Evening star., 1938-05-01
BISHOP CANNON
HITS UNITY VOTE
Claims Southern Methodists
Took Illegal Action in
Approving Plan.
By the Associated Press.

Approving Flan.
By the Associated Press.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, April 30
Bishop James Cannon, jr.. declared
tonight he believed Methodist unior
illegal in a dramatic anti-climax to
a church supreme court" hearing
on constitutionality of merger of the
denominations Southern and North
ern branches.
The white-haired bishop made his
declaration after the Judicial Council
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South had taken under advisement
the legality of the unification resolu-
ton passed 434 to Is by the twenty
third quadrennial conference.
Bishop Cannon was granted the
privilege Of addressing the council "as
a party to neither side of the argu-
ment"
His colleague. Bishop Collins Denny
had argued the plan of union was lille
gally executed. Another member of
the college of bishops, John NJ Moore,
had argued that passage of the unfit
cation measure was in accord with
church law
1906 Action at Issue.
I cannot lead myself to believe that
the courts would ignore the action of
1906" Bishop Cannon said. In argu-
ments for the legality of unification
the general conference action of 1906
had been attacked as violating church
rules. This was one of the principal
points at issue in the case.
The union would close a breach
made between North and South Meth
odists in 1914 by Negro slavery.
Bishop Denny. s4-year-old leader
Of the forces which fought unification
before the conference and his son,
Collins. tr. former assistant attorney
general Of Virginia. represented anti
unionists before the nine-man judicial
council, highest tribunal Of the
church.
Representing the affirmative or uni
fication group were Bishop John M
Moore of Dallas, Tex: j. T. Ellison,
Centerville, Ala. Judge Nathan New
by. Los Angeles: Judge Hugh A. Locke,
Birmingham: Dr. T. D. Ellis, Louis
vile. KY. and Judge Walter McEl-
reath. Atlanta.
Bishop Denny Opens Argument.
Bishop Denny opened argument be-
fore the council with the contention
the unification plan would change the
Southern Methodist articles of religion
and that the church constitution pro-
hibited any change in the articles
without approval Of each" annual
conference.
Council approval of the merger plan
would be the Southern churchs final
step in unification.
Withdrawals Forecast.
Widespread withdrawal of members
has been forecast by this group, with
estimates ranging to 100000
A spokesman for the laymen's or
genization said we know the Method
lists of the South are opposed to this
union and we don't intend to give up"
Previously announced plans called
for litigation in civil courts if the
Judicial Council rules against oppo-
nents of unification.
The councils decision is expected
Tuesday or Wednesday.
Regardless of the outcome of today's
hearing. physical union of the South
ern Methodists. Methodist Episcopal
Church tNorthern) and the Method
ist Protestant Church will require two
years or longer. church leaders said.
Conference to Be Called.
A uniting conference. with 400 men,
bers from the Methodist Episcopal
Church. 400 from the Methodist Epis-
copal, South, and 100 from the Meth
odist Protestant will work out details
of the merger. involving approximate
~ 100000 members.
This conference will be called by the
Colleges of Bishops of the tTo Epis-
copal churches and the president Of
the General Convention of the Meth
odist Protestant Church, probably
early next spring.
Terms of Proposal.
Under terms of the plan of union"
the church's 100000 colored members
will be segregated in central juris-
diction," embracing the various COL
ored conferences. White members will
be in five Jurisdictions, arranged geo.
graphically.
The first step toward starting the
hi of tol,
today. when the general conference
asked the College of Bishops to name
a "Unihcation" Committee OF five
Of its members to handle details of
calling the uniting convention.
Aggression Scored
The United States was called upon
to prevent use of it's resources" by
Japan in the current war on aggres-
sion" against China. in a resolution
adopted by the General Church Con-
ference.
introduced by Judge Newly, the
resolution passed with an overwhelm-
ing shout.
Miss Hsiu Ii Yui of Shanghai asked
passage because bombs the japanese
rain on us from the skies are made
in the United States"
I'VE know we have your friendship.
your prayers and your sympathy" she
said, but We need more than that,
We need cooperation in keeping war
materials from going from the United
States to Japan"
DR.. John c. Hawk, missionary from
Huchow, said 10 per cent of the ex-
ports of this Nation to Japan is made
up Of war materials"