The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-04
CONFERENCE GETS
 DOWN ID BUSINESS. AT HOT SPRINGS
Addresses of Welcome Are Responded to By Dr. George R. Stuart of
 Birmingham
Rr Associated Pres.

Hot Springs. Ark, May S.-Th~ nineteenth quadriennial session of the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. south. was launched here today with formal organization and the address from the college of bishops making recommendations to the conference and with review of the past four years.
 Mayor Harry A. Jones, in behalf of Hot Springs National park; Gov ernor T. c. McRae. on behalf of the state of Arkansas. and Rev. Alonzo Monk, for Arkansas Methodism. ex- tended hearty greetings and cordial welcome to the conference, which was replied to by Rev. George R. Stewart of the First Methodist church of Birmingham. on behalf of the con ference
 The Episcopal address read at the opening session was an utterance which laid before the church the at titude and recommendation of its general superntendents. The ad- dress was prepared and read by Bishop James Atkins of Nashville, Tenn, and is the official pronounce ment of all the prelates of the church.
 Drastic Divorce Recon ndatIon
 The most drastic mendation of the report was on the subject of divorce. The law of the church has for 30 years prohibited ministers from performing matrimoni;, cer.- monies except in the case of innocent persons divorced for the one scrip tural cause. No penalty was attached to it's violation. however, and there was no method of determining what 
 said
 The address declared the bishops have not been satisfied with res olution passed by the last general conference providing tha each bishop should remain in the same district for four years if practieable This. It declared, was not to he liking of the superintendents when 1t was en- actec and their opposition to it was revived by the Episcopal address.
 The bishops reported that they were also dissatisfied with the opera tion of the provision by which they are allowed in certain cases to per- init preacher to remain in charge for more than four years. The time limit was removed at the last ses- sion of the general conference. The bishops now report th.t they have
 
 found that in the main it work ed embarrassment to all concerned.
 Satisfied With System
 The bishops do not view with ap- probation the progress of the senti- ment which seeks to make the church more democratic institution and they declared in the address their be- lief that this talk does not come primarily from our own people but that il is of alien origin.,' They expressed the conviction that Meth odists are overwhelmingly satisfied with the present system of govern ment and that the church is even now as democratic as the United States government.
 This year six leading annual con- ferences of the church have sent to the conference memorial demanding that the life tenure of bishops in of- flee be abolished and that they be elected for a four-year term as all other connectional officers are elected. A large number Of laymen In various sections of the country have organized movement for re- vision and have sent literature to each delegate in support of abolish ing the life tenure.