Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-05-07
NEWS FOR METHoDIsTs.
items of Interest TouehinS on Church Sta
tistics and Church Governmenf.

Tsems of Interest Touching Church Sta
tistics and Church Government.
CLEVELAND, O.. May 4.-Methodists
are tired OF collections-not of the
principle, but of the number. There
are six or seven church funds, each of
which has a separate set of officers.
The brethren, who foot the bills, want
less confusion and more economy
They want one collection and one or
ganization to administer their benevo-
lences. This is not a new complaint,
but this general conference has taken
the first step in an effort to consolidate
its various missionary and other benev-
client funds The conference de-
termlned to appoint a committee to
devise a plan for the CONSOLE
dation of the church's benevolences,
one minister and one layman to be
chosen by each of the IA general dis
tricts and the. Goth member tc be ap-
pointed by the bishops. The address
OF the bishops was read by Bishop
Warren and required two hours in its
delivery. It was silent on the adnis-
sion of women and on the demand of
the laymen for equal representation.
It opposed the removal OF the time
limit on pastorates, except in rare
cases, and insisted on the rule against
frivolous amusements.
The address shows that the church
has a mem bership of a,796 Csc, a gain
Of $50. 600 in four years. The Sunday
schools last year numbered 80, 352,
gain in four years of 276, and the
teachers and pupils mum bered 9, 93s, $50,
a gain of $50, OO0 The conversions in
the Sunday schools in four years were
So, 436. The church has added SII, 6OO,-
900 worth of property to the S113, 900,
600 owned in 1892 The gain in pas
toral support has been $780, 900. partly
because of 1, 400 more pastors. The
missionary funds show substantial
gains. The church has 81 deaconess'
homes, hospitals and orphanages, of
which is are in foreign lands
There are 574 deaconesses, of
whom 90 are in foreign work. One
hundred are trained nurses The or
yanization has S641, $50 worth of prop
4rty, which has been mostly given dur
ing the last four years The Epworth
league has $1,000 chapels. with ]. $780,
600 members. On this subject the ad-
dress says: 1--WE are impressed with
the Importance of encouraging our
pastors and young people to esta blish
and main tain Epworth leagues rather
than other societies in order that they
may have the benefit of our litera ture
and be trained to be loyal and intelli.
gent Methodists."
The bishops propose semi-annual
conference to take the place of the
quarterly. They suggest a court for
the trial of charges against ministers
by each local conference of circuit
electing trial judges to be membe of
that court. This is to avoid the objec.
ton of trying cases before mixed
bodies, of old and young, male and fe-
male. The bishops recommend that
students Of the theological schools who
apply for admission to the ministry
shall be credited with studies pursued
in school. They suggest providing for
superannuated ministers and their
families according to their need in
stead of the length of service. They
are opposed to removing the ban of the
church from dancing. card playing and
theater-going. They favor total pro-
hibition and want the United States
to refuse government licenses in pro-
hibition states The various denomi-
national schools are Endorsed. The ad-
dress declares for national divorce
law, denounces the Armenian atroci-
ties, favors arbitration in la Dor and in
interna tional disputes, and urges profit