The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-11
Methodist Con f ference
Demands Change inRan.
dolph-Macon Charter.
DIR. KELLY ATTACKS
REV. JAMES CANNON
Wants Return to Golden Silence
Which Prevailed When Editor
Was in Europe-Entire Day
Spent in Able De-
bate on College
Resolutions.

a BILE discussion Of the Cannon resolu-
tions on the relations of the Randolph
Macon system of colleges to the Meth
odist Church occupied the entire time
of the Virginia Annual Conference for
two extended sessions yesterday. a
number of thoughtful addresses being
made on both sides of the question,
which has agitated the church for the
past three years and which some of
the speakers asserted was further from
a settlement now than ever before.
Late yesterday afternoon, after many
substitutes had been rejected. the res
olutfons were taken UP seriatim, and
the first two adopted after being
amended, extending the time for action
by the college board from sixty days
to May /. 1911. The other six resolu-
tions had not been reached when the
body adjourned late yesterday after
noon, and the paper as whole is still
before the conference.
Wants a "GoIdcn Silence"
A strong defense of the college board
by John p. Branch was the feature of
the morning session. The afternoon
was enlivened by several more or less
personal attacks on Rev. James Can
non. Jr., by Rev. r. NJ Maxey and
Rev. G. C. Kelly, Mr.. Maxey referring
to the author OF the resolution as one
who perpetually sat upon a block OF
ice. while Mr.. Kelly thought that IL the
editor of the Christian Advocate would
drop into the golden silence" which
was observed during the summer while
DR.. Cannon was in Europe, the question
would soon settle itself. The forcing
of the Issue, according to DR.. Kelly,
n raS N MI nj ha pp1
leges out of doors. and he asserted
that certain Methodist preachers were
taking the initiative I'm forcing them
out, and predicted that II that course
were continued the colleges would pros
per Independently and forever stand as
a monument to the follyS;of the Nir-
ginia Conference
1t was freely predicted that should
the conference take steps 10 go into
court over the matter it would almost
certainly lose and many speakers
thought 1t better 10 continue relation
under which both church and colleges
have prospered for eighty years. rather
than risk everything for the doubtful
advantage of having is named in the
charter that the institutions are Meth
odist.
Few Personalities.
acterized by moderation and absence
of temper, the references to DR.. Cannon
being almost the only personalities.
Broadly speaking, that faction of the
conference led by DR.. Cannon, aroused
by the entrance of the Randolph Ma
con Woman's College, of Lynchburg. to
the Carnegie Foundation in 1906 as a
, school in which there Were 10 denom-
national tests in the selection Of trus-
tees or faculty, claims that the colleges
are the actual property of the Virginia
and Baltimore Conferences, that the
trustees of the colleges are their truss
tees, and should be either nominated or
confirmed by the conferences, and that
the charter of the institutions should
be so amended as to clearly state them
Methodist ownership.
Cannot Change Charter.
Friends of the colleges do not deny
that they are under strong Methodist
influences; that practically all of the
members of the board are and have
been Methodists They claim, how
ever, that for eighty years the institu-
tions have been governed by self
|spcrpe tuatng board, chartered by the
Legislature of Virginia. and that In
that time they have accepted donations
of more than s1,250,000. which is held
in perpetual trust as a binding contract
for purposes of education. AS COM
promise for the whole matter, the
board is willing to have the confer
ence approve the selections made to fill
Vacancies, but opposes any change in
,, the charter
1t is asserted that the fund which
made possible the Randolph-Macon
Academy at Front Royal came partly
-. =
founded the Woman's College at Lynch
burg from the Rivcrmont Land Com
pany. which first inquired and ascer-
tanned that the college was not under
denominational control. Members of
the board hold that, there is binding
contract or perpetual trusttto which the
parties are the trustees, the donors,
some Of. whom are now dead; the State,
which chartered the trust. and the ben
cfciaries, some of whom are vet un-
born-the boys and girls to be edu-
Gated from the proceeds of the fund
To impair the obligation OF such con-
tract and divert the funds, it has been
held. would be both morally and legally
| improper.
What Rcs0lutIons Provide.
The two resolutions as adopted set
forth that for the good OF the church
| there SnOulQ DC u speedy and Hnal Set
Element Of the Randolph-M ques-
ton on the basis of recent action OF
the General Conference on the subject
of Christian education. and that the
board of the colleges is requested tc
meet In special session before May |
next and to appoint Il committee with
Iinstructions to unite with similar
committee from the conference In ar
application to the civil authorities fol
such changes In the charter as viii
provide that the trustees shall be So.
Elected In accordance with the require
ments of the discipline of the church
and will further provide that the prop.
Ierty held In trust by the Randolph.
Macon board shall be declared In the
Ieharter to be held ing trust for tho Vir,
ginia and Balttmorcs Conferences, TO hs
used for educational purposes. s
4 Further clauses Of the Cannon res
4 olutions. notyet acted on, provide fol
llontinued On Seventh Pags1 N