Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-05-21
METHODISTS VOTE TO RETURN SCHOOL Vanderbilt Question Finally Disposed of by the
  Conference.
TO GUARD PROPERTY
2 commission Created to Investigate All Charters in All States That Churcii's Rights May Be
 Protected,

Oklahoma City, Okla, May 2O.-l supplemental report of the maiorit, report Of the committee of fifteen il the Vanderbilt university case pre- sented to the Methodist Episcopa church, South, today was unanimous ly adopted by that body.
 The vote first came upon the sub. stltutlon of the minority report fo1 that of the majority resulting in. ayes IA, noes 176.
 The majority report then was adopted by unanimous vote.
 The majority report provides for the cooperation of the general board of education with the board of trust untik the commission, created by the conference, shall have made a "com- plete transfer" of the churchs right of control back to the patronizing conferences.
 The minority report favors the same action, but insists the transfer shall be legal one and therefore in- sisted upon the word Illegally" be- ing inserted. The majority report objected to this, claiming that it's re- port clearly indicated a legal trans
 
 the word legal"
 A resolution was presented provid- ing for enlarging the powers of the commission on church federation to give that body authority to treat with any and all bodies of kindred faith and order with the Methodist Episcc- pal church, South, on all matters relating to union and federation.
 Limit Presiding Elders.
 Limitation of the tenure of office of presiding elders, recommendation for the retirement of Bishop A. w. Will son of Baltimore, the senior bishop of the church, on account of age, and that leave of absence for year be granted Bishop E. B. Hoss because of ill health, were contained in the re- port of the committee on episcopacy.
 It was announced that the commit tee on appeals has remanded the case. of Rev. Jno. o. Knott, former pastor at 'Warrenton, Va, to the Baltimore conference, by which he had been convicted on the charge of immoral | ity. The committee held that Mir. | Knott had not been given a fair and impartial trial. Rev. Jas. Cannon, Jr., appeared as attorney for Knott.
 An invitation to hold the next gen. eral conference in 1918 at Richmond, Va, also was read to the conference.
 A commission of nine to investigate | all charters of church boards and | connectional bodies and take out new charters if necessary in any state, to 1 properly protect the churchs inter ests, was provided for in report by | the special committee named last | Week, which was adopted. The com mission is composed of Bishop J. H. Mccoy, w. F. McMurray, F. M. Boyles, T. D. Ellis, Judge E. c. O'Rear, w. w. Hughes, LA. Mccullough, E. c. Reeves and W. H. Thomas.
 Bishop HOss and Vanderbilt.
 Bishop E. E. Hoss, who has led the fight for the rights of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, in the Van derbilt university case, believes that the church has done all it can do to maintain those rights, and in view of the decision of the supreme court of Tennessee, which he holds stripped it of every vestige of right, is of the opinion that the church should now retire and leave the board of trust in quiet and full possession.