Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-06
LAX DIVORCE LAWS SCORED
BY THE METHODIST BISHOPS
DR., Bascom Anthony and
John N, Holder Head CON-
n1ittees - Georgia Leads
States in New Members
BY REV. HOMER THOMPSON

Of the southern Methodist church.
in their Episcopal address which was
read before the general conference
here Wednesday morning by Bishop
James Atkins, appealed to the
church to "do all in it's power to
put down this terrible divorce mania
which is becoming a menace to our
homes, country end civilization"
The bishops recommended that the
law of the church be amended SO
reason than infidelity, which shall be
established by court records, anG
then marrying another shall not be-
come or remain a member of the
church; that any minister who shall
solemnize the rites Of matrimonY
where either person has been d
vorced for any other cause than in
fidelity shall be dealt with as in
case of immortality. The address
created considerable comment among
the delegates and is regarded as one
the general conference.
Prohibition Upheld
Condemnation of lynching, the adj
vocacy Of stronger state laws to curb
it, declaration that Christian educa-
ton was secondary to Christian
character, the statement that too
much ragtime and too little sacred
music was encouraged in the home
and the upholding of the Volstead
prohibition act were points stressed
in the message of the bishops.
'"The bishops express joy in the
face of constitutional prohibition"
declared Bishop James Cannon,
chairman of the commission on tenn
perance and social service, in COM
menting on the prohibition feature Of
the Episcopal address.
''It will abide because it is based
upon the deep and solemn conVic-
tons of the majority of the Amer
lean people; it is the 'made-up mind
of the nation, that the liquor traffic,
one of the supreme curses of the
world, shall cease it's career of ruin
in the United States"
"The certain execution of the law
will greatly diminish the violation of
the law" continued the bishop. 1.-THE
bishops specifically urge that every
good citizen work to place in power
men who are friends Of prohibition
and personally assist in every proper
way in the enforcement of the law"
The next several days of the con- |
ference will be devoted to the alpha
betical call of the conferences for APP |
peals, memorials, petitions and resO- |
oh in iC.
cipline. After these matters have
been presented they will be referred
to the proper committees for report
and Recommendation.
May Remove Time Limit
Other features of the address WERE,
the recommendations that the board |
of missions be divided and board o. |
home missions be established, sep |
arate from the board of foreign mis- |
sions: that churches appoint an I'M |
employment committee which shall |
provide employment wherever pos |
sible for the enforced idle; that / |
commission be appointed for the |
continuance of negotiations looking |
toward unification with the Metho. |
dist Episcopal church in harmony |
with the basic principles already |
agreed upon by both churches; that |
three new bishops be elected, anC |
that the law which authorizes the |
bishops under certain conditions to |
continue a preacher in a pastoral |
charge for more than four years be
charged either by remOVinS the time |
limit altogether or restoring the four
year limit.
1t IS generally believed that the |
time limit will be removed altogether
during the present session, many of |
the southern and practically all the |
western delegates being avoWed adj |
vocates of the removal.
GeOrgians HOnOred
John N. Holder, one of the north |
Georgia delegates, Wednesday morn
ing was appointed chairman of the |
committee OH rules for the govern |
m1nt of the conference in it's DELHI |
erationS. This committee is cCmDris- |
ed of only seven members and is re-
garded as one Of the most important |
in the conference.
Doctor Bascom Anthony, presid- !
ing elder of the Savannah district,
has been elected chairman of the
committee on revisals, one of the
most important standing committees
of the conference.
Bishop Warren A. Gambler, of At
lanta, d member Of the commission
on unification, figured prominently
in the proceedings of Thursdays
session of the conference when he
explained in a written statement
why his name did not appear either
on the majority or the minority re-
port of the committee.
The south Georgia delegation to-
day proposed an amendment to the
discipline of the church whereby
a local preacher who has served as
a supply for fifteen consecutive
years would be given the status of
a superannuate.
According to reports made We'd
nesday, great progress has been
made by the southern Methodists
during the quadrenniUnn in every
phase of church work, Georgia lead
irG all the other states in members
received with more than 5000.
More Drives" Opposed
Resolutions proposing rest from
financial drives" were greeted by
Ions and loud applause when intro
duced Thursday.
Over 200 other resolutions affect |
Ing practically every phase of church |
government were placed before the |
body Thursday. They will be refer
red to various committees and will |
be reported to the general conven-
ton for action later.
A special committee to pass on
matters of faith and authenticity of |
the Scriptures was named Thursday. |
Another special committee, to be
composed of fifteen persons, five each
frce.1 the missionary committee, the
education committee and the super
anuuated endowment committee was
also appointed. 1t was to pass on
all resolutions affecting these. COM
mittees before any program for the
raising of funds is presented to the