Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-12
IS METH0DlSM DECLINING?
Opinions OF Two WeIl-known D;vines on The
Subject.

The bishops of the Methodist Epis-
copal church have recently issued LET
tiers requesting the members Of the
church to set apart the week from
March . to April /, as week of
prayer and fasting for their spiritual
aid, for the revival of Methodism
throughout the world and an increase
in converts of 1000, 600 souls. The board
Of bishops state that last years sta
tiStics show decrease in membership,
ana that MethOdism is Confronting
q serious situation caused by n lack
Of spiritual power. The board saws
that the greatest need Of the church
is the sense of its need, and cxhorts
it's followers not to be deceived either
with regard to the fact that the church
has lost ground or the causes of the
fact. These words of the board are i'm
portant that they bring the question
into mind whether or not Methodism
is really on the decline; judging from
the letters alone one would naturally
think that such is the case, but there
are some facts that should be taken
into consideration before any such
Judgment is made.
The Rev. T.. :. Stackpole in an In
tcrvieW on the subject said: perhaps
some Of the dclcons think we have
backslidden a little, but in my opinion
Methodsm is holding its own. The
week set apart is for the spiritual
quckeninS Of the members of the
church by means of abstinence and
prayer. but for 4 church. with Il mem
bership of 10000 GOO to expect an in
crease of 1000 900 in one years time is
impracticablc ana impossible. The
other denominations are working to
make their membership roll larger and
IF course will make their converts.
alcoholism would have to take
Tremendous stride to increase its MEM
hcrship 2,00o 900. 1t is a fact that a
church reaches 4 limit ana can not get
much beyond that limit. Since there
are 5000 0U0 members Of the Methodist
church. even if there should he large
reinforcement to its membership, the
percentage would necessarily be small
but if some other denomination with q
small membership is Joined ly a num-
her of converts. the percentage of the
increase il large. No. | sea 10 indica-
lions that Methodism is declining.
believe that it is holding rs high pn-
sition as it ever has in its history"
Mir. Stackpole also remarked that the
Methodist church would try Ia raise
S.0.o00. 900 for educational institutions.
during the coming year.
Rev. q. u. Lindsay. the pastor of the
Methodist church in Watrrville. ana
who is considered one Of the best
workers and preachers in the Metho-
dist church, expressed a similar opin-
ion. that there is really no decline in
Methodism.
The falling off, Roy. Mr.. Lindsay
said. rs not i'll Methodism but in the
probatiuners. There are just as many
are members Of the church as formerly
in this State. The trouble is that n
large number of the prob1tioners do
not become members Of the church
After they have nearly completed the
term of probation they do not continue
in the life ana 50 do not become mem
bers. While there is not such a gain
as there has been in the past there is
not 4 decline in my opinion"
Like the other Methodist minister's
in the State, Rev. Mr.. Lindsay has APP
pointed a time for holding the special
services.
The opinion of Rev. Nh Lindsay is
Of value from the fact that h is con-
tinualIy travelling about THU state. is
continually in conference with other
pastors and is 4 man who would make
n study VT he citIIltio