The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-10-29
THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE


THE CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE
A matter of very much more than cas-
ual interest to engage the attention of
the conference is the Alabama Christian
Advocate. Last winter this same matter
provoked lively discussion. On the one
hand, there was proposal to close out
publication of that paper. transferring
its patronage and good will to the Wes-
leyan Christian Advocate at Atlanta, Ga.
On the other hand strong objection de-
veIoped to that plan; and the conference
by very decided majority voted to con-
tinue the Alabama paper.
However. the Alabama conference
South Alabama and West Florida) is
Jointly involved with North Alabama in
this Advocate project: and that confer
ence, meeting after ours did at Athens
in 1916, directed the members of it's pub
fishing committee to proceed with North
Alabama In plans for continuing the pa
per for one more year; the implication APP
parently being n purpose to get away
from the Alabama Advocate, and go to
the Wesleyan. Such things looks like
North Alabama might have to knock I'M
der or be left in the lurch. This Is the
surface indication. But various district
conferences in south Alabama have
passed resolution, strongly urging against
going to the Wesleyan, in Atlanta, and
as strongly urging standing by the Ala
bama in Birmingham. The two Alabama
conferences are jointly interested not only
In the support of the Advocate, but also
in an orphanage at Selma. and in edu-
cational affairs at least touching Woman S
college at Montgomery. To some dis
corning people it appears that disturb
ance of joint effort, as to the Advocate
might not stop there; but once set In
motion, it might draw in and jeopardize
other joint affairs
H.. pro oil - y
vocate during this year. has made de-
cided hit with his constituency; and there
is popular demand for his continuance
on the tripod. At least one delicate fea-
ture confronting the publishing commit
tee is the action referred to, as taken
by the Alabama conference. That body
does not meet till sometime after adjourn
ment will be reached at Bessemer; and
the members of the aforesaid committee
are rather at a loss as to how to pro-
coed without some further word from the
other partner in the business. However
there is strong hope for continuing the
Advocate, and for retaining DR.. Brans-
comb as editor. So mote 1t be.
EDUCATIONAL
Methodsm claims to have been born
in university: Accordingly she may
fancy that the fates have fixed it for
her to have a continuing alignment with
OF every cline where her commission car
ries. The good and great Bishop Keener
was wont to remark that all his life
he had a college strapped to his back.
That fact may have had much to do
with his making such a good bishop.
Anyhow, Methodism has in general car
ried some pretty strong and staying COL
lege straps; and if all who have felt
their strain, and the occasional strife,
should by them be pulled into the episco-
paey, perhaps the strain might become
more generally distributed; or at any
rate appear more popular, at least among
the preachers
Alabama Methodsm has, in the matter
of her educational effort, written some
immortal history; and still sticks to the
task descending from the fathers Ex-
tensive sums have been put into educa-
tional plants, which have fallen on
sleep, or else have passed to other con-
troll; and in some quarters there seems
warrant for the charge that we have
lacked Judgment in the matter of educa-
tional administration. But in reality 1t
only seems so. BY far the greater losses
in educational property came as the re-
suit of the disastrous revolution of so
years ago. Out of that same unhappy
struggle came our fathers, sadly shriyen
Of their one-time splendid possessions;
shall they, on that account, be held as
too utterly deficient in Judgment and
ability wisely to handle their affairs ?
AS consistently may Methodism be SINH
larly accused because of the losses sus-
tanned by the ravages of civil war And
yet. through some noble buildings went
to the owls and bats, and though some
princely endowments may have found
wings to fly away work was done-im-
perishable immortal-to justify and com