Evening star., 1934-05-01
METHODIST UNION
URGED AT SESSION
End of 90-Year Schism in
Church Recommended
by Commission.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
JACKSON, Miss, May IAN end
to the 90-year-old schism in the
Methodist Church was urged today in
the General Conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal Church South.
A commission report recommended
that the reunion of American Meth
odsm be made a theme for major
consideration in the sesquicentennial
celebration at Christmas, 1884, with
the reunion as soon thereafter as pos
sible."
Delegates shouted and applauded
yesterday at the suggestion that the
Northern and Southern branches of
the church, split since 1874, be re-
united.
Renews Fight on Liquor.
Bishop James M. Cannon, jr.. who
Washington of charges of conspiracy
to violate the corrupt practices act in
connection with the expenditure OF
political funds, plunged anew into his
fight against liquor.
The churchs Board of Temperance,
of which he is chairman demanded
the return of prohibition. The bishop
was given a rousing cheer today
when he personally presented the re-
port.
There was no outward demonStra-
ton as Bishop Cannon appeared on
the platform with the other bishops
at yesterdays session, but at its con-
clusion his friends surrounded him
and congratulated him on his exon
Grafton.
When the bishop came in and took
his seat on the stage, the debate on
unification continued and the faintest
of whispers swept through the con-
gregation of hundreds of delegates
and visitors who have keenly watched
the progress of reported movement
among delegate groups to retire Bishop
Cannon at this conference.
Defeated Several Years Ago.
Unifcation with the Methodist
Episcopal Church was defeated several
years ago by vote of the annual con-
ferences. But the present effort
brought forth by the Commission on
Interdenominational Relations seeks
to evolve a union which would unite
the branches of American Methodism
by preserving a distinction between
racial and national development"
recognized as one of the principal
reservations of Southern conferences.
The commission, authorized four
years ago at the Dallas general con-
ference, is to continue its efforts to-
ward seeking common ground for
federation among the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, the Methodist Protest.
ant Church and the Methodist Epis-
copal Church South.
1t was authorized to make over
lures to the African Methodist Epis-
copal Church, the African Methodist
Episcopal Zion Church and the COL
ored Methodist Episcopal Church, for
the appointment of commissions for
such interchange of territory or CO.
operation "as may properly care for
and protect racial and national dis
tinctions and development, believing.
as we do, that it is difficult, If not
practically impossible to unite the
Methodist bodies without taking into
account questions of race and ma
tionality"
Authorize Celebration.
The church authorized the holding
of sesquicentennial celebration on
the founding of American methodism
at Baltimore, scene of the founding,
next October 10-14.
Bishop Hiram Boaz of Houston,
Tex, yesterday was exonerated by
the Episcopacy Committee of admin
istrative complaints filed by Texas
pastors, it was authoritively learned
last night.
The Episcopacy Committee is ex-
pected to make a formal report to
the conference within the next few
days.
Committeeman said the complaints
were not of a serious nature.