The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-16


 gregation of the Highlands Methodist church.
 While our College of Bishops is meeting in Birming gham this being their mid-year meeting" Mrs. Smith said yes- teddy, .1and their minds-are engroSsed with the gravest and most important questions concerning Methodism, at the same time we feel that some relaxation must be given them during their visit and the social entertainments arranged by the church will have a prominent place during the '-isit of our bishops.
 "In the first place, there are many, perhaps, who are not duly acquainted with the purpose of the meeting here of the College of Bishops" Mrs. Smith continued. Tt formerly obtained that these meetings were held but once dur ing the year, but Methodism has grown so tremendously and the questions have become so complex that it has been found necessary to call two meetings each year to plan and provide for these questions that arise. Hence Birming- ham has been honored by this years mid-year meeting.
 since I have been member of the board of stewards of Highlands Meth odist church." Mrs. Smith continued, "I have been, of course, more intimately and closely acquainted with the great needs of our church and of Methodists in general, than ever before, and it is my observation that one of the most neg lected features of our work has been the lack of Social intercourse among our members. We are sometimes ac- cused of being cold and naughty; of being distant and reserved, and it is not surprising that the stranger within our gates should feel that way, for often the only acquaintance we have with xubo of inf I'm a ia personal circle is just glimpse of them on Sundays al church. This is all wrong, 1t seems to me, for unless we know people and are thrown in con tact with them, it is absolutely impos- sible for us to feel that degree of in- terest and that spirit of brotherly love which should prevail in the church. In order to do this, we must stress the social life of the church.
 "Methodists are naturally sociable by nature-that is tradition,' Mrs. Smith said. land we want all of our people to know and meet the great body of bish- ops who are here in our midst working out the great problems of education, the great questions which require their attention.
 Tt was our College of Bishops which granted the privilege to women of serv- ing on the different boards in our ChuIC SHuiti IbSRGSidiy was this significant when women were permitted to be appointed as stewards in the Methodist church. I believe that Highlands Methodist church was the first and I believe also that it is the only Methodist church in this district to elect women on the board of stew ards. Our former pastor, Dr. Preston B. Wells, immediately after the Col lege of Bishops granted this privilege. proposed in Highlands Methodist church, an addition of four women |members to our board of stewards. At the first meeting after the appoin tment the chairman of the board of stewards of Highlands Methodist church was un- avoidably absent and Mrs. Cunningham Wilson presided in his place. Our meet ing was over in less than an hour. Mrs Wilson presided beautifully and the consensus of opinion was that the dis patch and accuracy with which she dis posed of the programme was an inspi- ration and an example to the men.
 50 it is easily discerned that women are not alone active in the social life of our church." Mrs. Smith said but in