Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-31
VETO POWER
FOR BISHOPS
OF me-. CHURCH
Wilmington Conference Starts
Movement to Change
Practice
DECIDE QUESTION
AFTER LONG DISCUSSION

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
CRISFIELD. Md, March S1.-For
nearly an hour Rev. George A. Cooke.
of Tangier Island, on Saturday after
noon, addressed the Wilmington
Methodist Conference in behalf of his
proposed amendment to the Constitu-
ton to the Church providing that any
bishop or any member of the General
Conference may raise questions Of
law in the General Conference. and
giving the Board of Bishops authority
to determine questions of law, sub
1ect, however to veto by two-thirds
of the delegates present and voting. In
other words, it would require favor
able action by two-thirds of the dele
gates to the General Conference to
override any deci-ion involving
church law made by the Bishops, or
to pass legislation deemed by the
Bishops in conflict with the constitu-
ton of the church. A present the
bishops have no judicial powers, they
merely being presiding parliament
tarians in the General Conference.
Mr.. Cookies resolution was adopted
atten a spirited discussion by a vote
OF 6S to 81, and is regarded as a vic
tory by the "progressives" Of the Con-
fa'ence. Tho proposed amendment
VIII e. Fent to every annual C"nfr-
ence in Methcdism for endorsement
or rejection, prior to the General
Conference in 1916. Thus. Whining
ton Conference gets the credit
Of initiating this new amend
ment in Methodsm to safe
guard the constitution of the old
church. Mr.. Cooks proposed amend
ment is as follows.
THE presiding officer Of the Cen
eral Conference shall decide ques-
tons of order. subject to an appeal
to the General Conference. II the de-
cision Of the chair is sustained by a
majority of those present and voting
his decision shall stand The presid-
ing officer of the day, or any other
General Superintendent, may raise
the question of law in regard to any
proposed legislation When objection
has thus been entered the entire
Board of General Superiintendents
shall take the matter under advise
ment and shall report their decisions
as soon as possible. and their reas.
ons for the decision This report
shall be in writing and shall be print
ed in the journal of the General Con
Conference may raise the question of
law. and If he Us sustained by one
third Of the delegates present and
voting, the General superintendent
shall be required to submit their de-
cision in writing to the General Cen
ference. When a decision of the
General superintendent has been
given this decision may be challeng-
ed but It shall require two-thirds of
those present and voting TO prevail
over their decision"
Mr. Cooke came TO Wilmington Con-
ference several years ago, from New
York Conference, where he was
thrust into the limelight by some of
his clashes with Bishops, and his pre-
ferring of charges against some of the
Bishops. He is student on constitu-
tional law of the church. and made an
able analysis of his subject before
rConference
Mr.. Cooke based the necessity for
the proposed change in the church
constitution on his contention that
there has been enactment by the Cen
eral Conference Of legislation he
deemed in conflict with that consti-
tuition
He said this is a democratic age.
a progressive age. with the people
more and more demanding a right to
voice in governmental and legisla-
tive affairs. AS the General Confer
ence has increased in size. it has in
creased in arrogance, he said, and he
oontended that the delegates TO the
General Conference who ware unin-
structed did not represent, and this
tended to arrogance.
Bishops ought to have the right
TO express judicial opinions in the
General Conference" he exclaimed.
IF that is heresy in this republican
age, then you may write me down
as an ecclesiastical hereto. We don't
want our Bishops at the General Con-
ference to sit like dumb DOGS. We
want them to bark, and bite, if neces-
sary."
MIR. Cooke fguratively likened the
General Conference to a mob" and
some of the assaults upon the consti-
tuition of the church to the descent
of the vandals in early Rome.
When he finished, Rev W. l.. White
asked him if he knew of any specific
unconstitutional legislation in the last
General Conference, and Mr.. Cooke