The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-26

ter of course, as involved in the entente cordiale, that the Alabama conference was to transfer from Greensboro to Bir- mingham all of hefSouthern university that was transferable, such as endow-
 ment, equipment faith and good will,
 loyalty and support-elements that were
 to make at Birmingham the one chief
 college for young men in the system
 of unified Alabama Methodism. North
 Alabama did precisely as desired by the
 packers of the scheme. but south Ala bama baked and backed out, did so by amending the measure by putting such a rider upon 1t as to render impos- sible removal of any integral part of Southern university or the tampering with it's curriculum with reference to correia- tion with any college extant or yet to come. And thus appears how cordial was | the entente cOrdiale.
 | This issue promises to engage at least a small part of the attention of the Methodist assembly at Florence. To some | of the brethren, north Alabama Is in pretty much the plight of the swan who has got the mitten from the maiden fair. | At least, the laugh Is on us. But the | issue will likely be met with serious self possession and settled with serious and | unmistakable decision.
 Dame RumOr
 Generally, just before the assembling o1
 an annual conference, there is a great
 deal of speculation as to what things may take place, with particular regard to pas toral appointments; and rumors become rife; and an occasional brother gets on his nerves, and then on some other man s nerves; and sometimes, whole boards of stewards have fits of uneasiness, and de- liver "utimatums'' to the presiding elder, I@<t ing to the bishop; and sometimes these things get into the public prints (prema- turely), for the naming of men who will go here and who there. Had this scribe
 not seat in the cabinet, he, too, might
 do somewhat of this premature tattlng in
 the papers. But his position admonishes
 him of the exceeding value of caution.
 Amid all this pre-conference stir, the man
 was involved, the 4 average Methodist
 preacher he who. has surrendered his
 rights to say where he shall go and when,
 he sits quiet in the boat, serene and i'm
 perturbed. Be it said to the everlasting
 credit of the average Methodist preacher,
 him of the rank and file, he stands. ab-
 solutely true to his ordination vows with
 reference to his field of labor; as true
 as ever a soldier stood, ready to heed the
 word of command from the superior of
 ficer. Assure him that he has been fairly
 uedlt Wltf, tllat ne IS pTopciiy IcBdrucu, that he has not been made the scapegoat
 of schemers, that he has been given an
 even show in the open, do that, and he
 stands ready to go anywhere and to un-
 dertake anything. And he must have that. As a matter of fact, there has been a
 great amount of speculation. and possibly some maneuvering, with little trigger ing thrown in for good measure, as to
 the possible or, probable filling of the
 Birmingham district. as the result of the
 going therefrom to Texas of the Rev. F P. Culver In, addition to the prominence inherent in the eldership of that district on its own account. its strong influence
 upon every part of the conference, and
 upon well nigh every interest of the con- ference, serves to invest that position
 with a degree of importance not attach. ing to any other position in North Ala bama Methodism. Therefore. comes urg- ent need for the very best man that may be found. And t Is up to Bishop Hoss tc find him Furthermore, 1t may be taker | for granted that full information (and
 more) will be furnished the bishop. If il
 has not already been furnished, to en.
 able him to make the proper selection
 Provided this full information be not il so many different directions as to bring