Evening star., 1948-05-09
Methodist Conference
Ends, Sfressing State
AndC ChurchSe
By Cospor Names
Sfcy Stoff Ccrrespondenf


BOSTON, May 8.-The 1948 Gen.
eral Conference of the Methodist
Church closed its quadrennium
meeting here today by passing
resolutions emphasizing the separa-
ton of Church and State, estab-
fishing an information service on
good motion pictures" and urging
the admission of displaced persons
to the United States.
| Voicing "unalterable" opposition
to the use Of tax funds for the
support of private and sectarian
schools" the conference declared
the Methodist Church is commit
ted to the public school as the most
effective means of providing COM
mon education for all our children" 4"
The motion asserted that religion
has a right place in the public
school program, and that it is pos
sible for public school teachers,
without violating the traditional
American principle of separation
of Church and State, to teach moral
principles and spiritual values
The church Board Of Education
was directed to examine the mo-
ton pictures and to inform our
people weekly" in the Church paper
whether "these pictures meet our
standards of the true, the good, and
the beautiful, and which are proper
for children. youth and adults" 1t
was pointed out this type of ap-
proach was preferable to censorship
in lifting the level of motion pic
lures.
Truman Urged to Aid d. P. o.
President Truman and Congress
were urged to support legislation
now before Congress providing for
the admission of 100000 displaced
persons to the United States within
two year period.
A brief division of opinion among
the delegates occurred when Will
liam R. Cannon, a professor at the
Gambler School of Theology, Emory
University, offered an amendment to
a resolution on racial discrimination.
Mr.. Cannon wanted to amend the
motion so that segregation would
not be considered discriminatory. He
asserted as far as segregation is
concerned there are large sections
of the church that would mot ap-
prove" the statement against such
a policy.
The Rev. Ernest F. Title, pastor
of First Methodist Church, Evans
ton, ILL.,, pointing out the report
was not mandatory, declared I'VE
will never crusade for Christianity
and the church unless we are will
ing to stick our necks out The
unwillingness of ministers and lay
men to stick their necks out is
defeating the ends which we are
supposed to serve" He urged pas
sage of the motion asking that 'ra-
cial discrimination shall ultimately
be eliminated from our fellowship"
1t was passed by a large majority.
Funds Creek Urged.
Churches we're asked to examine
carefully questionable methods" OF
raising money for their drives in
another report passed by the con-
ference.
On the international front, the
meeting called on President Tru-
man to recall Immediately" Myron
C. Taylor as his personal repre-
sentative" to the Vatican and asked
the Chief Executive to refrain from
appointing a successor"
Another resolution with interna-
tional implications appealed to the
United States and ''its former allies
to take steps through the United
Nations ito facilitate the repatria!
ton of all prisoners Of war, in ac-
cordance with the Geneva conven-
tion." President Truman and Con-
gress also were urged to grant am
nesty to all genuine conscientious
objectors, who on grounds OF moral
or religious belief went to prison
for conscience sake, thus restoring
their full rights as citizens"
Ban On Liquor Ads Supported.
A crusading resolution calling on
Church members to step-up the
fight for prohibition was passed. 1t
urged support of legislation forbid
ding liquor advertising and called
for State legislation enabling people
to vote out "the liquor traffic" in
any political subdivision"
Support of the new Korean gov
ernment, to be voted on Monday
was voiced in motion passed by
the conference. It declared the
United Nations should take steps
"to secure the unification Of all
Korea under a free government
elected by the people without
duress."
The general conference, which
opened IL days ago, originally re-
ceived approximately 1000 memo
rials. OF these 266 were reported to
the floor by different committees,
with 236 of them being adopted.
Seventy three were acted on during