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

| ELBERTON, Nov CASA G.
| Gambler, of Atlanta, and l.. NJ. Heard
| had been chosen as two Of the lay
| delegates for the North Georg ia
Methodist Conference to the General
| Conference in Oklahoma City, next
| May when adjournment for lunch
vas 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 88. Professor
Rembert g. Smith, of Emory College,
won his fight to limit the service ~
presiding elders to four consecutive
years. His resolution memorializinS
the General Conference to enact such
a 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 a lively tilt at yesterdays ses-
sion. Bishop Denny desiring that the
'lcNhlon De ueltfIeu uiltl ditel sum
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 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
burlesque resolution which was
quickly discountenanced by the Con-
ference
In the debate on the resolution fully
25 men spoke with great earnestness.
Smith Pleads Cause.
Professor Smith, author of the reso-
mtion, made an eloquent address of
90 minutes in support of it, in which
he showed that Methodist history has
been characterized by notifications in
its policy from time to time. He ar
gued that the present dissatisfaction
among preachers concerning the pre-
siding eldership and the demand for
change warranted the passage of
the resolution.
DIR. ]. RI. Fakes, presiding elder of
the Rome District, replied to Pro-
lessor Smith, arguing that the reso-
luton is a species of class legislat ton
preventing only one class of officers
from 9TH re
| are unnoticed. DR.. Fakes said the
| matter has been unduly magnified.
Five minutes of utmost confusion
reigned S 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
pastor in good standing can demand
employment while the elder can not
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 un-
due promotion.
The Rev A. d. Echols thought the
same vote against changing the
church's name should be cast against
the resolution
A substitute introduced by H. ..
Christian was instantly tabled. upon
motion of Asa G. 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 VIII 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
DR.. 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, DIR. J.
H. E;akes the Rev. r, j. Christian,
|. DR. j. ID. Hammond and DR.. II. 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.