The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-13
CONFERENCE is
WITHOUT RESULT
Cannon Proposition to Put School
System Under Conference Con-
troll Opposed on Ground That
Such Action Would Show
Bad Faith-Meet Again
To-Day.

trustees OF the Randolph Macon sys-
tenn to surrender or amend the charter
OF their chain of educational institu-
tfons and reincorporate as TO give
control to the Virginia and Baltimore
Methodist Conferences, was the result
OF the meetings of the trus-
tees and committees OF tho
two conferences, held last night at the
Young Mems Christian Association
When the meeting adjourned. shortly
before / o'clock this morning, the
question which has agitated the vir-
Elnia Conference for four years was
ever. Adjournment was had to 0
o'clock this morning. when e new plan.
offered by Rev. James Cannon, D. D.
will be considered.
Last nights meeting was the out
come Of action taken by the Virginia
Conference at its last annual session.
held in Centenary Church, in Rich
moud- Dr. Cannon at the outset of
that session renewed his demand that
the Randolph Macon system should be
openly designated as being In accord
ance with the discipline of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church. South. and that
the trustees should be asked 20 join
in securing new charter frdm tho
State Corporation Commission. con-
tanning the proviso that the manage
mcnt should be under the control OF.
and that the property should be held
in trust sor. the Virginia and Balti-
more Conferences. and used for edu-
cational purposes.
Start New School.
II was further provided in the Can
non resolution that should the trus
teeH refuse to cooperate with the con-
ference In securing the desired
amendments 70 the charter. the COM
mittee to be named should be instruct
ed to inquire into the feasibility of the
establishment OF at least one educa-
tional institution to conform with the
discipline of the church.
This resolution was not adopted. but
in lieu 1t was decided that g COM
rnittee should he constituted. COM
posed of six members from the Vir-
ginia Conference. three from the Bal
tImore Conference and nine from tho
trustees Of Randolph Macon. TO meet
and try to arrange some method of
settlement OF the dispute. which has
had Virginia Methodism in turmoil
for several years, and to report to
the 1911 meeting of the conference, TO
be held at Salisbury. Md, in November
next This body 1t was which held
the meeting OF last night.
Ali Trustees Oppose.
Those who desire to have the char
ter changes made presented their prop
osition for appeal to the civil author
. tiles to gain the desired end. a
lengthy discussion followed, and a poll
was taken. All of the nine trustees
voted against consideration OF an
Infringement of charter rights and
obligations. and they were Joined in
this by one of the representatives 81
the conference, making clear ma
jority.
Finding that the trustees are as de-
termined as ever, d. Cannon proposed
I. a plan OF his own, looking toward &C
t!on which Will tend to bring the I'VE
schools in the Randolph Macon system
utder control of the conference. This
VIII be considered to-day.
Many arguments and much strife
have resulted from the consideration
of the different proposals of Or. Can
non, snd his friends during the past
four years. His attitude arse from
the action of the board of trustees IN
placing the Randolph Macon Woman's
College at Lynchburg under the Car.
negie Founda ton for the advancement
OF teaching, one OF the requir s,rents
of which is that the institution taxi
ing advantage OF 1t must not be de-
nominational. nor must they have de-
nominational tests in the selection Of
instructors. This action was construed
by DR.. Cannon as n declaration that
the schools were not Methodist. and
he began his fight to have them
brought under Methodist control
Claim of Schools.
The defense brought forward by DR.
William w. Smith. chancellor of the
Randolph Macon system. is that the
charter was secured many years ago
from the State. The school was estab-
iished eighty years ago, and during that
time many donations have been soiici-
ted and received. some OF them with
the understanding that the schools
were not denomina,tional. Many in
Methodists. All the trustees now be-!
long to that denomination, DR.. SMITH
contends that 1t would be a breach OF
trust to the donors, many of whom arol
living and who oppose the proposed
changes, to place the system under
different control from that which,
prevails. The trustees form a self
perpetuating body.
An especially forcible example Of
the situation. in the opinion OF Dr.
Smith, exists in the situation at Front
Royal, where q Randolph Macon acad-
envy exists Many of the contributors
to the fund there are Catholics and n
large amount of money was subscribed
and much land given, with the und err
standing that the school was rnde-
nominational and that self peroetu-
ating board controlled It would ~.
breaking faith with these men, argues
Dr. Smith, to consent to the charter
changes.
II love my church," said DR.. Smith