The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-11
MUCH EXCITEMENT
 AT CONFERENCE
Short and Ugly Word Used When Fight Between Bishop and Lay
 man Comes to Climax

The fight that has been waged by Ira T. Bryant of Nashville, secretary of the A. M E. Sunday School union, and Bishop Joshua H. Jones of Wilberforce, O., for several years reached a climax yester- day afternoon, when at the opening of the North Alabama conference of the A. M. E. church at St. Johns African Methodist church, Twenty-fifth street and Third avenue, Bryant threw the whole conference into confusion confounded by calling Bishop Joshua H. Jones "an in- fernal liar"
 Bishop Jones was making his opening remarks to the conference and made it clear from the beginning that he was de- lending himself from criticisms that had been made against him. He stated among other things that prior to his election to the episcopacy at the Kansas City gen. eral conference, he had been visited by a man who offered to support him if that man would be permitted to dictate cer- tain appointments. Bryant, who had led fight in the A. M. E. church for purity in church politics, asked Bishop Jones if he would name the man. Clearly and slowly Bishop Jones replied: Yes sir; it was MT. Ira T. Bryant
 As quick as a flash of lightning. with hands raised to heaven, Bryant replied Bishop Jones, you are an internal liar. !"
 Approaching the pulpit from his seat well towards the center of the church, Bryant vehemently denied the statement of Bishop Jones and reiterated former charges against the prelate involving moral turpitude, maladminstration and the use of episcopal power for personal gain.
 The sensation that was created was in- describable. Bishop Jones, filled with emotion. trembled in the pulpit while the irate publisher poured inveciive after in- vective into him. Rev. P. w. Walls, pas tor of St. Johns A. M. F. church, plead ed for some one to put young Bryant out of the church, but no one essayed to touch the we'll known layman. Conclud- ing his remarks, Bryant demanded of Bishop Jones to retract his statement, whereupon the bishop declared with much heat that he could prove the truth of his remarks by Presiding Elder G. w. West of Tennessee, who was present at the all legged interview.
 west, candidate for higher honors at the forthcoming general conference, is a visitor to the conference and flatly denied any knowledge of any such inter- view. Three weeks ago, at the Tennessee conference in Nashville, it is said that Bishop Jones would not permit Bryant a seat in the conference. although he had been regularly elected lay delegate. The fight between the two leaders in the church has been bitter, and has been aired more or less through the negro press.
 Quiet once restored the conference went ahead with it's usual routine. The annual sermon was preached by the Rev. w. H Nixon of Selma on the theme. 1.-The Spread of the Gospel The sacrament of the Lords supper was administered by Dr. G. w. Porter of Nashville, Revs. G. B. Bardwell, G. w. Mitchell and W. R. Ragland were elected secretaries of the conference.
 The conference proceeded with its work in the afternoon An informal reception was rendered the visitors Tuesday night when welcome addresses were delivered by w. w. Hadnott, Dr. J. A. Whitted, Mrs L. A. Vines and G. w. Mitchell.
 The reports of the presiding elders and ministers will be resumed today at the conference. Dr. w. T. Vernon, former register of the United States treasury. will speak tonight.