The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-05-14

of church government. In Texas there arc !
In the Methodist church Ave annual con- |
ferences: The East Texas, tho Texas the
West Texas the North Texas and the
Northwest Texas. Each OF these confer
cuccs comprise an annual League confer |
ence whose officers are a president, three |
vice presidents, a secretary anu treas |
uror. Each OF the five annual confer
encos is composed OF districts. each oil
which comprises district League con- |
ference. whose officers ARE likewise |
president, three vice presidents. secre-
tary and a treasurer. Each district con- |
ference embraces individual Leagues. with
similar officers. Recognizing the economy |
Of this system. I have held my communi- !
cations In most part with the conference
League secretaries. These officers have
dealt with the district League secretaries, |
who have in turn worked with the individ-
ual League secretaries. In theory. the
plan is perfect. In practice IL Ia as
nearly perfect as the officers make II,
1t is plan that conmends itself to every
Methodist preacher In Texas. II 1t has
not worked So successfully the first year
1t liz not the fault Of the plan. but cf the
State secretary. the conference SECRETARIES.
the district secretaries and the League
secretaries. BY this system we educate
our young Methodsts In church govern
meat, and Methodist policy.
The greatest difficulty with which our
secretaries have had to contend lies in the
fact that the district and annual League
conferences do not all meet before The
State conference, and thus do not give to
this body the benefit of their experience
and their reports. This may be rcmodiod
and should be remcdied by holding tho
district League conferences first, the an.
nual League conferences afterwards and
the state conference last This arrange
men, would point 10 the month ct juno
or July as the mos, suitable time for hold
ing the State conference.
Another difficulty arises from the lack
OF district organization. In every presiding
elders district. including the cities OF
Galveston, Houston aud Austin. ana the
Oldest conference In the State. has only one
district organization This lack Of thorough
organization OF the districts Is due To the
Indifference of some Of our pastors. While
almost every Methodist preacher In Texas
is In sympathy with tho League move
ment yet we have some pastors and even
presiding elders of the church. who are not
only Indifferent to the advancement OF the
League hut who are a positive hindrance
TO the young pcople IN this service, not
having vet realized that the League Is
one Of the institutions OF the Methodist
Episcopal church South
speak intelllgeutly because | have tho
reports at hand which show that, with ono
exception all Leagues whose pastors DO
not attend the services are either dead
dying or dormant,
know II presiding elder in this State
In whose district not single League mas
made II report OF Its work know another
presiding elder In whose district every
single I.enEtle has made report IN whose
district every single League subscribcs for
the Epworh Era and the Texas Christian
Advocate In whose district every single
pastor is the hardest worker in the Leaguc.
Some of nay friends have recommended the
election Of field man, whose only en-
plcymeut VIII be to organize Leagues
over the State Every Methodist preacher
in Texas is a field man. whose duty is 20
organize churches. Sunday schools and Ep-
worth Leagues
All Loaguers recognize the prime TN
| portance of the department Of worship. aui
no Lacquer would Tor a moment nnderesti-
| mate the devotional services nf the League.
! But from an examination of my reports
! hnd that the great majority OF the
Leagues observe only this department, 10
| the neglect of the other two. The Meth
| odist church was born IN prayer meeting.
| The Methodist church derives her daily
| food from the prayer meeting. III" Metho-
| dist church will never rclinQuish this I'm
| portant service to the Epworth League, the
| Sunday school or to any other inNtitu-
| ton of the church. But our young people
| must not forget that the League is an cdu-
| caional institution, and that they are
under obligation 10 take the reading
| course prescribed by our board. Almost
| all the LeaEucrs do charity and help work.
| have eXcrtcd myself 10 increase the
| circulation of the Epworth Era and the
| Texas Christian Advocate. having dlstrib-
uted 1900 circulars to this end. II some
Of our Leagucrs will not take the reading
course they should at least take our
League and church papers. Every longn'r
| should be a committee OF one to Increase
hu girpIilatip tltgn | WuulI
call your attention particularly To the Ep-
| worth League department OF tho Texas
Christian Advocate the best friend aud
servant OF the Leagues in Texas. Under
the able and scholarly management of our
first vice president this League department.
has become the best in the whole conneo
ton
II Is gratifying to note tho increase in
the membership of Junior Leagues, and |
wish especially TO emphasize the necessity
of organizing moro of them among the
young people The Epworth League board
In their recent meeting in Nashville has
asked the publishing house TO prepare
suitable literature for this juvenile work.
The Leagues whose pastors do not at
tend and take part In the League service;
!. DO not pay the assessments
.. DO not take the course of study.
3. DO not have any sick to loon alter
T. DO not take the Epworth Era.
r. Do not do systema'ical Bible study,
c. DO not use musical instruments,
T. DO not collect any money for any
purpose
s. DO not have charters
D DO not know the number of their
Leagues.
10 But DO generally close by asking the
State secretary TO pray for thoni.
AS We have al present no plan OF rals-
ing money to defray the expense OF the
State conference ! recommend the adop-
ton of State tax Of 81 upon each League
for this purpose.
recommend thorough Organization OF
district League conferences. because IN
these the best work Of the League Ia done.
recommend that only chartered Leagues
have the right to vote at the State con-
ference
recommend that special efforts be es-
erted during tho next year 10 organize
| Junior Leagues
recommend that every Le1Rter In Texas
NIT himself on record as an ayowed adyo-
cate OF complete prohibition Of the liquor
traffic and the Sunday baseball game.
| ~ 49, tot hag hpsu