Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-02
PRESIDENT UPHELD
FOR COURSE IN WAR
Episcopal Address to Southern
Methodist Conference Con-
dennis DisIoyaI Utterances.
CHURCH POLICIES DEBATED

CHURCH POLICIES DEBATED
By the Associated Presa
ATLANTA. Ca. May with more
than 400 delegates in attendance. in
Guiding members Of tho College Of Bishops
and other prominent church leaders, the
eighteenth quadrennial conference Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. be-
gan here today. Tho conference viii be
in session about three weeks. After the
religious service conducted by Bishops
Morrison. Gambler. Lambuth and Atkins.
was devoted largely to tho reading Of
the episcopal address by Bishop Collins
Denny Of Richmond.
The address was one Of the length
lest ever delivered to the general con-
ference. reviewing the work Of the
church during tho past four years and
making recommendations for the fu-
ture.
Commentator Of the action Of Presi-
dent Wilson before and after the
declaration Of war against Germany
was expressed by the bishop. who de-
and courageous Americans II we failed
to give him our cordial support in every
way"
"Most Colossal War in History"
ut is scarcely necessary for US to say
that the world is now involved in the
most colossal war in human history"
said the address. THE destruction of
property and the loss of life already
have been appalling and there is no
prospect, SO far as we can see. for an
early peace. But We feel entirely JUS
tilted in saying that our own country.
participation in the conflict. is in no
wise responsible for originating 1t.
Neither our-rulers nor our peoples
wanted 1t. AS a nation we were more
men: BY no act Of ours had we incurred
the just hostility Of the belligerent pow
ers.
'It gives us the greatest satisfaction
to ahrm that our President went to
the utmost possible limit to keep us
out of the fray. II he is censurable
for anything-and we do not think he
is-it is for having been forebearing.
Not till it became entirely necessary
for us to fight or else submit to the
most violent and brutal outrages at the
hands of the German kaiser and those
who are banded together with him for
the tyrannical domination Of the world
did Mr.. Wilson at last advise the Con-
gress to draw the sword. In our judg-
ment he was fully warranted in TAX
ing this extreme step, and we should
be less than patriotic and courageous
Americans If we failed to give him our
cordial support in every way.
The impartial verdict Of history.
which in the long run Is always
right. can hardly fail to approve the
course which he has pursued.
AT this particular juncture, when so
much depends on the harmonious and
united action Of all American citizens.
we protest against the utterances OF
any world that would either weaken
his hands or give the slightest en-
couragement or comfort to our nation
al enemies.
while we, of course, long and pray
for peace. yet we trust when 1t comes
1t will be a peace full of justice and
Righteousness. 1t will be better to
fight on and suffer on than to capitu-
late to a despotism whose methods re-
call the worst chapters Of heather bar
barity."
Oppose Suggested Restrictions.
The bishops strongly oppose the
movement to restrict the areas of the
bishops. so that while they are unlin-
1ted as TO the presidency OF annual cOn-
ferences throughout the whole connec-
ton they must reside in certain dis
tricts for a limited time and be respon-
sible for the development of church
work in that district and report quad
rennially to the general conference.
The address says in this connection
that ANY scheme for limiting their
field or jurisdiction would be sure to
diminish the esteem in which they are
held by the general public and by the
church."
The address touched on a very live
question when 1t scored the board of
missions for beginning to recast the
boundaries of the work in Mexico be-
fore the meeting of the general con-
ference. The address declared: THE
college OF bishops, who had not been
consulted in any initial stage OF the
proceedings. saw at the first glance
that the plan proposed involved the
complete dismemberment of our work
as for other reasons. entered an earn
est protest against It," For this, 1t
was said. the bishops have been charged
with ''autocratic assumption of an au-
thority which we did not possess, but
the fact Is we only insisted on obey
ance to the action of the general con-
ference"
Election of five bishops was recon-
mended in the address.
Unifcation Of Methodism, Topic.
Concerning the question of unifica-
ton Of American Methodism. the bish-
ops address declared q report would
be presented by the commission ap-
pointed at the last general conference
to confer with like commission from
the Methodist Episcopal Church