The Washington herald., 1911-03-19
NEWS OF THE CHURCHES
AND ALLIED INTERESTS
southern Bishops WrouEht up.


of Christian education, especially higher
training for young men. Their number
until recently was nineteen. but now
twenty OF them have Joined in cam
paign covering Kentucky and Tennes-
see, and the coast States from the Caro-
linas to Texas, in favor Of the University
OF the South. located at Sewanee. The
Bishops of Kentucky, Tennessee, Miss
tssippi, Atlanta, and Florida have Just
completed speaking tours, some OF which
have extended into Missouri. Plans are
making for similar tours next fall, with
more bishops engaged.
These bishops say they feel keenly the
necessity for education that is upon a
definite Christian basis Nearly all of
them have gone on record as approving
the founding of Christian universities in
India, China, Japan, and especially in
favor of the plan. now well under way.
10 found a great university on such basis
in Manila Now they add that it is quite
a. essential that a similar university be
established in America They deplore,
they say. the change OF some univer-
stiles formerly Christian some founded
by Christian ministers, TO a purely seCu-
lar atmosphere.
The University of the South owns eight
Thousand acres % mountain land, under
ho developed later The university has
S25o.Gn endowment, and the present cam
paign Of the bishops has for one aim
the increase OF this endowment to 81
C0O o00 Reliant and able. the bishops say
They are asking the South, not the rest
Of the country. to put on a permanent
basis this institution for higher educa-
tlon Of young men that shall always
maintain A Christian atmosphere and let
Big Moves in MethOdism.
SI-r-ral to The Washington Herald.
Minneapolis March l&-It is now re-
garded by Methodists as settled that the
quadrenniaI general conference will meet
in Minneapolis. A second choice was
Des Moines. but only on condition that
satisfactory rates could not he made
with railroads for Minnea polls. These
rates are now adjusted. and plans are
going forward for the biggest gathering
Of MethudistS. with tremendous questions
pressing. America has yet seen.
Some time since plans for federation
Of MeIhodistS North. MethOdists South,
and MethodiStS Protestant were pro-
jocted. Meetings Of committees were
held and tentative agreements drawn up.
one meeting was held in Cincinnati. and
another is to he held in Chattanooga, in
l.nriI. Within the past few weeks opinion
lOCKinE toward organic union has focused.
THIS opinion has been Immensely helped
10y an article just published over the
signature Of Bishop CranstOn. a fore
most leader among MethcdiSts North.
pleading for united American Meth
odsm with nearly five millions OF MEM
hers, not counting the cOlored Metho-
DIST.
Nobody knows vet just what the Chat
tanOOga meeting may develop. but Meth
odists in general are hoping that it
may drop federation and see its way clear
to recommendation oi actual union.
We're such, TO he recommended the Ques-
ton of what to do with colOred Method
lists would b.. live one Partially TO
meet il. MethOdiSm is talking OF zones
divisions OF the country into districts
somewhat as the eastern. central and
other standard time plan cuts it up.
Something might be Gained. it is thought.
in administration. ana it Is added that
one zone might ne that Of negro Meth
odists
There is rxtrem" dissatisfaction in
Methodism over the Episcopal situation.
\ cry is now heard. Not more bishops, |
hut more bishop 1t means that while
nor A great number Of bishops are de-
manded. each section of MethOdism, each |
city where M@thOdiSm is strong, desires |
soma head bishop resident long enough |
in a place to know its people and its
Problems and able to decide difficult !
questions OF administration.
Just what plan may he recommended !
is vet too early to predict, but several |
are talked Of. Few seem TO desire the !
creation OF diOreseS. and the perma nent |
localizatiOn OF bishops. as is done in the |
catholic Church. Such plan would re- |
Guire a great number Of bishops. One |
plan is the zone. already mentioned. the |
bishops in each zone remaining either !
permanently or at least for four years |
between the meetings OF general confer |
enCe. nd SO in some degree come to be !
familiar with local problems and be on |
hand to decide upon their solutions |
No definite scheme has come to the front !
hut the present plan of bishops scattered |
over the whole country. presiding at |
conferences one year and never visiting |
them for a dozen years afterward per |
haps, has given rise to the cry at the |
moment popular in Methodsm, Not |
more bishops but more bishop"
Apart from unity and the bishop ques-
tion. Methodism North is facing a need |
for far more bishops. even if the present |
general plan of administration be con- I
tinued. Several have died since the last |
conference. anu IIleTt IS no prop I
ositiOn between conferences for election |
OF new bishops in their places. It is |
100 early as Yet to hear talk OF names |
What is heard Of just now, however. |
the place OF the conference having been |
decided. is the organic union OF all |
white Methodists in America.
Presbyterian Assembly.
A proposition for reduction of the
membership in the Presbyterian Gen
eral Assembly was advanced at the last |
meeting OF the assembly and the exc
cutive commission having the matter in
charge was in session for three days |
last week in New York City. The ques-
ton Of board consolidation was thorough
ly discussed but no decision was arrived
at. April % was appointed as the time
for another meeting, to be held at Pitts
burg.
The commission, in its New York ses-
sion covered a vast amount of mate
rial which had been prepared for it by
its council covering legal questions in
vofved in the consolidation proposals now
pending such as combination of boards
Of home missions, church election, union
Of boards of education and colleges, and
the creation OF a social service bureau
by joining temperance committee. Sab
hath observance committee, and the de-
partment of church and labor All the
interests concerned in these proposals
were heard at length.
The commission did dispose finally, so
far as its power extends, of the ques-