Evening star., 1948-04-29
Methodist Conference
To Study Expansion Of
American University |
By Cospor Nonnes
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

BOSTON, April "a resolution
calling for inclusion of American
University, Washington, D. c., III
the general benevolent giving pro-
gram of the entire church was
placed before the quadrennial gen.
eral conference. of the Methodist
Church here today.
The memorial. presented to the
general conference by the Balti-
more Annual Conference, was re-
ferred to the Committee on Educa-
ton. D. Stewart Patterson of
Washington, lay leader of the Balti-
more Conference, pointed out that
general church support of Amer
ican University has been considered
since the general conference ac-
cepted the patronage of the insti-
tuition Sc years ago.
Further recommendations seeking
to bring closer the relationship of
the university and the church are
expected to come before the meet
ing as a result of action taken by
the Council of Bishops. 1t was
learned that such recommendation
Will relate to long-range planning
for further development of the in
stitution under the direction of a
commission. The commission would
be financed from the administrative
fund of the Council of Bishops.
Educational Service Emnhasixed
The emphasis, it was learned,
would be on educational service
rather than church policy. Bishop
Charles Wesley Flint of Washing
ton was on a special committee
which explored the steps to be con-
sidered by the general conference.
DR.. Paul F. Douglas, president of
American University, said, I'VE
favor this proposal because it will
strengthen the separation of church
and state in education, which we
believe is important, especially In a
great world capital"
Committee meetings to consider
numerous proposals occupied the
754 lay and ministerial delegates
today. The memorials passed by
the committees will begin reaching
the conference floor tomorrow.
Among the memorials being con-
sidered were those on racial dis
crlmination, dancing, marriage and
divorce. Temperance, worldly amuse-
ments, labor and social action, Com
munism- and universal military
training.
DR.. Louie D. Newton, president of
the Southern Baptist Convention
will address the conference tonight.
Last night Bishop G. Bromley
Oman told the delegates more
rather than less democracy is the
way to fight the threat of COM
munism
The declaration was made as part
OF the conferences Episcopal ad-
dress, the formal message of toe
Methodist bishops to the church.
Bishop Oman was designated by
the bishops to deliver the message.
Bishop Oman attributed what
ne described as declaration of a
holy war on communism" to those
VINO seek to retain their power,
Camoufiaged Approach.
There is an approach somewhat
camouflaged by ponderous phrasing
and scholastic style that in effect
is but the declaration of a holy war
on communism, he declared.
The real purpose that lies behind
the war Is to retain the power, the
prosperity and the prestige pos
sessed by those who advocate it."
Bishop Oman did not identify
those he described as the aggressors
Communism will never win a
democratic and just America, !"
Bishop Oman asserted. Com
munism does not grow in the soil
of freedom and justice. 1t takes
root in the soil of exploitation. 1t
is democracy-more of it, not less
OF it-that will win the morrow
Warning that ideas cannot be
destroyed by military force" Bishop
OMAN declared: ideas are con-
quered by better ideas, whose truth
has been revealed in practices that
enrich personality
Urges Action For Union.
The Episcopal address also called
on the Methodists to take the lead
in bringing Protestant churches to-
gether in a union.
The address restated the tradi-
tional Methodist position of opposi-
ton to "the liquor traffic" assert
ing "the use of alcoholic liquors"
is not an individual problem but
rather "a social question"
The Rev. Robert Moten Williams,
pastor of Asbury Methodist Church
of Washington, was elected yester-
day to the secretarial staff on bal
lots and tellers for >e conference.