St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-05-04

he was not an apostle Of gradulism
but that the proposed constitutional
amendment was a step forward and
I'VE ought 10 take that step"
Chester A. Smith a white dele
gate Of the New York Conference,
proposed a substitute for the pro-
posed amendment.
Mr.. Smith has attempted several
times 10 get his proposed amend
ment which would have this General
Conference vote In favor Of abolish
Ing the Central Jurisdiction and
then refer Il 10 the annual confer
enees for their action, before the
conference. He said that this Cen
eral Conference should face the is
sue squarely. even though IL may
offend a section Of the church. Miss
Thelma Stevens, white and native
Of Mississippi, speaking as a repre-
sentative Of the Woman's Division
Of Christian Service, (which has
an outspoken set Of principles
against rAeism) supported Mr..
Smiths proposed substitute amend
ment, which was not accepted
Speaking against the proposed
substitute, Rev. Wiley C. Newman
said that II Is erroneous TO think
that all Of the white delegates
from the South are for segregation
and that the proposed amendment
Is a delaying action brought by
the South"
When Bishop Fred r. Corson Of
Philadelphia, the presiding officer
for Wednesdays history making
session, put the question on adopt |
ing the report Of the Committee on
Conferences, the vote was almost
unanimous This correspondent
only saw two hands raised IN the
vote against the report There was
applause from the visi-
tors as well as from the delegates.
Some were In tears as Bishop
Corson asked the conference 20
stand and sing "Bless Be the Tie
That Binds" Then Bishop Alexan-
der p. Shaw, one Of the retired
Of the Central Jurisdiction
led In prayer. The Methodists in !
that moment were "one people" in I
their desire 20 become truly one
people In a Christian brotherhood |
that knows no bounds or bonds Of |
any kindl
As this writer talked and listened |
10 several ministers and laymen,
white and eolored. northern and
southern, II seems that the con-
sensus Of opinion Is that for
ward step has been taken. For some,
to be sure, the step appears TO be
a very short one, TO others a very
long one.
The Rev. c. Anderson Davis, the
militant pastor Of the John Stew
art Memorial Methodist Church,
Blueheld W. Va, who has spear
headed the fight against segrega-
ton and discrimination In the
Methodist Publishing House at
Nashville, came 10 the Office Of
The Minneapolis Spokesman and
st. Paul Recorder newspapers as
we were trying 10 beat the dead
line with this story.
Rev. Mr.. Davis made motion
TO postpone action on Report No.
Of the Committee on Conferences
until after action had been taken
on Report No. 2 from the Com
mittee on the State Of the Church,
which proposes that n study COM
mission be set up TO study the juris-
dictional system and report to the
1860 General Conference. His mo-
ton was defeated.
Mr.. Davis told the editor and
publisher, Cecil Newman. that he
was In favor Of the report Of the
Committee on Conferences. How
ever, he said he feared that by not
waiting until the proposed study
commission had been authorized by
the adoption Of Report No. 2 Of the
State Of the Church, so that Re-
port No, Of the Committee on Con-
ferences could have been referred
to the study commission, the process
Of Indignation may be slowed rather
than speeded. Time and history
will reveal whether he Is correct
in his estimate OF Wednesdays &C
ton by the General Conference,