown hotels
have been issued to the delegates.
DIR. Cnnnon's RcsoIutions.
The resolutions on the Randolph
Macon question. offered by DR. Cannon.
recite that for the past three years
the Methodists OF Virginia have by
overwhelming majorities called upon
the trustees of Randolph-Macon Col
legc to join with the conference in
request TO the proper civil author!-
ties to secure such amendment to the
college charter as will give to the
church. as the Greater and real owner
of the institutions. voice in the Sc.
lection OF the trustees: that at the
Newport News conference last year res
olutions were adopted favoring the in
sertion of trust clause in the charter
of the college. setting forth that the
property Is held in trust for the Balti-
moro ard Virginia Conferences for ed
ucational purposes. and decla ring that
1t should be set forth In the charter
that tliree-fourths of the trustees shall
be either clercal or lay members OF
the Methodist Church. on which
grounds the conference would with
draw its former request for a voice In
the selection of the trustees. The res
olution further asserts that the COL
lege board has not agreed to accept
this position, and to comply with the
request of the conference for charter
change. but has allowed to stand the,
resolutions OF 1909. which agreed thar
in the selection of trustees the names
should be presented to the annual con.
ference for approval. While there
were several vacancies in 1910, no
names have been sent to conference for
approval. according to DR.. cannon, and
the resolution is not binding on the
board for any longer period than 1t
shall consider such action expedient,
and may be rescinded at any time.
Action cf General Conference.
Attention is also called to the action
OF the trustees OF Vanderbilt Univer-
sity. which made a similar agreement
With the General Conference in May.
1908, and last Juno rescnded the reso-.
luton without the consent of the Cen
eral Conference. and contrary to its
wish Attention is also called to.
amendments to the discipline of the
church concerning trustees of educa-
nonal institutions, providing that at
least three-fourths must be members
OF the Methodist Church, and to the
practically unanimous opinion of the
entire church, that the church Should
have voice in the selection OF the
trustees. All of these reasons and 9TH.
5erS are set forth In, detail in the pre-
amble TO the following resolutions Of
fered by4Dr. Cannon:
Text of Resolutions.
"Resolved L. That for the good of
the church, there should be a speedy
and final settlementtof what is known
rs the Randolnh-Macon Question, and
that as loyal Methodists, we believe
that the action taken with practical
unanimity by the General Conference,
the great law-makins body of our
church. should be accepted by all
parties ss the proper basis for final
settlement sq
Resolved .. That We hereby re-
quest the b ga rd of trustees of Ran
College toimeet in special.
session within the next sixty days and,
TO appoint a committee from the said
hoard, with instructions that the said,
committee unite with a committee to
be selected by this conference In an
TO the proper civil authori-I
ties for such changes in the charter
as will provide that trustees shall be.
selected in accordance with the res
qutrements of the discipline OF the,
Methodist Episc opal Church, South, and