Evening star., 1924-05-22
M. E.. BISHOP CHOSEN
FROM PANAMA CITY
Rev. G. 4. Miller Is Elected on
Fourth Rallot-Likely to
Go to Mexico.
DIVORCE CHANGE Is URGED
Committee Backs Plan Seen as
Liberalizing Rules.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD Mass. May 22.--
Rev George A. Miller of South Amer
lea was elected Bishop of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church by the gen
eral conference here today on the
fourth ballot.
He was born in Mendon, H., in
1868. and was graduated from Leland
Stanford University in 1898, having
been ordained a pastor in 1896. He
served as Il missionary in the Philip
pines and on the board of foreign
missions in Philadelphia. After oc-
,upying various pastorates, Dr. Miller
became secretary of the South Amer
lean area.
Resident af Panama.
For the last six months DR.. Miller
has been superintendent of the Cen
trail American mission. and his home
Is in Panama City, Panama. His wife
Is Margaret Ross Miller. formerly of
California. The couple have one
daughter. Evelyn.
Bishop-elect Miller received $40
votes, with 5al necessary for cleo
braska was second with 542. and the
Rev. George X. Grose, president OF
.l@ Pauw University. Ind, third with
494. 1t was said that Bishop-elect
Sliller would probably be sent to the
eSIdence at A.eXico CITY.
The third ballot announced this
morning failed to elect bishop. Rev.
Titus Lowe received ATS, DR.. Miller,
+65. and Rev. Ralph A. Ward of Foo
CHOW, China ass
Liberalfxes Divorce Laws.
The committee on the state of the
church took what was interpreted as
a step toward liberalization of the di-
rorce laws yesterday. 1t recommend
ed resolution forbidding ministers
TO marry the guilty parties in divorce
suits for infidelity. or any persons
mentally. morally or physically un-
fit"
Restricted by specific prohibitions
in certain cases. it was thought that
ministers would feel free TO marry
than intidelitS-now forbidden by the
church discipline.
An unusual occurrence took place
in the committee on temporal econ
omy. when bishop spoke before it
last night Bishop Francis J. McCon-
nell appeared ny invitation of the
committee to present his views on
the proposed abolition of the fedora
tion for social service. of which he
is president. The federation has been
charged with the circulation of radi-
cal propaganda in the guise OF social
service bulletins.
Radicals Are Defended.
'All the articles in the Bulletins are
initiated" Bishop Mcconnell said,
land if we found any articles that
did not square with the church of
Christ we should take action imme-
To
radical views. but We need to have
men of that kind because they have
an entry to the more radical groups
in society. That we must have in or
der to present properly to the church
the social problems on which we
seek to stimulate thought"
The resolution which occasioned
the bishops presence recommendeo
cial service be created by the gen
eral conference as its ofhcIal organ
In social affairs and responsible to
the conference for its acts 1t was
voted to send the resolution to the
committee on reference.
Time Limit far Superintendents-
The committee on the itinerancy
took an important step in recon-
mending by decisive vote the linn
iting of the present indefinite tenure
of district superintendent to six years
in one district and six years in any
consecutive twelve in one area. The
six-year law prevailed prior to 1929.
when the present law of indefinite
tenure was passed.
The different area delegations ap-
Deared before the committee on the
episcopacy. which in executive ses-
sion discussed the assirnment OF
bishops to the various ar~Gs. It is
thought that most of the five bishops
now in process Of election will be
sent to the foreign residences, where
vacancies probably will be created
by the return to this country of the
incumbents.
A special committee still is consid-
ering the church's attitude toward
war. 1t has been ordered to report
to the conference not later than Fri
day.