Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-12
GENERAL CONFERENCE
REFUSES TO CHANGE,
BISHOPS OFFICE TERM

''"htnh"h from FIRST facc.)
that 10 elect stewards and other
local church officials by the church
membership. Such officials are now
elected by tho quarterly conferences
I'r. q. fanagIvara. fratcrnal dele
gate from the Methodist Church OF
Japan. arrived today aud was pre-
s"H'ed 10 the conference lie Viii a..
liver his message at date to be
set later by the conference
Urges Rcuninn Of Church.
'rh" conviction OF III. Methods,
Epi scopal Church that it and IA.
Methodist Episcopal church. south
should be reunited was announce
by Rev David e. Downey. Of New
York city, book editor of the VI. f.
Church representing tn" $500. uoc
members ~ his denomination tonight
at the General Conference. of the
Methodist Episcopal church South
IN session here. y commission has
been authorized and instructed 70
act with the commission from the
Methodist Episcopal church. south
to work out plans FOR unitication
DR.. Downey announced.
In his annual address. pr. powney
VII" is the frat.rnal del.gal. of th.
Methods, Episcopal church To the
Southern conference. discussed pro,
hihition. social and industrial gues,
tons and unificaticn.
An "t ncnnsri"us Compliments
No greater compliment has eyer
been paid TO Mcthodisr than tn.
unconscious compliment Of thos.
VINO snccrincly say that tn. eight.
zenith amcndmen, is Mcthodistic.'
a Al In a.,i,
prohibition. That shows tina,
Methodism has not spcn, all its time
in hymn singing and in retrospective
testimonies. 1t makes ii clear tina;
Methodism has linked up with 4
righteous God who has a passion for
righteous ends.
Methodism saw the waste. the
devastation and the death wrough,
by Intoxicating liquors and in com
mon with other mcdiatinG agencies
Of God ii threw itself whole heart
cdly into the fight for dry America
and won. We share Your just pride
that in that great battle the Method
ist Episcopal Church. south. under
the superb leadership OF your Bishop
Cannon. held the right of the line
and forced the lighting.
Dcncs I.nwbrrakrrs.
ma those VINO are seeking To
overthrow the law by circumv"utinG
It, by making 1t ridiculous, hy dis
ODE wing it, by maliCiOusly and men
daciously discrcditing 1t might just
as well understand that back of the
eighteenth amendment Their" is a
body Of Methods; sentiment - sen
tim"n; representing tn" ideals Of
millions of Meth"diSts who viii not
brook any infraction or infringement
of the law Mcthodistic' Yes. thank
God IL y. hut ii il much more than
hiatt l. nothing less than the lif"
Of God going forth in the service az
1t is God in touch with
human life. aud Meth"dism rej"iccs
that in the day OF opportunity II was
2bie to come to tn: help If the Lord
to the help Of the Lord against the
mighty"
Intense Desire for Union.
The position OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church on the unification
Of tho two branches Of Methodism.
was stated by Dr. Downey as fol-
lows: "lt is not ntting that ] should
argue the question: OF unificaiinn. hut
this much Is htiing. and MY church
would hold me rccrcant did | not
speak this word of Interpretation.
ferenc. at Dcs Moincs was an ac-
ton taken in the interest 81 unifca-
ton and with an intense desire there
fore: a unification that Will bring us
together on basis OF equality. with
every right and interest OF all
minorities amply protected and
II IL word from the
heart uttered in all sincerity by men
of good will To men Of good will.
IAN action that looks expectan'ly.
eagerly, longingly. for the speedy
coming OF the day when the total
impact Of a united and closely knit
conncctiOnal Methodism shall once
again he against everything hostile
to the best in national and tnterna
tional lie. and for everything every
where that makes for tn" swift com
ing Of tho Kingdom Of Truth and
righteousness.
so far as the Methodist Episcopal
Church is concerned nothing Is
closed. everything Is open. The
present plaT any other plan--pre'