Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-29
BISHOPS ARE FIRM
ON CHURCH ISSUE
Southern Body Leaves Cues
ton of Methodist Reunion
in Hands Of Commissioners.
MAKE FORMAL Statement

ATLANTA, Ca, October 2S.-In reply
to proposals made at the 1916 confer.
ence of the Methodist Episcopal Church
regarding the question of reunion OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church. the
Methodist Episcopal Church South anc
the Methodist Protestant Church. the
college of bishops Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South today issued
a statement declaring that the action
of the southern church must pc detel
mined by it's commissioners appointed
six years ago on the joint commission
of federation
The statement, said to be the unani-
NOUS action of the southern blsnops'
suggestions of the JOINT commission
have been ratified by the Methodist
Protestant Church and by the southern
church also with single important
modification.
Text Of Statement.
The statement follows:
I'm view of the fact that our excel
lent Book of Discipline makes 1t
prime duty of the bishops to oversee
the spiritual and temporal interest OF
the church" and to call attention from
time to time to all matters OF serious
Importance, we conceive 1t TO De
eminently proper at this critical juno
ture to speak out our minds with
greatest distinctness in regard to
certain current events which, for good
or i'll. are likely to affect the whole
future course and development OF our
ecclesiastical life.
"It is a matter of general knowledge
that the entire movement for closer fed.
Grafton between the different bodies or
American Methodists originated in our
general conference Of 1894. Some six
years ago the joint committee OF fedora
ticn, made up of representatives from
the Methodist Episcopal Church, the
Methodist Episcopal Church South and
the Methodist Protestant Church, took
I'D the broader question of union. The
outcome of their action was a series OF
suggestions made to the general confer
ence of the three churches. as a possible
basis for further negotiations. To these
suggestions the general conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church for 1912 paid
no attention whatever. The general con-
ference of the Methodist Protestant
Church for the same year gave them
its general Endorsement, but declined to
act more definitely until the two Episcopal
Methodists should reach some sort of
agreement.
THE general conference of our own
church for 1914. after proposing sim
gle important modification In them,
likewise gave them unanimous rail-
fication. and then passed them IN to
the general conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church. as tentative
outline of union by reorganization
Duty to Support Action.
I'VE need scarcely say that as bish-
ops of the church we consider ourselves
bound to suppOrt End maintain this ac-
tion to the full extent of our ability
and influence. Anv statement to the
contrary, by whomsoever tmade. is ut
terly without foundation in fact.
Whether the action of the general con-
ference of the Methodist E-isoopal
church for 1916 is fair and favorable
response to our proposals is thing that
must be determined by our commission
ers appointed for the express purpose
OF considering that very subject We
cannot think ii possible that those
commissioners will do less than follow
the instructions laid down by the gem
eral conference for their guidance. and
We do not believe that they should be
hindered by any interference from the
outside. In view, however. Of some
things that have been said and repeat
ed On public platforms and in public
prints. we feel constrained to make
brief but very definite statement. The
past forty years we have been wan
dering in the wilderness, a lot of mis-
cradle fools and miserable sinners we
hold to be an injustice both to the
living ana tr e dead
The men who have shaped and con-
trolled our policies for that period
have been consecrated Christians,
worthy in every way of the command
Ing position that they have held among
us. and We resent any words that tend
either to belitt1e their ability or reflect
upon their characters.
We are happy to be able to state
that our active senior bishop eugene
r. Hendrix) distinctly disdains the in
4lr 80 4
Saratoga last May, or elsewhere at any
time, i'll SO far as they seem to reflect
On our church in its work in the past
or our great and sanity leaders or on
the spirit and purpose of our church
today. and unites with us in this paper
Nothing to Repent OF.
IL not something to be ashamed Of
but something to glory in. In the whole
record of our relations to other
churches there is nothing to repent of
If We had TO face the same conditions
again, we ought to do IL in the same
spirit and with the same resolution.
Instead OF holding our heads in
shame when We review the past, we are
entitled TO hold them erect In the
whole history of Gods church there Is
not single chapter that is more worthy
TO be blazoned in the face OF the. world
than that one which tells of the fidelity
and the hero.sm with which our preach
ers and people alike endured without
hinchinS or faltering. and without one
WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT from any quar-
ter. the years OF hardship and disaster
that followed the war between the
states. The people that learn to blush
at the memory Of their own fathers, are
lost No matter what the future may
mold Tor US, We have q background of
history in which We may always re-
Joice. and which we should teach our
children and our children's children to
hold forever In pious veneration No
matter into what alliances we may en-
ter IN the future. We should go into
them, not crawling prone upon the
earth, but with uplifted faces and with
unaba ted self-respect. II we should go
otherwise re Should make but a poor con-
tr1n ZION TO any partnership.
We have 10 word OF criticism to Of
Ter touching other churches, nor any
disposition TO make light of their
schieyc;nen.s or Of their present out :
t0oa. Let them act In accordance with
tnelr own lights. We devoutIy wish
them well. God may pour upon them
the abundant riches of His grace, is our
most earnest prayer. II a union can
come among all Methodist people that
wili DE q real union Of hearts, we shall
be Sled and happy. But we are not
reacy TO bargain away any of the
great lnheritances and glorious mem
osie'. OF other years for any considera ion.
Grafton.