Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-05-06
THE SOUTHERN
I--=METHODISTS
By
Frederic
]. Hask,n

Those who wish to preserve the strictly
Methodist character of the university are
opposed to this federation. The discus
sion on this question promises to be very
acrimonious Vanderbilt university has
1000 students. 125 instructors and an en-
dowment of approximately 100000. 1t IL
one of the largest educational institutions
in the entire south.
Another question which will create
great interest will come up on the petit
ton OF the women OF the church for the
extension Of the full rights accorded to
! laymen. The women's question, the VAN
derbilt dispute and the proposal to elm
mate the word south from the official
name of the church will be the three live
Issues of the conference. No important
theological or doctrinal discussions are
anticipated.
Under the Methodist polity the bishops
have almost complete control of the af-
fairs of the church and the election of
new bishops always is an interesting and
important part OF the duties of general
conference. There are now only eight
bishops in the church, and one of them
Is superannuated. Three active bishops
have died since the general conference In
1906, which met in Birmingham, Ala. 1t
is probable that two of the present ac-
tive bishops will ask to be superannuated
at this time One is Bishop, A. w. Wilson.
of Baltimore, who is the dean of the
College of Bishops, and who has been in
active service ever since 1882 The other
is Bishop j. S. Key, of Sherman, Tex.
who was elected in 1886 Bishop o. P.
Fitzgerald. of Nashville. Tenn. is now in
retirement. The other active bishops are
K. r. Hendrix, of Kansas City, Mo-:
W. A Gambler. of Atlanta, Ga; H. c.
Morrison, of New Orleans, La; e. z.
Moss. of Monteagle, Tenn; and James
Atkins, of Waynesville. n. c.
1t is probable that mis- conference will
elect six new bishops, possibly eight.
The new bishops probably will be chosen
from among the fo.-ovIn ing eminent d.
vines of the church: W. F. Tillett OF
Tennessee; Walter r. Lambuth, of Ten
nessee; Collins Denny. of Virginia; J. G.
Kilgore, of North Carolina; w. B. Muir
rah of Mississippi; W. f. McMurray. of
Louisville, KY; J. A. Cannon, OF Vir-
gina: II. H, DuBose, of Mississippi:
Gross Alexander. of Kentucky; 5. III.
wainwright, of st. Louis; John A Aice. OF
New Orleans; r. G. Waterhouse, of Ten
nessee; Frank N. Parker. of louisiana:
w c. Mccoy, of Alabama, and E. b.
C..appeII. of Tennessee.
The bishops are elected by a majority
vote in the conference. ministerial and
lay delegates having equal voice. The
episcopal election always is the most
exciting feature of the work of a gem
eraI conference, and already the whole
of southern Methodism is alive with in
terest on account of the fact that such
an unusually large number of bishops
is to be chosen at the Asheville confer
ence
The Methodist Episcopal church, south.
Is fourth in point of membership among
the Individual Protestant bodies Of the
United States. The Methodist Episcopal
church is the largest, the National Bap-
fist convention (colored) is second. the
Southern Baptist convention Is third.
Next following the Methodist Episcopal
church. south. is the Presbyterian church
In the United States of America.