The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-05-12
GREATER SCOPE ID LAY MISSIONARY
 WORK PROVIDED
Proposal to Elect Bishops for Specified Term Instead of Life Is Rejected by
 Conference
By Associated Press

Hot Springs. May 1i.-Adoption of leRi islatioIl designed to increase t c scope of the laymen's missionary movement and rejection of proposal to elect bishops for a specified term of years instead of for life, as now prevails. were outstanding features of four-hour business session here today of the nineteenth quadrennial general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
 In addition the conference sceived a report from the committee on epis- copacy regarding the election of five bishops and made the matter the special order of business for tomor- row. A suggestion by the commit tee that the election of bishops take place next Tue esday was accepted. ronrd to Have Charge
 Reorganization of iaymens mis- sionary movement work was accom- plishcd through the adoption of a report providing that activities of laymen, heretofore In charge of the executive committee Of the movement. shall be placed in the hands of the general board of lay activities, The general lay board, the report speci fled, shall be composed Of lay lead CTS elected by the annual conference and general secretaries \ the gem eral board of the church who shall be consulting members of the gen eral lay board serving without pay. The general lay board is charged with the task of promoting methods by which greater activity on the part of lay members of the church may be obtained. with an ultimi.e view of having active working forces in every church, The report, as pre- taA tas 4I,. frx, beard should elect a general secre- tary to execute it's plans. When brought to ballot 1t failed of adop- tion on a tie vote. An amendment was then adopted empowering the conference to elect the general sec retary and the report was accepted.
 Texans' Differences Aired
 Differences between the Texas and North Texas conferences over a pro- posal to transfer the town of Winns- boro from the North Texas to the Texas conference got to the floor to- day when the committee considering the matter recommended vote of ,ronconcurrence" Efforts to change the recommendation followed but the conference sustained the committee after question from Bishop U. V. W. Darlington of Huntington, w. Va. the presiding officer brought replies that church members of the town it. self had made no request for the transfer.
 Another proposal upon which the conference sustained committee recommendation of "nonconcurrence was that to elect stewards and other local church officials by the church membership, such officials are now elected by the quarterly conferenees. < Dr. q. yanagivara. fraternal dele gate from the Methe dist church of Japan, arrived today and was pre- sented 10 the conferef ,e. He will deliver his message at date to be set later by the conference. Tonight the delegates heard an address by the Rev. David G. Downey of New York, book editor of the Methodist Episeo- pal church. fraternal messenger 10 the conference for his church. and also an address by Dr. s. B. Butcher. fraternal messenger of the British Methodist church.