The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-11


Action Immediately began when
Bishop Cannon ordered the report OF
The committee on memorials to the
general conference be read. This re-
port was divided into three sections
and the storm conferred over Section
1. This section was made upon the
recommendation of the Birmingham
Bessemer Preachers union, and was
to memorabilia the general confer
ence. which meets in Hot Springs,
Ark, next spring to amend the pres
emit tenure of office of all bishops in
the Methodist Episcopal church.
South, making it elective for four
year terms instead of life time and
making the office elective and retro
active.
Section
Section dealt with the church laws
governing the presiding eldership and
limited their term to four years and
prohibited the appointment of any
man to the presiding eldership un-
less hire has served the church four
years in some other capacity.
Section 3 dealt With the eIimina-
ton of all drives" during the next
four years.
When the committee memorials
to the general conference held com
mittea meeting the afternoon of the
first day OF the conference, Wednes-
day, the vote cast was s to on the
first section and the passing of the
memorial yesterday was upon the ac-
ton of the minority's report on Sec
ton /.
Opened Discussion
After rag Of he
lions Bishop Cannon opened the dis
cussion an daliowed each sneaker the
limit of five minutes. DR.. ]. S. Chad
wick of Nashville, Tenn, was the
first to gain the floor and proved to
be staunch supporter of the first
section OF the memorial. He was fol-
lowed by r. NJ. Archibald of Albeit
Vile, who was also favorabiy i'm
pressed with the minority's report.
The first opposition was met when
Rev. w. B. Scott of the Jasper dis
trict made stand against the pro-
posed memorial. In his talk Mr..
Scott made the accusation that the
proposed memorial was drawn for
political purposes and that many who
backed 1t did so with the idea of get
ting chance to enter the bishopry.
He closed by urging the conference
to defeat the memorial.
Mr.. Scott was answered very quick
ly and heatedIy by Rev. r. S. Walls
ton of Tuscumbia, who stated that
with the present tenure OF office
many men had entered the bishopry
who were in capable and that these
men could not be dislodged under
the present tenure
Speaker Rebuked
~
supported the memorial. In his taik
he warmed up and was openly re-
ouked by Bishop Cannon for using
the word lied in his speech. Mr..
Walker stated that all the officers
except the bishops in the Methodist
church were subject to be voted upon
and were for a stipulated number OF
years, SO In his reasoning he saw no
reason why the bishops should not be
subject to the same laws and rules.
REV. l.. q. Sturdivant of Albany fol
lowed and outlined the struggle or
the Methodist church to free itself
from Tue grasp of the English Epis-
copai church and stated that the pres-
ent life tenure OF office for bishon,
was un-democratic and un-American
Dr. j. I. Self of Leighton upheld
the present tenure and cited tbe
progress of southern Methodism ha .
MADE IN recent years and stated that
ne ala not see any change necessary.
Rev. B. T. waites of Birmingham
ana hev. j. A. Duncan of Tusca ioosa
were both opposed to the life tenure.
Dr' Waites stated that the board
when creates bishops is not in
Ia plDie ana is apt to make mistakes.
"stnnd by the Ship
Ut. J. 5. Chadwick, who was the
lirst speaker and who upheld the new
movement, was criticised by ]. IL.
Wais,on OF Birmingham. who plead
tn ehe conference to stand by the
snip. We have the best system IN
the world. and let's all stand behind
the ship" he said.
Prof II. C. Howard of Emorv
Versity favored the proposed actin,
anu a local preacher, Rev. w. n No,
Nuu, opposed the new movement
equally as strong as Professor HOW
ard supported it. ~"
IN reply to repeated demands from
all points of the church for a0r
Stuart' Or. George r. Stuart mas.
Tor OF the First Methodist church. wa
called upon by Bishop Cannon tn
SPEAK upon the question. DR.. Stuart
oiereo strong arguments in favor IT
Not Politicians.
We are not politicians. but cbrjs-
tan gentlemen said DR.. stuart
When bishops are elected for four-
year terms II brings out the bast
mat there is in them during the time
Justice demands that the most eff
cient serve and they should be regu-
lated to term of office Just ira
same as the other officials Of IN
church. Why should eight or ten
men be picked from the rest ana
serve from senility through old age ~
Dr. stuart concluded by saying: so
help me God. l do not aspire for the
bishopric-and wouldn't accent it,
SUCH
After Rev. A. NJ. Freeman had made
speech opposing the memorial. and
after speeches had been made in IA :
vor of the memorial by Rev. j. 4.
Robertson of Florence district ana
Rev. J. {. Persinger of Ensley, Bishop
Cannon called for the ayes and NAYS.
Votes sounded equally strong. So 4
rising vote was taken, resulting In
the memorial passing by a vote OF
ISL against 142.
Section 8. which asked that no
driver be undertaken withiA the
next four years. was considerably
discussed, but no action was taken
against 1t.
Eleven Ordained.
After the opening devotional serv-
ices IL men Of the ordination class
we're ordained itinerant preachers.
They were ordained by Bishop James
Cannon, who is presiding over the
conference. who delivered short adj
dress on The Itinerant Preacher" In
speaking to the newly ordained min
listers Bishop Cannon told them what
was expected of them and what man