Evening journal., 1916-05-11
UNIONS FAVORED
BY THE METHODISTS
Committee Votes TO Show
Preference TO Organized
Labor
CONFERENCE TO MAKE
THE FINAL DECISION

SARATOGA SPRINGS. n. Y. May
1.-THE principle that the Methodist
Episcopal Church. as an employer.
should give preference to labor unions.
WAS adopted by the committee on state
OF the church Of the General Confer
ence yesterday II this principle is
accepted on the hoos OF the General
Conference. thousands OF persons en-
ployod by the church ia publication Of
hoes. colleges ana Offices in capaci-
ties claimed by organized labor. viii
be affected. And 10 viii be another
victory for the democratic forces
which already have shattered many
traditions.
The principle Of preference was
brought before the committee on state
OF the church by the Methodist Fed
Grafton Of Social Service. of which
Bishop Francis Mcconnell of Den
ycr. IS president and the Rev. Or.
Harry r. Ward, of Boston. is secre-
tary Early n the conference The fed
GRAFTON submitted am extensive pro-
gram 10 the committee on state OF
ihc church and several sections were
voted on favorahly. The recOmmcn-
cation came before the committee i'm a
memorial on industrial democracy II
encountered sharp opposition in sub
committee, hu. when brought before
the larger committee was passed by
vote OF lO9 to 6. The adoption of the
section on labor was regarded OF es-
pecial importance because of the ne
gotiations pending between the Meth
odist Book Concern and the printing
trades for an agreement ON the pref
crential union shop
Tho Board OF Bishops met yesterday
aid appointed committees 10 consider
the rcvisions of ritual submitted to IL
by the General Conference. From in
terviews obtained t. developed that a
majority Of the bishops arc in favor of
most Of the notifications. although all
OF the notifications will be thoroughly
serutlnized before being adopted Es-
special care will be given 10 the CON
sideration Of proposed change i'm
the Apostles Creed The ritual will
not be reported back to the delegates.
but VIII be printed i'm the Discinline.
which Will be published a month after
the conference adiourns.
One OF the important problems Ia
be considered i'm connection with the
revision OF the ritual is the fact that
both the Methodist Episcopal Church
and the Southern Church will have
70 use the same ritual if the pro
posed unitication is effected IN 1920
The ritual may have TO be revised
again IL either church should object
10 ID when the time for the merger
arrives.
The subject of church unity played
an important part i'm the General Con
ference today. The Rev DIR. E. B.
Chappell fraternal delegate from
the Church South delivered an inn
pressive prayer for union. while pro-
nouncing the henediction at the close
Of the morning session. At night Dr.
Chappell and the Rev. Dr. KyugarO
Obata. representing the Japanese
Methodist Episcopal Church. spoke
on church unity.
The reason for abandoning the plan
for dividing Europe into new Episco.
pal areas was the fear lhat the new
boundaries would accentuate differ.
ence growing out OF the ,ar. it be.
came known today.
Election of bishops and other Off
cials viii in an probability begin next
Tuesday. The Committee on EpiscO
pacy will recommend that eight be
elected. The conference may order
the election OF five. possibly six. OF
possibly less than five There is good
material at hand: indeed almost any
OF the larger delegations could supply
all FIVE. according 10 their way OF
thinking AT the last conference 23C
delegates received yutes for the office
and 26 ballots, which required about
Eve DAYS TO take end count were
necessary TO secure the election OF
The eight men chosen. In addition
10 these. there will be two mission
AIRY bishops. three book agents Il
secretaries and IA editors. unless
some unusual action Is taken with re-
gard to the various boards and publ
cations All these viii require quite
week
ln the memorial service Of the con.
Terence In observance of the centen.
NAL anniversary OF the death of
Bishop Francis Asbury. at II a m.
yesterday, Bishop Berry. resident
bishop of Philadelphia. made the
greatest address of the conference
ana his life. Bishop Leete of Atlanta
SPOKE OF Asbury as an itnerant
preacher.
Bishop Bristol spoke Of him as q
Disnop. Bishop Berry spoke on "As
bury Then and Now"