The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-16
. AImSOt Unanimous for COali-
, ton of North and South.
NEGRO CONFERENCE SEPARATE
Reading of Report Brought
; Crowd to Its Feet.
Sang Hymns While Two Bish-
ops Clasped Hands.


fication. of the Methodist Episcopal
+ church and the Methodist Episcopal
church, south, was endorsed almost
una Isff1n ously by the Methodist general
. conference Today. The conference
adopted the report of the committee
on uHitication which provided for fur
ther negotiations with the southern
church. paving the way for final ac-
ton by the general conference of the
southern church in 1918 and by the
northern church general conference IN
1920.
The report recommends the amalga-
baton of the branches of American
Methodisn1 with the general confer
ence as the supreme governing body
of the church with separate conference
and episcopal supervision for the
negro churches.
s. Convention Went Wild.
The report was adopted amid scenes
of unbounded enthusiasm. Only one
speech was made in favor of the ac-
ton and none in opposition. The Rev
John F. Goucher, president emeritus
of GGucher college, Baltimore, Md, in
moving the adoption of the report en-
phasized the fact that the proposed
amalgamation would be a federated
union that would protect all the varied
interests just as the federal govern
ment protects the interests of the
separate states. but in the case of fed
Grated Methodism the world and not
the nation would be under ecumenical
control.
When DIR. Goucher concluded the
pentup enthusiasm of the conference
burst in its bounds. Every one rose to
his feet the building shook with APP
pIause and shouts of vote, vote" At
the call for affirmative votes, virtually
the entire convention rose and when
the opposition was called for, only one
or two scattered delegates stood up.
OH plnII q
greeted the announcement that the re-
port had been adopted and as Bishop
E. r. Hendrix of the Methodist Epis-
copal church south stepped to the
speakers desk. and clasped hands with
Bishop Cranston, the presiding officer.
the convention spontaneously began
singing. Praise God. From Whom All
Blessings Flow" and followed with
"Blest Be the Tie That Binds"
s-.aa Unitarian Churches Gaining.
g st Louis, May 16.-An Increased
participation of the Unitarian
ported to the Western Unitarian con-
ference. which met here today. by Rev.
Ernest c. Smith, secretary. Delegates
were in attendance from points as far
west as the Rocky Mountains the
territory of the conference includes the
central part of the United States.
Rev. Mr.. Smith in his report said
Mission churches were gaining forty
churches reporting a net gain of SIS,
members.
The committee on episcopacy which
was recommitted yesterday on re-
port recommending the election OF
seven new bishops, reported today that
lit was unable to comply with the de-
-sire of some of the delegates for a re-
-duction in the number.
For New Bishops.
The original report of the episco-
f.f,r fac ffn6a h0 lIa
,tion of seven new bishops or general
ssuperintendents which would increase
by two the membership of the board
of bishops authorized by the general
conference at Minneapolis, four years
aaEO. 1t Wa6>recommended also that
@the Oklahoma episcopal area be aboI-
eished and that new areas be created
sat Pittsburg, Pa; Detroit, Mich; and
Seoul, Korea. The committee also
urged that two missionary bishops
one of them a negro, should be chosen
to supervise the work in Africa, for
merly in charge of Missionary Bishops
lJoseph c. Hertzell and Isaiah B, Scott
who have been retired at their owr
request
Ban Off Amusements.
The amusement question came III
for action today before the commit
ltee on state of the church. which
adopted the minority report of a sub
committee which had deliberated tn,
matter. The majority of the sub
committee headed by Chancellor
James r. Day, of Syracuse university
recommended that the prohibition
against theater attendance. dancin,
and games of chance be elimina ted
while the minority recommended tina
1.-THE discipline remain unchanged. Tn
vote of the full committee in fayo
of the minority report was 113 to 43
The committee on itinerancy vote,
to report an increase in pensions pal,
TO widows of retired minister's Unde
the rule, retired minister receive
pro-rata payment on the basis of hal
the average salary paid to activ
preachers in his conference and upo1
his death his widow is paid one-hal
of the pension he received.
Increase Widows Pension.
Under the plan proposed the wild
ow's payment would be increased t
three-fifths what her husband re
@ceived
NMHENn Fnn A 0kIV