The San Francisco call., 1898-06-28
REV. DAVIS HAS BEEN FORGIVEN The Sensational Preach CT Will Quiet Down. WILL NOT ANSWER CHARGES DIR. W. S. URMY THINKS A BIG REVIVAL NECESSARY. He Says the Methodist Church Is in a State of Decrepitude-other
 Denominational Meet
 ings.
WILL NOT ANSWER CHARGES
DIR. W. S. URMY THINKS A BIG
 REVIVAL NECESSARY.

Edwards Davis the young preacher who startled church-goers in this State by his repeated sensational actions, has subsid- ed and promises to err no more. The actor-preach has been forgiven by his brethren and the glad hand of friendship has been extended to him, ana ne IS again back in the fold.
 The new condition of things was brought about yesterday at the meeting of the Christian Ministers Union after long and deliberate discussion. For the past month effort has been made to bring him before a proper body and try him for his peculiar conduct, but without suc- cess. Davis has always expressed a will ingness to stand trial, but wanted spe- cific charges brought against him so that he could make answer to them. The mem bers of his old church refused to do this and the matter was held in abeyance.
 Davis squared himself Sunday by ac- knowledging his mistakes before the con- gregation of the Central Christian Church of Oakland, thus smoothing his way to reinstatement.
 About thirty interested members, com posing a committee, met in the r. Nj: C- A. building yesterday and were called 10 order by President T. D. Butler. Davis was present and listened to py ms re lenting auditors As final acton the following resolution was offered and passed unanimously:
 Resolved In view of the official statement of the Central Christian Church of Oakland to the effect that Brother Edwards DaVls mace public statement that the said church was fmstifiable in withdrawing from him on the Charges of disrepute and immoral conduct, and that he asked forgiveness and was received into their fellowship again, that we dismiss our committee without attempting 10 pass JuQg- ment on the case and authorize the publication of this resolution as a final and official state ment of the case
 An inquiry into the small increase of membership during the year lS9' was the 1 subject of Rev. A. H. Needham's talk be- l fore the Methodist ministers yesterday, 1 and it brought forth warm discussion l The speaker said in part:
 Making all allowances for mistakes that have been made in statistics and l other records 1t must be admitted that we have made small additions: We are l settling down into the same kind of re. our sister churches. One reason for this was the secular duties of the ministry | they being so many that it rendered it | impossible for them to keep well in touch ! with the spiritual part of the work 1 Rev w w. Case thought that preach CTS did not stand firmly enough by each other. "If one strikes firmly out and at i jacks some popular. science he IS not sus, | tained in his heroic action. We need more martyrs in the pulpit and few are willing to be ground under foot in their efforts to suppress popular errors.
 pr w. s. Urmy said he believed the church was in state of decrepitude and | that a vigorous reViNaI should De lnStl- tnted such as was instituted by John Wesley for the national church,
 Rev John A. B. Wilson considered that +ha Methodist church was not under date, but but was the .ablest factor in the world fo' a failure" he said, the Methodists in tbe last thirty-three years have out 'ene 'eentenned the Presbyterians. In the last they have e be groTn ast beEond ens ths iLI[apto,,d the Congregationalists This does pef pot look like death or, dissolution. He neid the Bishops and presiding elders would vS always look out and give their, ap- nmro1lal and advancement to those whom Pr RIovass lo,y sonnd progressive and deserving. He was was glad to see in the church class of | the work. =, . +ba Yninisters in religious work at the camp can at Richmond, She, said the sol diars needed spiritual consolation as much otei os social entertainment The lady sug- gested that the Methodistsa a erect tn ten tent
 worth. who was present, offered tent | and half the expense of fitting it out and 1 This offer was accepted.
 l The following officers were elected for