The Washington times., 1920-05-04

proposed plan OF union OF the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church with the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South, VIII
have great difficulty in getting the
approval OF the Methodist Episcopal
General Conference, In session here
An effort was made yesterday TO have
IL brought Immediately before the
conference for action, which would
have meant it's defeat, II ia firmly be-
lieved by large body Of the dele
gates.
When the report OF the Commission
of IJnification was submitted IL was
accompanied by q resolution that IL
| be acted on first by a special COM
mite composed OF five bishops, two
ministers and two laymen from each
Episcopal area: two delegates from
East Asia, four from South ASIA four
from Europe and four from Latin
America. For the washington area
the members will be the Rev. Dr. ,.
q Nicholson. of Baltimore: the Rev.
Emory M. Stevenson, OF Central Penn
sylyania; Judge Henry c. Conrad, OF
wilmington, and Charles 7. Ford (coi-
| ored), of Washington. The Rev. Dr.
John r. Edwards was elected chair-
man of area delegation for the term
! of the conference and the Rev. Henry
g. Budd, of Wilmington, secretary.
DIR. John +. Goucher. of Baltimore,
first made the definite proposal OF
| federation twenty-six years ago at
the Southern Methodist General Con-
ference in Memphis. Tenn. He is on
the Commission of Unification ana
with Bishop Earl Cranston,. Is among
the leaders OF the fight for union. The
| foreign delegates Influence and the
| had light in which adverse action
would place the Methodist Episcopal
Church before the world might save
| the day, but many wise forecasters
| believe that union will be defeated.
Among those who saved the day Yes
| terday was w. II. Van Benschaten'
of New York. who defended Theodore
Roosevelt in the Barnes libel suit few
years ago.
Negro Bishop Question.
Before the conference could get its
breath. the negro bishop question
bobbed up, william W. Lucas tcolor-
ed), of Mississippi, bringing II for-
ward with a resolution demanding
recognition for the 100000 negro
members OF the church, and the
eighty negro delegates.
He said that 1t lay with the CONFER
ence whether the negroes stayed IN
or got out-only the negro members
wanted the CHdnCe 10 ~ ""iN
alone before being put out.
"I do not object to being among
nv own people," Lucas said, but | OBJ
iect to your having the authority TO
assign me there. Today two big col
Ored Methodisms are meeting AT
Knoxville and Memphis. They are
con sidering the matter OF combining
and may yet teach you how to unite.
Civilization demands that you great
Northern and Southern Methodisms
unite, but we want you to make some
provision now to look after us or let
us look after ourselves
League of Nations Endorsement.
His statement was greeted with
cheers. but his resolution went TO the
committee on episcopacy. which was
given permission to hold all its meet
ings in executive session. This com
mitten recommends the number OF
new bishops to be elected. the new
episcopal areas to be created, and the
assignment OF bishops to these areas.
All the conferences of the Washing
ton area have requested the return
of Bishop w. l.. Mcdowell
In spite Of the outright declaration
for the League of Nations in the
bishops address and the undoubted
conference. tho question was muddled
in an effort to notify President Will
son and the Senate Immediately OF
this declaration.
Francis NJ. Larkin, OF San Francisco,
| in speaking for immediate action.
said: There is a Presidential candi-
date from my state who prides him
self in saying that he is little
selfish American. I think II vital To
let him know where Methodists and
all true Americans stand on this'Ques-
ton"
Every one knew he meant Senator
Hiram johnson.
But the matter was referred TO the
committee on the state OF the church
in order that a specific request might
be made to President Wilson to re.
submit the question at once to the
Senate