New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-17
Proposal to Join with the
Southern Church Adopted
with Cheers.
NICHOLSON LEADS
IN VOTE FOR BISHOP
Temperance Committee to Urge
Prohibition Planks in
Party Platforms.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribune J

Saratoga, n. Y, May 16.-The most
thrilling and historical event in Amer
lean Methodism took place at this
mornings session Of the Methodist
General Conference, when the Rev. j.
F. Goucher, ID. D., of Baltimore. read
the proposal for the reunion Of the
Methodist churches of the North and
the South. 1t was adopted by a unani-
nous standing vote with wild enthu-
sissm. The $50 delegates waved hand
kerchiefs and sang the "Doxology,"
while Bishop f. r. Hendrix, of Kansas
City, the Senior Bishop of the Church
of the South, stood on the presiding
officers stand. clasping hands with
Senior Bishop Cranston, of the Church
Of the North.
The union contemplates dividing
world Methodism into eight or ten
districts. which would meet quadren-
nially to legislate much as states do.
One district will contain all the ne
groes. thus removing the objections OF
the South Church. These quadrennial
conferences or the annual confer
ences, or both, will elect delegates 10
a small general conference to make
the laws for the whole church.
A commission of ten laymen, ten
ministers and Ave bishops will work
out the details with similar com
mittee from the South Church, which
will meet the first week in June.
The Methodist Church split in 1874,
and only two men are alive who sat
in that general conference. They are
the Rev. A. +. Ballard. ninety-six
years old. active president Of the
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting, and the
Rev. T. II. Landon. Of Baltimore
Obstacles Believed Overcome.
II is generally believed that the OBJ
stacle. in the way Of unifcation have
been overcome and that two years
hence the general conference of the
Methodist Church South will accept
tho MAN for reunion which the North
ern Church hopes 20 bring 20 hnal
fulfilment at its general conference IN
1920.
After the unihcation programme the
delegates took up for second time
the report OF the episcopacy committee
on the number OF new bishops to be
chosen.
Three bishops have died and two
have been retired on account OF age
aimee the MINNEAPOLIS conference CT
1912. The Episcopacy committee pre-
sented report yesterday recommend
ING the election Of seven bishops, or
general superintcndents, one Of whom
would have supervision over an Eplsco-
nal area 10 be established in Corea.
This report was recommitted by the
conference. and to day a supplementary
report declared in favor of the same
number OF bishops with the addition OF
a new missionary bishop with an Epis-
copal residence at Singapore.
Considerable opposition TO the rec
concentrations developed immedlate y,
hut the conference finally sustained the
committee by a proportionate vote OF
about 3 TO . and adopted the report.
DIR. Nicholson Polls Big Vote.
After voting to accept a report pre-
sented yesterday calling Tor the eiec-
,ion Of the missionary bishops Tor
Africa. the conference PROCEEDED 10
take the first ballot for bishops. -Four
hours were required for the counting
of votes. The tellers were pledged not
to dlYulge tne resulO De.Vi0 ~
nresentation to the conference to-mor-
row II was reported by conference
oficials. however, that none of the
Candidates had obtained the necessary
two-thirds majority, but that Dr.
Thoroaa Nicholson. of New York, sec
rotary of the Board OF Education
polled the largest vote. III,
The committee on temperance VIII
offer resolutions TO the conference de-
handing that every, polltlcal party o pu'
q prohibition plank in its platform,
that Congress submit constitutional
amendment on the question and that
nrobibition be given by Congress to
Hawaii, Alaska and the District OF Co.
The Board of Home Missions Is IN
tho midst of a strenuous debate IN an
effort to moderniZe the organization Dy
having one secretary instead oil 'hree'