The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-06-24

leave the care of any part OF the Unit
ed States to the ministry OF Southern
| Methodism. Northern and Southern
Baptists strictly observe their dividing
| line. There have been multiplied mil
lions of missionary money spent III
irving to establish Northern Method
ism in the south and much OF 1t Ill
cities and sections where Methodlsm
(our church, was already as dominant
and effective as anywhere in the world.
| cannot favor a plan Of union that
iustihes this sort OF occupation OF ter
ritory that ought to be under the un-
disputed administration OF the South
ern Methodist church or OF the south
ern jurisdiction OF the united church.
The southern church has not lnvad-
ed northern territory, or attempted
any missionary propaganda IN the
heart of the northern church. Both
churches have pushed their way into
the widening west, which was not oc-
cupied by either at the time OF separa-
ton. and was not involved in any OF
the agreements of that day. The two
churches are in competition at many
points in the west, creating problems
that need solution, and which this plan
might solve, but they are wholly UNI
like the problems of the south. The
problem of competition in the mission
fields is nowhere serious and unitca-
ton will not vitality affect them, since
already territory and responsibility
have been divided between us,
3. The General Conference of the
United Church is an anomaly among
deliberative bodies. 1t is to be COM
posed of the delegates to the two jul
risdictional conferences which will
meet at the same time and place, and
will come together at stated times to
make a General Conference. 1t is ex-
pressly provided that every vote in
the General Conference shall be by
Jurisdictions and shall require the &C
cepted majority vote of each jurisdic-
ton to be effective" That is to say
the General Conference cannot pass
anything, not even a motion to ad-
iourn, without a majority from both
sides. Either side can defeat anything
the other desires to do for fifty years
or forever. No; this will not be, for
nobody expects this to last. This pro-
vision is made much OF as a gracious
concession to our minority, but it ties
both bodies and as Bishop Nicely OF
the northern church aptly says in
that strangle-hold relation the two
bodies are to fight out their desires
and demands with the probability OF
repeating the experiences OF the his
toric Kilkenny Cats" The delegates
on the two sides will be about in the
proportion of 800 to 400. Nobody ex-
poets these 800, supported by 100 from
the other side, to submit long to the
dictation of 201 1t is unreasonable
that they should When the break in
this provision comes where will our
church be? 1t is not right to either
side to bind these two great churches
like two men tied together with
rope around their throats so that in
their struggles they are likely to choke
each other" There is absolutely no
provision in the plan for getting apart
| if the experiment should not work. 1t
: can scarcely be doubted that the large
northern majority, supported by a
sympathetic minority on the southern
side, will constantly press, like the
weight of an avalanche, upon the
southern jurisdiction, until it will be
overcome At least this condition will
create a psychology that will make it
easy to get their programmes done.
4. The plan admits negroes into
various councils OF the church in a