The Denison review., 1899-09-12
Subscription Price, So per Year.
DEN1soN, IOWA, SEPTEMBER 1s, 1899.
Welcome To Conference.

Welcome To Conference.
Denison will this week open it's heart /
and homes to five hundred representa-
tive members OF this conference dis
trict. There is no question as to the
value of the Methodist church to the
civilization and advancement of this |
country. 1t is the most compact, well
organized protestant church in the
world. The very name implies method,
and method means success, whether in
daily life, business or religion. The
conference is business session, having |
for ITS mission the highest object for
which any body of men can be called
together-the advancement of Christ's |
kingdom on earth. The Methodist |
church is the most popular protestant |
church in America, we say this without |
disparagement to other sects, because
its method and management most near
ly conform to the American idea of
popular government and because it's
tenets and methods appeal not only to
the intellect but to the emotions. 1t is
a common, every day religion, suited to
a common every day sort of people,
such as we Americans usually are.
While the advancement of the church
is high object, while the raising of
noble edlfices and church debts is fine
thing to do, while million dollars for
missions is a notable sum, still we take
it that the church has still nobler thing
to accomplish, and that is to induce the
practice of Christ's teachings into the
every day life of the people. The
church, which fails to do this, is a fail
ure indeed.
The gauge of success should not be
how large is the church, how great the
salary paid. how much is given for
missions, but how much better is the
morality of the community because a
Methodist church exists therein. 1t is
everyone's province to criticise a news
lpaper, 80 we may perhaps be pardoned
if we offer friendly criticism in turn.
Much is said about the influence of
wealth in the politics of our country.
1t is an open question if this same
power is not unduly prominent in some
!. Iof our churches. Let pastor name
the leading" men Of his church and
the chances are that he will begin not
with the most devout but with the
wealthiest. Money is necessary uin
church work as in every thing else.
Rich men often like to take up church
work as a species of fad. Itgives them
a high prestige and reputation for
philantrophy. 1t would be hard for
the church to part with its rich men,
but are there not men in various
churches who give to the church little
but their money, men whose lives are
not good examples to the community,
men who give with one hand to the
church and with the other to the sa-
loon, men who believe in revivals in re-
ligion and in beer campaigns IN poll
tics, men whose language is not model
to be followed, men whose hearts are
hardened to charity unless they are sure
the entire congregation will be in.
formed of their benevolence. The best
thing any church member can give is
the example of pure christian life.
So long as men are upheld in the
church whose lives do not warrant it,
but whose wealth is allowed to make
up the Deficiencies, SO long will the
world look with suspicion on the
church. We must not be understood as
under-valuelng the church and the great
measure of good it is doing, nor as
criticising real Christians of wealth,
who are gladly doing all the good pos
sible with the means placed i'll their
hands.
Denison extends hearty welcome to
the clergy and laymen Of the conference.
The homes of rich and poor have alike
been opened. People of every creed
have turned Methodist for the nonce
and will do everything possible to en- I.
tertain their guests. Denison has how
ever certain apologies to make to it's
guests. Perhaps our clerical friends
will remember the painful period of
of their adolescence. Well. Denison is
suffering from growing pains, torn up
streets and sidewalks and half com.
pleted residences attest it. Denison's
voice IS changing, changing from the
soft voice of country village to the
deep bass of a thriving city, and the
changing period is apt to be grateing on
sensitive ears. 1t has been harder for
Denison to entertain the conference
this year than it was nine years ago.
Then every home had rooms to spare,
the hotels were not crowded and Dem.
aon would oaeilu aooonononaa4% ~