Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-22
ASA c. GAMBLER
DELEGATE Of
LAYMEN
North Georgia Methodists Choos-
ing Representatives to Gen.
eraI Conference of Church.

ELBERTON. Nov. CASA 6.
| Gambler, of Atlanta. and l.. NJ. Heard
had been chosen as two of the lay
delegates for the North Georgia
Methodist Conference to the General
Conference in Oklahoma City, next
May. when adjournment for lunch
was taken this afternoon. None of
the clerical delegates had been elect
ed. The balloting was continued when
the Conference reconvened in special
session for that purpose after lunch.
Smith Wins Fight.
BY a vote of 149 to SO, Professor
Rembert G. Smith, of Emory College,
won his fight to limit the service Of
presiding elders to four consecutive
years. His resolution memorializing
the General Conference to enact such
church law was passed after the
most spirited debate of the present
conference session.
Immediately following this vote, the
Conference went into the election of
General Conference delegates. 1t was
over this election that Professor
Smith and Bishop Collins Denny had
such lively tilt at yesterdays ses-
sion, Bishop Denny desiring that the
election be deferred until after Sun
day.
Every Seat Taken.
When the hour for considering the
Smith resolution regarding presiding
elders arrived every available seat in
the Conference room was occupied
and many people stood in the rear.
The resolution which provided that
no man may serve as elder longer
than four consecutive years, was rec
commended by the committee on me-
MORALS by vote of five to four and
read by Asa G. Gambler. At once
every man was intensely alert and not
in a generation have such scenes OF
confusion been witnessed on the Con-
ference floor as were enacted here to-
day.
The Rev S. B. Ledbetter introduced
a burlesque resolution which was
quickly discountenanced by the Con-
ference.
In the debate on the resolution fully
% men spoke with great earnestness.
Smith Pleads Cause.
Professor Smith, author of the reso-
luton, made an eloquent address of
20 minutes in support of it, in which
he showed that Methodist history has
been characterized by notifications in
it's policy from time to time, He ar
gued that the present dissatisfaction
among preachers concerning the pre-
siding eldership and the demand for
a change warranted the passage of
the resolution.
Dr. j. H. Fakes, presiding elder of
the Rome District, replied to Pro-
fessor Smith, arguing that the reso-
luton is a species of class legislation.
preventing only one class of officers
from continuous service while others
are unnoticed. DR.. Fakes said the
matter has been unduly magnified.
Five minutes of utmost confusion
reigned as calls for previous questions
were made.
Danger of Machine"
DR. Charles o. Jones' of Atlanta.
spoke at length in behalf OF the reso-
luton pointing out that the resolution
was not class legislation, since the
presiding eldership is an office while
the pastorate is an order, and the
pa stor in good standing can demand
employment while the elder can noS
demand appointment as such. DR..
Jones stated that an unlimited term
as presiding elder would tend to con-
struct an ecclesiastical machine"
within the conference, wherein spe
cial men would probably receive I'M
due promotion.
The Rev A. D. Echols thought the
same NOlb against lllS liIC
church's name should be cast against
the resolution.
A substitute introduced by H. =.
Christian was instantly tabled. upon
motion of Asa c.. Gambler. He also
spoke with enthusiasm against the
resolution. After prolonged debate
and the utmost confusion, the vote
was finally taken and the resolution
adopted.
Conference Election.
( No man can foresee who will be
| elected, since the balloting is secret,
| and no announced candidates are al
| lowed. Seven ministers and seven
| laymen will be elected Among the
ministers prominently spoken Of are
DIR. j. f. Dickey, president and the
Rev Rembert G. Smith, professor, of
Emory College; the Rev. j. A. Sharp
! of Young Harris College; DR.. w. p.
Lovejoy, DR. Fletcher Walton, DR.. j.
! H. Fakes, the Rev. T. j. Christian
| DR.. j. d. Hammond and Or. H. NJ
| DuBose. Among the laymen are Sam
uel Tate, f. w Bigham l.. w. Lat
timer l.. NJ. Heard and L, H. o. Mar
tin.