Evening star., 1928-05-13
BISHOP CLEARED
OF Church CHARGE
Methodist Convention Votes
to Drop Accusations
Against Prelate.
Ry The Associated Press

EAS lhn Associated Press
KANSAS CITY. May i2.-Bishop
Francis ], Mcconnell of Pittsburgh was
given a unanimous vote of confidence
by the Quadrennial General Conference
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church here
today when complaint against him of
INSTRUMENTATION and immortality
was ordered eSpunged as wholly with
out foundatI y.
Several ovat 0ns were given the bishop
following his ,ramatic floor appeal that
the conference take immediate action
in order that he might be relieved of
the embarrassment in connection with
the technical charge of immortality"
Bishop Mcconnell strongly protested
use by the Rev. George A, Cooke Of
Wilmington, Del. of the word I'M
morality" in charging him with certify
ing to incomplete reports of the VIII
mington Annual Conference in March,
1927 and in giving approval to the
teachings of evolution.
Whole Complaint Dropped.
The conference condemned the uts
terly false and mischievous use" OF the
Questionable word and ordered the
whole complaint dismissed on resolu-
tion by E. H Cherrington of Wester-
vile. Ohio. and amended by DR.. Harold
To6ays appeal was Bishop McCon-
nell's first recognition of the charges
filed a week ago. although leading
churchmen then strongly protested Mr
Cookies use of the word immortality,
because of the wrong impression 1t gave
In order that lit can never be
charged We have whitewashcd bishop
the conference ordered the episeopacy
committee TO examine the Cooke COM
plant and TO make a complete report
May Is.
Bishop Mcconnell was the first OF
four of the church's effective bishops
to be cleared of various charges brought
against them in the present conference.
Bishop Anton Bast of Copenhagen now
is on trial before an ecclesiastical court
on charges of imprudent conduct.
Complaints that they withheld Ger
tain information from the church ON
cials in America in connection with
Bishop Basis civil trial In Denmark IN
1926 on charges OF misuse OF charity
funds are on file against Bishops. Jonn
L. Nuelssn of Zurich, Switzerland, ana
Edgar Blake of Paris.
VIII Push Charges.
Rev. Andrew w. Shamel of paSa-
dena. Calf, who brought the COM
plants, has stated he would push his
charges if Bishop BaSt is convicted.
Mr.. Cooke was scored by inference
in Bishop O'Connell's appeal, when ne
said: 1T may be that can assume
that the apparent lack OF concern on
the part of the general conference ON
the complaint indicates that 1t is not
taking these charges more seriousiy
than annual conferences have oeen
taking similar charges issuing from the
same source against Methodist ofiiclaIS
during the past Is years, OUT suen as
sumption does not relieve me OF Iile
embarrassing position IN which ! nave
been placed"
The bishop asked action so that ne
could make definite replies to many
s.sincerely disturbed Methodists" VINO
were writing him from all over the
sending of a fraternai delegate to
the General Assembly Of the Preshy-
terian Church in the United States OF
America at Tulsa. Okla, May 24-5O,
was authorized today and the delegate
was instructed TO advise that assem-
biage of the Methodist conferences IN
dorsement of church umification.
Bishop Joseph F. Berry OF rnlia-
dclphia, senior bishop, was presented
large bouquet of roses today by dele
gates from the Philadelphia area IN
honor of his seventy birtnuay
tomorrow. Bishop Berry retires at the
Close Of this conference, but said To-Day
he would carry on in the Work OF
God" as the &eneral conference couio
retire him, but never end his service.
Bast Defense Begins.
Church evidence is ali in and defense
evidence is now being submitted in the
ecclesiastical trial Of Anton Bast. Metno~
dist Episcopal bishop OF Copenhagen
Denmark. il was announced mere To-
night. A. verdict vas expected within
q week
Bishop Bass Is charged with iEnpru-
dent conduct. and strives TO gain re-
tnstatenent from the suspension unocr
which he was placed at church tTl-
bunal meeting at The Hague In 1925.
IRE suspension followed conviction on
charges OF misuse Of charity funds. He
served three months IN jail.
Counsel for the church expects h
conclude its side Of the case with an
hour and half argument, 1t was said
Procedure before the court OF IL min
tgters lis similar TO a jury trial IN ciyil
court Bishop Mcconnell Is acting as
Judge.