The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-18
ARTICLE II

colored membership of the various Meth odist bodies be formed into an independ- ent organization, holding fraternal reIa- tions with the reorganized and united Church" Journal, 191S pages, ly7, 4l9), yet that our commission by d large majority had transmitted plan for consideration and decision which accepted in full the position of the NJ. E. Church, giving the colored membership proportional rep resentation in the general conference anl the legal right to membership in the white church conferences.
 In this article it will ie shown that one general conference of the NJ. k. Church recommended that the general confer ence be made the supreme legislative, ex- ecutive and judicial body of the church under constitutional provisions and re- strictions Journal, General Confer ence, NJ. k. Church, South, 1918, page 420), and that our commission also yielded to this essential point.
 WHY A RESTRICTED GENERAL
 CONFERENCE WAS ORGANIZED
 The law under which the general con- ference of 1908 assembled was as follows: The general conference shall be com posed of all the preachers who shall have travelled four years from the time that they were received on trial by an annual conference, and the constitution of the the time of holding the conference. Discipline, 1905, page 15.) Only those preachers attended who could be spared from their work for the time necessary to make the journey. General conferences prior to 1872 had supreme. uncontrolled, unrestricted power to make any changes they thought best in the doctrine or gov ernment of the church. The general con- ference of 1908, possessing this supreme power, provided for delesa ed general fa, ina nd a The fountain of power was in the preach CTS who were members of the annual conferences, an dthe constitution of the church protected the preachers from any act by the general conference in contra vention of the constitution.
 This check on the general conference was necessary, because, to quote the words of one of the greatest and most influential men in the church, himself member of the general, conference of lSR' and of the others through 1S44 and oe- yond: Each general conference felt it- self at full liberty, not being prohibited by any standing laws, to make whatever alterations it might see fit, or to intro duce any new doctrine or item in the discipline which either fancy, inclination, discretion. or indiscreiton might dictate. Under this state of things. knowing the rage of men for novelty, and witnessing the destructive changes which have re quently laid waste churches by removing ancient landmarks and so modifying doc. trines and usages as to suit the temper or the times or to gratify either corrupt taste or a perverse disposition, many had felt uneasy apprehensions for the safety and unity of the church and the stability of it's doctrines, moral dlsclplife, and the frame of it's government; anu none were more solicitous upon this SUD feet than Bishop Asbury, who had iaporeo so long with an assiduity edualed ny rev, if indeed any, and suffered so much TOT the propagation and establishing of these i,,,nortant points. He therefore greatly desired, before he should be called hence to see them fixed upon a permanent foun- dation., {See Bangs History M F. Church :, Vol. II. pages 2SS. 2S4)
 The human nature of 1868 and prior IS the human nature of 1920 and supsequenl. Men continue to act from lahcy, | in ., clination, discretion, or indlscretiol'. { There continues to be rage for noNel's: It is not within the purpose or power oI the writer to determine the motives 'ii.' : led these able and respected brethren to transmit this plan of unification He IS convinced that they believed they were doing for Methodsm 'the best they couid do under the circumstances. For nm self he believes the plan contains oe- structiye changes; he believes IL may ..lav waste the church in the south. By those who know the church the reInovai of ancient landmarks" is too plain 10 pc overlooked 'The temper of the umes may he. indeed is alleged to be, in favor of these radical changes III the s.., ossi,., ment of the church we have known ana loved and to which with g.adness we rave our lives; but these changes are proposed against all the wisdom and ex- perience of those who by God S help maoe the church and left it to us.
 POSSIBLE OVERTHROW
 OF METHODIST DOCTRINE
 The plan even proposes to make IL pos sible for the general conferences, Wiln' out consulting the annual conferences to change the doctrines of the cnurch' doctrines distinctive of Methodlsm, ooc- trines whose proclamation brought de- nunciation. abuse and calumny on our fathers. vet drew the multitudes into the church; doctrines which by the favor of God and through His power, nnolns the sinner weighed down with appre- hended woe and under the low, black rooi of the dreaded wrath of God, repiacsu that roof with the vault of the nisnee' heaven and filled his soul with the peace that passeth understanding. Such s'A.e, ment den ands inexpungable proof aiiu such proof will he given.
 THE PROOF
 While this proposed constitution pro hibits the general conference from aiter- ing the Articles of Religion or estapiisii- ing any new standards or rules oi ooe Urine contrary to our present existiiis anu esta ablished standards of doctrine, u is universally known and admitted that .ne articles contain some of the ooc.rii7. doctrines distinctive of Methodism. Tnose Articles contain some of the doctrines common to all branches of Protestanusni
 f-alvanist. Arminian. Lutheran, ana Huguenot Some of them belong lo 1Hris- tianity in it's widest meaning.
 The standards of doctrine, in woros pro tected by this constitution, have never been authoritatively deflned; ana the joint commission though asked to define them so that the church could take au- thoritative action declined to do more than to leave them as a phrase without content. At the same time that commls- sion. in this constituption. gives to the general conference, without action by the annual conference, authority alter and change the rituai oi ens church. Our commission by direct vote refused to insert before rltuaf the words .'non-doctrinal parts.
 Without a dissenting vote. our college of bishops reported to the general confer ence of 1914 that Ritual is doctrine. and tbis has been the view from the earliest ages of the church. The Nicene Creed vas built around the form used by the Church of Caesarea. The latter form (the ritual for the administration of the Lords Supper) sets forth confes- sion of sin. which sin provokes God s wrath and indignation, of the cry for forgiveness and the promise that on hearty repentance and true faith it will be granted. of the one atonement as the full uerfect. and sufficient sacrifice, obla-