The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-08

METHODISM
is DECLINING.
Bishops Say the Church
Has Stood AIcOf From
Attempting Soln=
tons of Labor
Troubles.

The circular letter, signed by Bishops
W. x. Ninde. g. H. Fow,or and j. w,
Joyce, OF he Board Of Bishops OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, calling for
week of fasting and prayer. beginning
March 20. has caused much comment
among the preachers and members OF the
denomination In Wilmington, That por.
tiOn Of tho circnlar which has attracted
4 the greatest interest follows:
"1o-lay our Methodism cunfronts a
serious situation. Our statistics for tho
last yenr show decrease In the number
Ot0ur members Year before last our ati-
vance was checked. Last year our al.
vance column has been forced back Ii tle
Tho lost ground Is paved with the dead.
We are surrounded by powerful enemies.
Tho attack Is Oh every side,
In summarizing the causes portending
the decay OF American Methodism they
declare that tbs Church has stood aloof
from attempting any solution of labor
troubles and neglected the Submerged
tenth. leaving this work to the Salvation
Army. 10 the vagaries of Christion
Science, the abandonment of camp meet
inas and the indulgence In light literature
10 the decline also attributed Simply be.
cause some people make fun Of them, re-
vivals have been given up. Compialnt Is
made Of he character and numbsr of
ainusemants. Tho letter further asserts
that the moral and spiritual forces neces-
sary to tbe Churchs upbui!ding have
been sldeti acked, and that there is lack
OF sell denial among The members FL.
nally, criticism OF preachers and sacred
things and the higher orlticins of the
Bible are gwen as contributing causes
This circular has caused the question to
BIO asked: SIS the Methodist Episcopal
Church 10 ing ground in this country?'
The question Is now being discussed. and
causes, as those mentioned in the circular
letter. are being assigned
Commenting on tho circular, Bishop f.
g. Andrews one of tho members OF the
Board OF Bishop, says:
ut Is true that there has been dminu-
fion In the Methodist Episcopal Church
during tina last year. but do rot bolieye
that 1t Is peculiar 10 our denomination
Other scots as well HAYS ,een affected in
the sauna way. 1t Is difficult to say what
was the cause of this dninution, but |
think that tho pressing affairs Of state
during the last year and thu war with
spain are accountable for it in a great
measure
"The Christian Church-in the broudest
Eense OF the term-is passing through an
era OF change, clarified by a spirit of re-
search known commonly as higher criti-
cisn. l have no donbS that to many
minds this method appeals, and purchance
oCtUhee SOiiV IOlht IN tnC BlDe
seems untrue to them al or scientific in
vestigat!on, they are wiliiag to reject tho
holy book entirely This may also be an
element In the Gauss which has produced
unsatisfactory state which we have been
di. housing"
A prominent Methodist clergyman in
reply to numerous questions said in sub
taDce:
- II think the loss In mem bersbip is more
EAAfptrD than rpal Thnr.
that the church has not boon advancing
Us she should, but the apparent loss Of
membership can be accounted for from
the Iact that our pastors arc now pruning
many names from church msm bership,
which have boon carried along for years,
and which should have hoen stricken off
before. My church IS ali illustration
OF this
In spite OF the fact hat wo have had an
Increase oil ninety member, ! Will not be
hDle TO report ut tho coming session of
conference any great Increase in mem her,
SHY because there were a. least fifty
NAMES on the church roll when came
bore that have been unable to lccdto
This is tho way with other churches, and
I think for tho past threo years We have
Deen carrying over 1870, 900 name; on our
membership rolls which should not havo
been there.
LAS to the church standing aloof from a
solution Of labor troubles, ] think that q
wise course to pursue The church should
not take sides, and don't think the
church should be concerned with such
things. The charge that W, are ncclec
ing the Submerged tenth may nave some
truth In it. | think that the church
aakts great mistake in leaving the down
t1"n churches for uptown si!os AMI if
christian Science hus made nroads OH
Hethoutsn, l. think it is due fact that We
have laid too much s:ross upon the mater
iat part OF the chulch. A PASTORS worth
IS not inirequentiy measured at tho con-
ference by he reports he makes Of his col.
Jections, and not tho number of CONVEX
Sons We have not Lwelt enough upon
ene int! lcctuul and spiritual. We boar
great deal Of tni about higher criticism
.. me bIbi', bat do not think hat high.
Or criticism does any HARM"