The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-02
.METHOD|STS DEBATE
 UN|F|CAT|0N PLAN Strong Opposition Led By
 Athens College TAKE UP DETAIL WORK Members of Conference Regard Educa- tionaI Question as Most Important of Many Years-Select Next
 Meeting Place Today
UP DETAIL WORK

Huntsville, December 1.-(Special.) )- Presentation of the plan outlined by the joint committee of the Alabama and North Alabama conferences for the uni fication, classification and correlation of the Methodist educational institutions of Alabama brought on lively debate in the North Alabama conference today, all most monopolized the business session of the body and the matter was appar- ently as far from settlement at the hour of adjournment as 1t was at first.
 The friends of the Athens Female col lege are fighting the proposition with all their forces. They regard the plan as one aimed directly at the Athens college with view of ultimately making it a training school for the Methodist Wom- ans college at Montgomery, and they are not dis posed to allow the college to be taken out of the hands of it's present board of trustees. The question was brought up by the board of education, which submitted a majority report of the joint committee, providing for the crea- ton of a central commission of 24 mem bers who shall have plenary powers to unify correlate, classify and maintain all such Methodist schools and colleges as are now in existence in Alabama. it being the avowed purpose of the plan not to interfere with any college not being maintained.
 The New Plan
 The plan provides that the board shall act under the direction of the two Ala bama conferences and F members snail be named by each conference. the terms of commissioners being so arranged that the terms of eight shall expire With each conference year.
 Following out this plan the report says a great educational work in Alabama will be started by the Methodists With the ultimate intention of having one great college for women and one for men as the heads of the system. The new board would supercede all boards that are now in charge of the several institutions and a general financial agent would be ap- pointed to attend to the financial affalrs of the board A. J. Lamar, chairman of the joint committee, signed the re- port which was presented as the major ity report of the board of education. G. w Read E. B. Norton, J. B. Duncan and w. T. Sanders presented minority report, protesting against the proposed plan.
 Claims Of Opposition
 They claim that the creation of the new commission would confuse matters and
 
 eral colleges and would probably result in some movement gainst the Athens Female college. pr. Read said he was not willing to put it in the power of any board to interfere with the Athens college and it's "providentially appointed head" Miss Mary N. Moore. He said the trustees of colleges ought to be close to them and interested in them to the extent of attending the commencements ;.;n in pcr,ir finp from their work He said he wanted to see big college built up at Montgomery, but he was not willing to build it at the sacrifice of the Athens college. He said the Athens Fe- male college is doing the greatest work for Methodism that Is being done in north Alabama now.
 A motion to adopt the minority report and settle the question adversely was lost through a parliamentary ruling. The debate became lively and limit of 10 minutes was fixed by Bishop Kigo. Dr. Chadwick argued for the majority re- port.
 He said he looked at the matter from tho distinterested standpoint and consid- cred the welfare of four great schools as above that of any one institution. He would be willing to make a training Greensboro If that should be necessary tor the building up of a great educa- tional system by the Methodists of Ala bama.
 Reference to making a training school Of Greensboro excited the friends of Ath- ems college. pr. Duncan protested against it. He said that in accepting the plan the north Alabama conference would be changing its full interest in two colleges and half interest in a third for a half interest in one college, and that it would rot be a good trade. Unification and classification, he said, can mean nothing but the stripping of Athens and Greens boro for the benefit of the Birmingham and Montgomery colleges
 Rev. Frank Brandon recalled that the north Alabama conference in 1907 de- clared itself as being unalterably opposed to interfering with the Athens college. That college must remain inviolate,~ he said and the conference can do all the classifying necessary without Treating a board to which plenary power is to be granted He called the friends of the Bir- fringham college to the rescue of Athens and urged them tc show their gratitude for past favors extended them in their time of nee by the friends of Athens. The debate was in progress at adjourn