Evening star., 1924-05-15
Text of Resolution.


The resolution as adopted read:
The general conference instructs
the committee on episcopacy that in
assigning bishops to residences the
committee shall have in mind the
principle of a maximum of continuous
tenure of eight years in any given
residence"
The episcopacy committee has
found that too long-continued occu-
patton of a residence does not make
Tor the most fruitful service by the
bishop or for the fullest development
of the area said DR.. ID. G. Downey.
chairman of the committee. The
change suggested will make for
greater enthusiasm and efficiency.
A clause in the resolution making
the eight-year principle subject TO
Exceptional circumstances" was eliml-
mated on the motion of Ray Allen Of
the Genesee, \. Y, delegation.
More Frequent Changes.
The conference approved the epis-
copacy committees non-concurrence
in memorials for the diScontinuance
of the area system, for the election
of provisional bishops and for re-
Stunning the practice of electing mis-
Sionary bishops. The cOmmittee'S S
recommendation for more frequent
changes in the presidential super
vision of annual conferences by the
bishops was approved.
The resolution affects only the
coming quadrennium, but a memorial
for making the principle permanent
is under consideration by the epiSco-
pacy committee. Among the bishops
who may be affected by the ruling
are Bishops Joseph +. Berry of Phil
adelphia. Theodore ;. Henderson of
Detroit. Luther B. Wilson of New
York Edwin H. Hughes of Maiden and
William +. Mcdowell of Washington.
p.s,lN-
Hughes and Wilson have been filed by
delegates from their respective areas.
Attitude on War.
The attitude of the Methodist
Church toward war is consider ed
the most important Of any now to
be decided. minority report of the
committee, proposing that the church
go on record as supporting wars in
se1f-defenSe or in deienSe of human
ity, will be presented with majority
report, and a sharp division of senti-
ment is certain to be revealed.
Until the committee on the Episco-
pacy has reported on the number of
Episcopal residences to be admin
istered during the next quadrenniun,
the matter of elections will be at d
standstill. powerful group has
been fighting in the committee to
have no new bishops elected
The committee on the state of the
church still has under consideration
the question of eliminating the amuse-
ment ban from the Methodist dis
cipGne. and a report to the confer
ence is expected shortly.
The final committee vote on the
war resolution came after three hours
of debate yesterday, which began at
the previous meeting last Monday.
Men whose sons had fought in the
war exclaimed with ca ger gestures
that the church ought not to refuse
support to the government, and that
the resolution. if passed by the gem
oral conference. would make the
church laughing stock. Other dele
gates professed themselves pacifsts
and declared that the resolution was
not strong enough.
There is no such thing as a de-
fensive war" said +. Stanley Jones, a
missionary from north India. Il sug-
eest that we add a declaration that
the church will not only separate
itself from war. but that we will en-
deavor to get others to join us. That
may be treason. Well, let's take the
words of Patrick Henry and say. IF
that is treason, make the most Of it ."
My sons fought in the war, I am
proud to say" said the Rev. Orien
w. Fifer of indianapolis. who pro-
posed the defensive war amendment
They came back blessing the church
that prayed for them. | see nothing
which necessitates separating the
cross of Christ from the flag OF my
country"
Opposing the F'ifer amendment. the
Rev. Albert f. Day of Canton, Ohio
who said he was Il chaplain in the
world war, said in support OF nom
resistance:
Would Refuse to Fight.
'Tf the French soldiers had refused
TO fire upon the Germans when they
crossed the border into France. the
German soldiers would have refused
10 fight. They would have said to
their commanders, You said the
French were attacking us. Lead us
back home again.
The delegates laughed at this, and
later speaker declared that the
kaiser in that case would have walk
ed to Paris on the necks of the
F'renchmen."
The Rev. Ralph W. Sockman of New