Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-05
BISHOP GAMBLER
SEES TROUBLE: IN
MITIGATION PLAN

UIvIFIUAllOIV PLAlV
MACON, Ga, June Bishop
Warren Aiken Gambler, of Atlanta,
senior bishop Of the southern Meth
odist church, made plea here Sun
day afternoon for a close walk with
God rather than "a big organization
that forgets its Cod"
Bishop Gambler preached at the
morning service at Mulberry Street
Methodist church, and in the aft
ernoon talked on unificattion at the
same church.
He said the present proposed plans
for unification of the Methodist
Episcopal church, south, and the
Methodist Episcopal church, would
bring about more irritation and
trouble than ever before He made
no reference to an article printed
Fere Sunday over the signature of
Bishop Edwin d. Mouzon, in which
Bishop Gamblers attitude against
unification was attacked.
Division of the Methodist denomi-
nation, Bishop Gambler said, has
been responsible for its growth
throughout the world. He declared
that the southern Methodist church
had had larger percentage of in
crease in growth than any other
protestant denomination or branch.
mot by merger will we grow" he
said but by respecting national
lines and racial prejudices and not
by holding unsympathetic and dis
cordant people together"
Bishop Gambler declared that the
plan which is to be considered be
fore d special general conference in
Chattanooga, Tenn, July 2, has so
many holes in it, Ill have to use it
for sitter"
Charges Bad Faith
"This plan doesn't take out over
tapping and duplication" he de-
clared, but it legalizes and says the
IlO1 IIlSIh CuDlCu CdIl lIlNdu6 lilS
south like it has been doing con-
trary to the articles of separation
in 1874"
Frequently he referred to por-
tons of church history, and there
was occasional apparently restrained
applause. He pointed to a civil suit
against the northern church in
1S4S-four years after separation
when he said it became pecessary
for the southern church to go into
the courts to force the payment of
$4,000 and fulfillment of an agree
ment by the northern church.
Il can see no objection to any
body having this question discussed"
the bishop remarked in beginning
his address. II am opposed to call
ing a special general conference,
and I have the facts
Discussing the question Of over
tapping, Bishop Gambler pointed to
what he termed renewed energy"
on the part of Northern Methodists
TO strengthen their work in the south
through encouragem of the pro
posed plan. Specific instances were
given, and he particularly referred
to two Florida cities, Miami and
Tampa.
AS an instance of what he termed
neglect by the northern church Of
its own field, Bishop Gambler said
t. t in New York City the Meth
Ol.st church, total ,erShiD is
20, 900. In Atlanta. he said, there
are thirty Southern Methodist
churches with a total membership
of 10000. He objected to the pres
ence of a Northern Methodist church
in Atlanta. and expressed the Opin
ion that the 100000 invested there
could better have been spent in New
York with its 100000 population
than in Atlanta with 100000 people.
Foreign Work Separate
"In the United States alone does
the Northern church invade our ter
ritory,'" he declared, land we do not
! overlap in a single foreign field"
Article TX, relating to the judicial
council of the united church, re-
ceived particular attention from the
bishop, when he remarked after
reading section III of the article
| the judicial council shall also have
| power to arrest an action of a con-
nectional board or other correctional
| body when such action is brought
| before it by appeal by one-fifth of
! the members of said body present
and voting or by a majority of the
| biShOpS-"I don't want our mission
| board handled in any such way" he
| added.
The northern church is troubled
with megalomania, Bishop Gambler
charged. But" he said. "our Mas
ter is not concerned about bigness.
Discussing the powers of the gen
eral conference, Bishop Gambler paid
| particular attention to the rights of
the negro bishops and the negro dele
gates, referring to situations that
| might arise with negro bishops and
delegates. He replied to arguments
| that have been presented about the
negro bishops by declaring that it
! is not fair or upright to tell the
negro bishops that they are bishops
of the whole church, and confine
them to negro work. They would
have the same rights and authority
as that of any other bishops in the
church, he said.
Prejudice exists in the rural dis
tricts the bishop declared and uni
fication of the two churches is sure
to bring distress over the negro
question.
We are not one in spirit" he point
ed out, referring to the two branch
es. land we have grown further and
further apart since separation" He
referred to discussion of political
! questions in the northern general
conference, and its Introduction of a
resolution indorsing the Dyer anti
lynching bill.
MUTT AND JEFF