Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-20
Object of Fierce Onslaughts
by Methodist C|ergymen
At General Missionary Committees
Session at New York.
BISHOP GOoDSELL AND DR..
DREES THROW GAUNTLET.


mittee. On each occasion an audience
which filled every part of the audltori-
nm in st. Pauls NJ. +. church where
the committee is meeting broke into
applause and no effort was made by
the Chair to check these demonstra-
lions OF approval.
The first person to advance the at
tack was Bishop Goodsell of Tennessee
In the course of an address on the
work OF the Methodist Episcopal
church in various parts of Europe, he
had occasion to speak of the work done
in Italy, and the conditions obtaining
there.
In northern Europe. for instance in
Germany and the Scandinavian coun-
tries the bishop said, I'VE have made
satisfactory progress though we have
had great deal of indifference and
even opposition to contend with. sta
tistics show that we have made as
much Roadway during the first 80
years in Europe as we have in the
same period in this country. which Of
fcrS a more congenial soil for our
creed. In southern Europe the condl-
lions are somewhat different. There the
struggle has been harder. There are
many who doubt whether we have
done any work at Ill in Italy. that
land of superstition and priestcraft
whether we could ever hope to accom-
plish anything there in the face of the
tremendous press of adverse thought
with which We are confronted.
The fact is that we projected one Of
our workers into Italy. lie soon made
up his mind that in Rome he had 10
do as do the Romans. He began by
training the young. by taking them in
10 our schools and seminaries. The
work is slow. but its value has been
recently testified TO by the Pontiff,
who has honored US by eEcommunicat-
ing every one teachers and pupils
alike, connected with our institutions
of learning. In the effort TO preserve
for himself the triple crown of papacy
he has issued Il sweeping interdict
against the schools and everyone pass
ing through their gates. This. however,
has only made us more determined TO
wipe out a system which has created
out Of the former man of empire
cringing beEgar with monkey and a
grind organ
The next speaker threw down the
gauntlet TO the Church of Rome in
terms as direct and condemnatory as
did Bishop Goodsell. This was Rev. DR..
g. w. Drees. who for Il number of
years has been identified with the work
of the Methodist Episcopal church in
South America and was appointed by the
committee to take over the supervision
of the work among the Spanish speak
ing nations on this continent.
In beginning his address, DR.. Drees
made reference to the end of Spanish rule
in this hemisphere and was roundly APP
Dlarded at was wise of the chairman
to call the subject on which l am to
speak the work among the Spanish
speaking inhabitants of America. Hap
pily there is no longer Il Spanish Amer
lea. \ former speaker has said that d
condition where half the world is pagan
and the other half Christian cannot long
endure. The same can be said with as
much truth of a state of affairs where
Christendom is divided into two grea
camps with Professionalism on one SIDE
and Greek and Roman Catholicism on the
other. The time is upon us when the
questions which appeared in the Prote3-
tant reforma ton will begin TO agitate
the world and demand TO be pushed TO
their final issue. After slumbering for
four centuries those Selfsame questions
were awakened through the last act OF
infamy of the Pontiff in declaring himself
infallible. Within q hours after that
blasphemous declaration had been wit
ten on the triple crown of Rome. the
Prussian armies invaded Catholic France.
Forty-five days later the battle of Sedan
was fought with Protestant Prussia the
victor. and 20 days had only elapsed
when the united armies entered the Holy
city where the Pope held sway, bringing
with them carloads of Bibles. The Pope
lost his temporal power and. since that
day, the creed has been weakening.
The Roman church at one time helC
sway everywhere. but now both tina
church and Spanish domination hay,
fallen off their high pedestals. Nher
Spain is arraigned the Roman Catholi,
church should be arraigned with tina
power as correspondent Ever since Isa-
bella signed away the liberty Of Spain t.
the Pope there has been an illesitima e
alliance between statecraft and priest
craft against human liberty and human
progress.
The applause which followed this flee
sally was as tremendous Is it was spgn-
DR.. Drees said il conclusion that tn
most promising field among the Spanish
speaking populations IN America wa
opening in Puerto Rico.
The greater part OF the forenoon dis
cussion was given up to addresses on the
outlook in the many foreign lands where
the Methodist Episcopal church is con
Quoting missionary work. Bishop Har
zell spoke on Africa. which IS mis- field
He said in part: I'VE stand. today. in the
against Christian civilization. In the tal
East Mohammedanism is outnumberln
adherentS. China has just slammed hel
door in the face of Christianity. Half the
world is pagan. the other half Christian
and our zeal and labor in the first yeal
Of a coming century will decide whether
we shall win or whether the Christia,
faith shall be deluged by raganism ant
be buried for centuries"
Rev. W. i. Oldham reviewed the varl
Gus vcXins problems connected with thi
work of the domestic missions.
Rev. W. Gamewell. professor OF natura
science in the University of Pekin. was
then introduced He was in the Brit 81
legation during the siege. where his re-
roic conduct gained for him public com
mendat ton from Minister Conger and thu
British ambassador. Sir Claude MacDon
aid. DIR. Gamewell told in graphic Ian
guage of the siege and the relief. He re
lated little that has not already been told
The audience rose as he appeared on thu
platform and cheered him, waving thei
handkerchiefs.
Bishop Thoburn spoke of the work il
southern Asia and Bishop Cranston o
the eastern portion of that continent. TIL,
latter pronounced Corea perhaps the mos
promising missionary field in the world.
The afternoon session was devoted t.
the making of appropria tons for tn.
work among the various foreign bori
populations in this country At the nigh
session the report of the committee Of tn
nth century thank Offering was received
The committee on the Twentieth Cen
fury thank Offering of the general mis-
sionary committee of the Methodist Epis
CODll church