St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-04-27

t'Ai''NNA"NNa@
rsial issue that will be discussed
by the 766 delegates, representing
% conferences In the United
states and "a conferences over
seas, win be the matter OF segre-
cation.
In 1899 when the Methodist
Episcopal Church, the Methodist
Episcopal Church. South and the
Protestant Methodist Church,
were united TO form The Metho-
dist Church. the new church d.
vidcd into five geographical juris-
dictions and one racial the Cen
trial Jurisdiction.
According TO DIR. Lud Estes OF
Memphis, Tenn, secretary OF the
General Conference, more than n
hundred memorials resolutions or
petitlons) have been filed asking
for the abollshing or continuing
OF the Central Jurisdiction, which
has the n Negro annual confer
cnces OF the denomination, spread
ing practically over the entire ma
ton, or study OF the jurisdie-
tonal setup.
However. all OF the Negro
churches and pastors are not In
the Central Jurisdiction as there
are Negro churches In the North
western, North Central and West
ern Jurisdictions. There are no
Negro churches In the Southeast
crn and South Central Jurisdio-
ton, which are predominantly
southern jurisdictions.
Practically all OF the Negro
leaders, many non-southern white
leaders and at least few liberal
southern whites are agreed that
the Central Jurisdiction IL legal
aggregation" in the denomination
and that II should be abolished.
Some OF the leaders, and they viii
not all be southerners viii advo-
cate privately, n not publicly, that
the controversial issue should not
be pushed too vigorously and that
a gradual approach" should be
made In the matter. The most out
spoken advocates Of Indignation
are insisting that the denomina-
ton must begin in this session Of
the General Conference (which Is
the law making body Of the de-
nomination. 10 abolish segrega-
ton In the church by voting to a
bolish tho Central Jurisdiction.
II viii take two thirds vote Of
the delegates who vote on the
question 90 send II TO the annual
conferences In a referendum and
two thirds Of the annual confer
ences in the United States must
vote fayorably ~ the Central
Jurisdiction is 10 be abolished.
Bishop Richard C. Raines, for
IS years pastor Of the Hennepin
Avenue Methodist Church, Min
neapolis. before his election TO the
episcopacy In 1913 and head OF
the Indiana Area. told the more
than one hundred members Of the
press at a dinner meeting In the
Harrington Hotel on Tuesday
night. that he is for Indignation
in the church.
]. Ernest wilkins, U. $. assis-
tant Secretary Of Labor and the
secretary Of the Judicial Council
OF The Methodist Church tthe
supreme Court" Of the denomina-
tion) was one OF the speakers at
Tuesday nights meeting for the
press. One OF the nine members OF
the Judicial Council, must be, by
the action OF the 194s General
a Negro. Mr.. wilkins
must retire at this session OF the
Conference because OF the
eight year law for members Of the
Judicial Council.
Another member Of the Central
win be elected TO
succeed the brilliant former Chi
rago attorney from nominations
made by the bishops OF the Cen
trail Jurisdiction at this session OF
me General Conference.
Seven Of the rs bishops Of the
denominations Council Of Bishops
are the four active and three re-
tired general superintendent Of
the Central Jurisdiction. All OF
the Negro Bishops and their
wives, with one possible exception
are attending the general Confer
ence.
The active bishops are Willis J.
King. head of the Liberia (Africa)
Area and since 1858 administering
the work Of the Louisiana Missis-
sippl and Upper Mississippi con-
ferences Of the New Orleans Area
since the death OF Bishop Robert
N. Brooks: Edgar A. Love Of the