Evening star., 1940-05-01
Methodists Order
Bishops TO Consult
Pastors on Transfers
Minister Again Fails
In Move for Protest
Against Police Call
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j., May l.
The General Conference of the
Methodist Church voted today to
require bishops and district super
intendents to make all effort" to
consult with pastors before assign
Ing them to any church.
Although most Methodist pastors
are consulted before their transfers
this was the first time the bishops
and superintendents were required
to do so under church law.
The Rev. DR.. Henry Hit Crane
pastor of the Central Methodist
Church in Detroit, tried for a second
tlme. without success. to present to
the conference resolution protest.
ing against the calling of police last
Saturday when Representative Dies
OF Texas spoke.
The local Entertainment Commit
tee called police to prevent a group
OF young men from distributing
circulars protesting the presence of
Mr.. Dies and the methods" used by
his House committee for investiga-
ton Of un-American activities.
Expects Action Tomorrow.
Bishop Adna Wright Leonard OF
Pittsburgh, presiding. ruled DR.
Cranes resolution was "out of
order" Dr. Crane said he expected
action tomorrow on his measure.
which says, We do not wish to have
any policemen brought into this
conference to prevent dissemination
of circulars on any subject, because
1t is as necessary to maintain civil
liberties in this conference as any,
where else"
committee reports urging PreSi-
dent Roosevelt to recall his personal
peace envoy to the Vatican and ask
Ing the church to 60 on record re-
questing the United States to re-
main out of the European war, were
before the conference.
The 1nterdenominationa1 Rela-
tions Committee of the Methodist
Church reported to the general con-
ference Yesterday that:
His (Myron c. Taylor's) appoint
ment has created a spirit of un-
easineSs and resentment in the
minds of great number of people.
and instead Of promoting peace has
engendered discord and strife, which
seems calamitouS at this time when
there is impera tive need for har-
monious united action on the part of
all those who fear God and love
Righteousness"
Bishops Statement Endorsed.
Asserting the principles expressed
In the Bill of Rights could be pre-
served only by maintaining a COM
plete separation of church and
state, the committee indorsed a
statement made last week by the
Council of Bishops opposing "anv
establishment of diplomatic rela-
tions between the Vatican and the
United States"
The TIC conference delegates.
representing more than 100000
members of the Methodist Church
may reject, modify or make the re-
port an official announcement of
the Methodist Church.
Committee Backs Neutrality.
The other report. asking the
United States to remain neutral and
help build a federation of nations. y
was submitted by the Committee or
the State of the Church, headed by
DR.. E. F. little of Evanston. III.
I'VE believe" the committee said
"that the making of world peace
involves the surrender of the claim
of absolute national sovereignty
Nations should reserve to themselves
the right to determine their own
form of government and their own
way Of life; but they should con-
sent to be guided by some interna
tional body in the making of deci-
sions, as regards tariff. currency
immigration, etc, that are bound
to affect for good or for i'll, the total
life of the world"