The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-10
EXISTING CHURCH BOARDS
MAY BE RElNCORPORATED
Initial Step Looking to This End Taken
by Methodist General Con-
ference.
RESULT OF VANDERBILT CASE
Number OF Tentative Propositions for
Establishment of New University
Reported to Have Been Made.

Oklahoma City. Okla. May 9.-Tht
initial step looking toward the possible
reincorporating of all existing boards
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South. was taken here to-day just pre-
vious to adjournment until Monday OF
the general conference OF the church
Bishop II. c. Morrison named Isaac
Carr. James Kilgo. NJ. l.. Lawson, j. u.
rSimpson and X. l.. Roddy members OF a
special committee to Investigate and
determine the present charter rights OF
the church, its correctional boards. hos
pitals and institutions III general. and
to report on their legal rights to hold
property under laws OF the States in
which they are Incorporated.
The appointment of the commit &c
was tho result Of n resolution calling
for such committee, introduced
by the Revs. +. V. Chappei and r. Is
ELLIS, and was adopted by tho dele
gates. The resolution is broad In scope
and provides that If the charters under
which the church now operates are
found to be insufficient, or that the
church's right to hold property can be
questioned, the committee shall be au-
thorizcd to so into any State In the
Union and reincorporate, If, in the
opinion of the committee. the laws OF
the states they select guarantee the
charter rights to the church.
Is RESULT
OF VANDERBILT DECISION
Tho committee Will begin work at
once and Is expected to render re-
port TO the. conference before the end
of the present session. The appoint
mcnt of tho committee Is directly due
TO the adverse decision OF tho Supreme
Court of Tennessee, in what IS known
as the Vanderbilt University case by
which the court held that the church
could not rightfuily control tho uni
versity. The Vanderbilt decision and
what action. If any. the conference shall
take. is now up to n committee of fif-
night. Upon tho recommendation OF
this committee probably depends fur
ther action the church will take.
While no definite report from tho
committee In regard to the Vanderbilt
case is expected until after public hear
ings on tho matter have been held later
in tho present conference. there arc
!rnn,ma r1mors TeguagdiGsg pTSbable action.
member of the conference. declared to-
day he favored the appointment of a
commission, cor ,ha with full power to act
probably will be done The commits
sion. he said. will be authorized to re-
cslvs c,;slvs, oyertures -n,It from the trustees OF
cared to mako any, to receive proposi-
tions for the establishment OF another
institution. If the commission found 1t
was not wise to establish tho church
In Its. rights in that institution, and
that the commission would be cmpow-
cred to do everything possible to bring
about settlement Of the question.
TENTATIVE PROPOSITIONS
FOR NEW UNIVERSITY
IT Is also generally understood that
a number of tentative propositions for
tho establishment OF a new university
have been made. The committee re
fused to discuss this phase of the case.
The Sunday school committees. Mt its
sessions this afternoon. planned for a
large amount of conservative work
during the next 9uadrennium. The
committee Will ask for Sunday school
board. general secretary and an np-
preparation of $4,000 to carry on its
work.
The report Of tho committee on tho
creation OF an advisory commission to
assist tho colored Methodist Episcopal
Church In work among tho negroes set
us n special order OF business for to-
day. was recommitted for further con-
sidcration.