The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1917-01-25

$4,000 Members to a Special Com.
mittee.
Cincinnati.-The future status OF the
100000 colored people who are mem.
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church
north and south was one Of the big
topics for discussion at the meeting
Of the joint commission on union held
az Baltimore from Dec. %. 1916, to
Jan. 3, 1917. No agreement however,
was reached on the subject, and the
matter has been referred to a special
committee, which viii meet In Cincln-
natl April 10 In order to make further
study of the question and make re-
port to the fun commission. which will
meet June 81.
The more important features Of the
difference Of opinion between the two
bodies find expression in the follow
ing:
First-POwers and restrictions Of the
general conference, or should the gen
eral conference be sole interpreter Of
the constitutionality of its own acts,
or should there be tribunal outside
of the general conference with power
In the nature of a supreme court, to
decide upon the constitutlonality Of
any act Of the general conference.
Second.-Should the united church Of
100000 people be divided into jurls
dictional or regional conferences for
the conduct of the local church work
and the handling Of problems peculiar
to sections and peoples?
Third.-What relationship should the
$4,000 cOlored people in the Metho-
dist Episcopal church sustain to the
united church of 100000 Of white peo-
pie? Should they be a jurisdictional
conference having a voice and vote in
the general conference of the united
church along with the white people,
or should they be an independent body
holding only fraternal relations to the
white body?
1t is reported that the principal block
to union is the colored membership
OF the Methodist Episcopal church.
The southern MethOdists insisted upon
the cOlOred people not being in the
general conference with power TO vote
and make laws. The Methodist Epis
copal church commissioners insisted
that the cOlored people were part Of
the church; hence no one could dis
place them in that right save the col
orcd members themselves. Moreover,
at the last general conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church in the
quadrennial address of the bishops
this statement appeared:
''ln the Methodist Episcopal church
the colored members sustain precisely
the same relation to the church that
the white members do. Both laymer
and the preachers share in all the
rights and privileges, including i'm
mumities and emolumcnts guaranteed
any other members ard We desire and
expect them 10 continue In member
ship IN cur church.
That declaration is supposed to set
tie the status of Negro Methodist Epis-
copalans in the united church.
The colored men on the commits
sion, Drs. r. L. Jones, editor Of the
Southwestern Christian AdYoO ate. New
Orleans, La. ana |. Garland Penn Of
Cincinnati. CORE rond.ug secretary OF
the Freedmen is al s'ricty. acquitted
themselves IN most cr"ntahle man
her' IheE ENGAGED - all the discus
SioilS' ana th"Nr VIA" were I"udeSt IN
praise OF th'lr """l' ~>'> were tue com
mis- 81
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Nor 81 the tNiSb3r>A Ar!>tan Advo-
cate; Rev. Il. r. Jones. y. H.. New
Orleans. editor Of the southwestern
Christian Advocate: GeorLe Warren