Henderson daily dispatch., 1939-05-11
John L. Neulson, of Geneva, Switzer-

John L. Neulson, of Geneva, Switzer-
land
In closing business sessions yester-
day the conference adopted a peace
resolution recognizing 'hOnest differ
ence of opinion" ron peace measures
and defeated by the closest vote of
any session proposal to grant WOm-
en- full clergy rights.
An echo of the unsuccessful fight
led by Alf M. Landon Tuesday night
to send back to committee a clause
of the church social creed supporting
members who are conscientious OBJ
jectors" to war was seen by some del
egates in one section of the peace
resolution. 1t read:
'There exists an honest difference
of opinion in regard to the particu-
lar form which the conviction of that
(MethodisD church in this. crucial
(peace) issue ought to take.''
"ObjectOr" Clause Stands.
The conscientious objector" clause
however, which also recognizes the
right of those members whose con-
sciences SO dictate to serve in the
armed forces in time of war, stood
as it was adopted last night
The peace resolution merely
pledged the church to undivided
opposition to the spirit of war;; to
exert every possible influence for
peaceful settlement of international
differences; to urge congress and
the President to ''take every possible
step to avoid the ENHANCEMENT" of
this nation in war, and to provide for
peace education of children.
The conference also pledged allie
glance of the new church to the fed
eral government.
In the rush to close business yes
terday afternoon, two controversial
resolutions were sidetracked.
One would have placed the confer
ence on record opposing the ship
ment of munitions to Japan Landon
Tuesday night contended the "con-
scientious objector" resolution should
not be passed while the Japanese
proposal, which he termed an 'un-
friendly act to a sovereign power" was
pending. May delegates said the con-
ference was not legally empowered
to act on such a proposal.
A resolution asking deletion from
the "articles Of religion" of a section
requiring Methodists of foreign lands
to support their civil governments
was referred to the council of bishops
for a report at the 1910 general con-
ference.
The vote by which delegates turn
ed down the plan of full clergy rights
for women was 384 to 371.
Previously the Methodist Protest
ant church granted full clergy rights,
the North church ordained women
and permitted them to preach but not
to vote in general conferences. The
South church granted no clergy
rights. ,resvi'e' -,
The North church plan was adopt
ed by the conference. Rights of ex-
istent Methodist Protestant women
ministers were not affected.
The complex problem of how to
harmonic the youth organizations
of the three churches was left un-
determined. For the next four years
the separate Epworth leagues of the
North and South churches and the
Christian Endeavor of the Protest
ant church will continue as ipd;vi-
dual organizations.
Eventually, the conference decid-
ed, members of those groups can
work out plans for a single organ
ization if desired.
On the platform as the delegates
gathered for their declaration of
union" service was an old marble
topped table used for communion
services at the 1914 conference of
the general church at which the
North and South branches divided.
Significantly, but by accident, the
marble was split at that time.