Methodists

Two Methodist Episcopal conferences took place last week -- the semi-annual conference of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church (at Washington) and the quadrennial conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South* (at Memphis).

Methodist Episcopal. The bishops convene in semi-annual conference only as an administrative body and to hear reports. This time they heard that Bishop Anton Bast of Denmark could not join them because pardon or reprieve from his prison was refused (TIME, March 29) ; that reports of Mexi can religious persecution were false; that England lags in restricting liquor sales in India. The conference was calm.

Methodist Episcopal, South. The general conference is legislative and judicial. Last week the lay and clerical delegates hoped for a sedate session, but occasionally broke up into opinionated wrangles. An attempt to railroad through a stiff fundamentalist resolution caused the noisiest row. The resolution was pocketed in committee. Prohibition was approved, theatres damned. At one session the 2,000 delegates paused to pray that "peace and brotherhood be restored to England."

* John Wesley founded U. S. Methodism by his visit to Georgia in 1735. In 1784 the Methodist Episcopal Church took form. In 1845 slave-owning Methodists of the South established the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Although recent years have witnessed some comity between the two branches, regional prejudices have prevented unification. They exchanged fraternal greetings last week.