Evening star., 1924-07-04
METHODIST UNITY
BACKING IS SEEN
Southern Conference Expect.
ed to Act FavorabIy on
Plan Today.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, July A.
Many delegates to the special Gener-
al Conference of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church South believed today
that before nightfall the conference
would have adopted the plan for uni
fication of the southern church with
the Methodist Episcopal Church and
would have ordered its action sub
mitted to the annual conferences for
ratification. The unification plan,
with recommendation that ii be
adopted, was submitted to the con-
ference yesterday after the defeat of
resolution proposing a substitute
general conference next May on the
ground that doubt as to the legality
of the present gathering had arisen.
Bishop j. NJ. Moore of Dallas, who
called the conference to order, de-
clared today was an important one in
the calendar of the country and sug-
stand and sing America" After the
conclusion of the song, Bishop Moore
relinquished the chair to Bishop w.
F. McMurry of Louisville, Ky.
The submission of the unification
plan in the form of report by the
ma jority of the commissioners of the
southern church, who, with similar
commission of the northern branch,
devised it, was followed by minor
ity report presented by Bishop Collins
Denny of Richmond, Va. Bishop
Denny, Judge ]. NJ. Rogers of Savan-
nah, Ga, and Rev. DR.. ]. T. Leggett,
three Of the southern commissioners,
declined to approve the unlncation
plan proposed and in the minority
report outlined their reasons for so
action.
bishops Report Under Fire.
by Bishop Denny and required several
hours-to read. Delegates opposed TO
the particular plan of union offered
declared it one of the most masterful
state papers they had ever heard,
while spokesmen for the unification
it when it was moved that 1T be
adopted as a substitute for the ma
jority report, claimed that II Appealed
to every known prejudice against
union of the two churches. Under
the rules of the church bishops have
no voice in the conferences unless
majority of the delegates vote to eX-
tend them an invitation. Such an in
vitation has not been extended at
this conference and it was learned
gentlemen's agreement not to. speak.
DR.. George R. Stuart of Birmingham.
who attacked the minority report in
scathing terms, characterized 1t as
prepared speech, camoufaged and
delivered in the form of report.
The report reviewed Methodist Church
history from the time the church was
organized, in 1884 to the present
day; told of various attempts at
union after the rupture of 1884 and
went deeply into technicalities.
Negro Issue Raised.
The report, it was disclosed as
Bishop Denny drew near the conclu-
sion, discussed at length the present
status of the negro in the northern
church and his future status if the
unification plan were accepted by the
southern church. The report main
tanned they would be on an equal
footing with white members in the
United Church.
Resumption of debate on the mo-
ton to adopt the minority as a sub
stitute for the majority report was
in order when the conference con-
vened this forenoon. Scores of dele
gates declared the motion would be
defeated and. in that event. debate
on acceptance of the unification plan
would follow.
While the delegates were preparing
for hours of argument, there were
many who believed the entire ques-
ton would be disposed of today and
that they would be on their way