The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-22
CHURCH LEADERS RESUME DEBATE
 ON UNIFICATION
Bishops Mouzon And Can dler Issue Pro And
 Con Statements <

NASHVILLE. Tenn, June 21.-The proposed unification between the Meth odist Episcopal church and the Meth odist Episcopal church, south, for ac tion upon which the general conference of the Southern church has been called into special session July ? at Chatta nooga, Tenn, fully protects the South ern church at every point, Bishop Ed win D. Mouzon of Nashville asserted here tonight.
 In discussing the status of the two negro bishops which sit with the north ern college of bishops, Bishop Mouzon says: "One of the finest things about our present plan of unification is that it completely avoids the difficult ques tion of the colored man in the church by leaving us to deal with it as we please and leaving our northern brethren effort to lug in this question by the ears is completely out of order and out of place.
 -.'It is greatly to be regretted, there fore, that certain brethren have written things which surely they could have not written if they had taken the trou- ble upon themselves to investigate"
 ATLANTA, Ga, June 21.-Declaring that the matter before the church at this time is not unification in general. but particular plan which should not be considered upon a mere impulse oi sentiment" a joint statement issued to night by Bishops Warren A. Candler Collins Denny, U.s V. w. Darlington ". N. Ainsworth and James E. Dickey of the. Methodist Episcopal church south, asserted that ....'hOwever attrac' tive may be some possible conception of unification with the northern branch i. does not follow that the pending plan would fulfill the purpose"
 "It has been constantly declared, the statement said, "that the chief ends of nnification are to remove irritating competitions prevent overlapping and duplication of work by the two churches save the needless expenditure of men and means, eliminate unseemly friction and arrest the erection of altar against altar.
 Hike A Blanket
 "But none of these desirable objects does this plan propose to accomplish on the contrary, these objectionable con ditiOns are expressly continued by it =. "It must be borne in mind that the Northern jurisdiction will be co extensive with the United States, while the Southern Jurisdiction will be re 1 Akn sA,vth and NuhnrE the Methodist Episcopal church, south now is. The Northern jurisdiction will be unlimited and will cover the South ern jurisdiction like a blanket.
 Tt is claimed by adovates of the plan that under it there will be volun tary merger of competing churches and conferences after the two churches are united under one name. What inspired the original organization of northern churches in Dallas, Houston, New Orleans. Louisville, Nashville, Atlanta Jacksonville, Miami and Tampa? II was the desire. for northern fellowship northern views and northern money tC l aid their enterprises, and the very same things that controlled in the orig inal organization will induce these es tablished congregations to maintain tho
  liar reasons will control many south ern Methodists in border territory, and where outside pressure to unite be comes consistent, many Methodists vii quietly withdraw and unite with other churches.
 ''It must be noted that the plan eff fects the repeal of the plan of sepa ration, adopted in 1S44 by an over whelming majority of the general con ference of the undivided church, anC pronounced valid and binding by thu supreme court of the United States.
 What Substitue?"
 If the plan of separation by whicl we hold all the property belonging to the church south obtained prior tt 1S44, be repealed to what substitut, for it can we look, and upon whar can we depend?
 Moreover, the plan proposes a rela tion to the negro not best for him and not possible for us. I calls for the acceptance by our peopl, of two negro bishops. wv object to this plan because it denudei the annual conferences of their powers . .. !. Our brethren have never beer willing and they ought never to be will ing. to turn over their rights and dutie to the general conference.
 There are many other dangerou and even obnoxious features in thi plan, but for the lack of space ant especially because of the precipitanc! with which the general conference wa called. these features and others mus be left to the consideration of tn, called session of the general conferenc, and the annual conferences"