The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-05
VIRGINIA DELEGATES
FACTOR IN CONFERENCE
DIR. Cannon Is Chairman OF Committee
on Church Relations, Handling
Unification Problem.
MEMORIALS ARE NUMEROUS
Representatives OF Southern Method
ism at Atlanta Wire Pledge OF LOYAL
support to President Wilson.

Especial to The Richmond Virginianl
Atlanta. Ga, May 4.--The big hop
per at the general conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church, South,
has started vigorously to work.
Memorials and resolutions from the
various annual conferences have been
coming with a rush for two days past
Over one hundred were reported Fri
day. Among these is a request for
the launching OF a movement TO raise
take care OF the superannuated
preachers, The matter went TO a
special committee of fifteen.
Other memorials asked for iaity
rights for women, an increase of lay
men in the annual conferences "A
greater amount OF authority for lay
men in church affairs union with the
Northern Methodist church, the cleo
ton OF bishop 10 reside in Asia
the abolition OF the four-vear time
limit for pastors, the Limitation of
presiding elders 20 four years in that
office consecutively. the creation of
episcopal districts and the assignment
Of bishops 20 them, the legal arrange
ment for layren To appear before the
bishops cabinet and make requests
for ministers.
Interesting papers Of greeting were
delivered TO the conference from the
Australian general conference the
Wesleyan Methodist church Of Great
Britain and Ireland. the Methodist
church Of Canada and the EcumeniclI
Methodist commission.
Over four hundred thousan dollars
was reported as subscribed for the
new Washing on city church. 1t will
be finished in July.
Bishop Hendrix in resigrinS the
chair 10 Bishop Gambler. presented
him with a book of great value for
Emory University, the original mann
script volume OF John wesiey's diary
during his stay in America
A great audience gathered for the
welcome service on Thursday night
Bishop Hendrix presided with his
usual graceful ease Eloquent and
witty addresses weSe delivered by
Governor Hugh NJ Dorsey. Of Georgia
Mayor Asa G. Gambler OF Atlanta
Dr. G, r. Wilmer, Of the Episcopal
church and Dr. J. r Dickev. pastor
Or the First Methodist church of At
lanta-
The following are the assignments
OF the Virginia delegation to con-
roitteee F;piscopacv, Cannon and
Petti3ohn: itineracy. Reed and Park
er; rey7sai. Tipscomb and Talbot;
publishing interests Lambeth and
Cato; educational, Hatcher and Park
or; church extension. Hatcher and
Scott: missions. Booker and Scott.
finances, Booker and G., y. Rcd: tenn
perance and social service. Reed and
Cato. Sunday schools Waterfie1d ard
Ames: Epwcrth leagues. WaterfTeld
and Amos; church relations and Bible
M r
missionary movement. Lam beth and
PetfiSohn.
OF the chairrnanship Of the twelve
standing committees. one goes 10 Viz
ginis. DR.. James Cannon will pre-
side over the committee on church
relations. This important committee
will have before it the question OF
the unification OF Methodism
DR.. Cannon is also a member OF
the committee on Episcopacy, bv vir-
tue of being the chairman of the
Virginia" delegation. This committee
has charge Of all matters relating TO
the bishops.
DR.. w, A Christian was named by
Or. Watkins. secretary. as one of the
assistant secretaries of the confer
ence.
Or. w J. Young. alternate. is sit
ting as delegate in place of Or. 3.
A"pS''fHtE uckdlIt0 at nome, py HI
ness in his family
Bishop Morrison presided Saturday
morning. Or. ]. G. Reed, Of Virginia,
conducted the opening exercises.
A strong resolution OF hearty en-
dorsement of President wilson's course
in the war and pledging him the
hearty support of two and a quar-
ter million Methodists was passed and
at once telegraphed to the white
House, DR.. Cannon was member of
this committee.
After some debate the report or the
commission on the unihcation OF Meth
odism was referred. at DR. Cannon's
request, to the committee on church
relations As much OF the commits
Eions rerort as time allowed was
read to tho conference
Bishcp W A. Gambler. chairman Of
the educational commission, submit
ted the report of the commission for
mailv turning over to the general
conference the nav universities.
Emory. of Atlanta. and the Southern
Methodist OF Dallas. the combined as
sets Of which are nearly &6.no0.oo
The re,ort Of the publishing agents
was submitted showing profits Of
s57ar4sr1 net: addition, to capital of
the Publishing house s36e.1s appro-
priations to conference claims during
four years $4,000.