The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-01-10
BISHOP HOSS
Gives Baltimore Reporter His Ideas
About Several Things.


GiveS Baltimore Reporter His Ideas
About Several Things.
Bishop Elijah Embree Hoss, OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, ia
at the Belvedere Hotel for few days.
His mission has to do with church
work, but OF exactly what character he
does not say. The bishop says of him
self that he is reformed newspaper
man"-which perhaps accounts for his
cautiousness. For twelve years he
was editor of the Nashville Christian
Advocate. He has lately returned
from trip through Brazil, where he
went to look after the mission OF the
church to which he belongs.
"We have sixty churches in Brazil"
he said, "and the work is prospering
finely. AS in all Latin American coun-
tries, the people are largely Roman
Catholic; but in those settled by the
Portuguese there is more of chance
for the Protestant denominations than
in those settled by the Spanish. Bra
zil, you will remember, was Portu-
guese colony"
"What do you think are the pros
poets for union Of all the Methodist
churches, Northern and Southern,
Episcopal and Protestant"
The bishops face indicated that he
did not consider them bright.
"But don't you think it would be
good thing?" persisted the reporter.
Imagine what an enormous church it
would make!"
81 am not sure that lust for church
empire is identical with zeal for the
kingdom of heaven" replied Bishop
Hoss, slowly. 81 do not think the
Methodist Protestants have ever shown
any great desire for union, and I am
not at all sure that church union is de-
sirable or feasible. Charity and har-
mony among all Christians are, of
course, the things for which to strive"
"What do you think of the trials for
heresy that occasionally are reported?"
The bishop did not say exactly that
he had troubles of his own and there
fore could not bother with others, but
he clothed his thoughts in fitting Ian
guage.
Every church must deal with its
own problems, and / do not care to
discuss the actions of another denomi-
nation in regard to its clergy. I will
say, however, that do not think O
man should expect to teach the people
Of church if he does not believe the
doctrines of its religion. As soon as
he fiuds that he is not in accord with
its tenets he should retire."
"And is the Methodist church threat
ened by Christian Science? Do you
consider it menace to the denomina'
tions?"
The eyes of the bishop twinkled be-
hind their glasses.
"No," said he, "Christian Science il
only fad-an amiable folly. 1t is moi
at all alarming"
"But they say it has made inroads ii
some of the churches.
"Well, we see very little of it II
Tennessee. The southern people are
naturally conservative and do not take
to these things readily. There are
some intelligent people in that body
but, then, you know, intelligence is nj
proof against superstition. Very many
exceedingly intelligent people are also
exceedingly superstitious."
Questioned as to whether the South
ern Methodist church had changed itl
attitude as to dancing and theater go
ing in any respect, the bishop repli {
that it had not "lhe members of oul
church are not supposed to take par
: in any amusement which they can no
do in the name of the Lord Jesus
Some of the younger members inter
pret this literally, but the church's at
! titude remains unchanged. ."-Balti
a more News, of Dec. 27.