Omaha daily bee., 1908-05-08
BIG GAIN IN MEMBERSHIP
Nearly Three Hundred Thousand
Additions to Church Reported.
OVER TWENTY THOUSAND PASTORS
Gain in Church Property Over Eight
Millions Year.
WORK DELEGATES MUST Perform
Pastors Salaries, Amusements, Di-
vOrce, Capital and Labor I'm
Their Relation to the
Church Discussed.


Church Discussed.
BALTIMORE, Md. May The featurt
OF todays sitting OF the quadrennial gen
ersl conference Of the Methodist Episcopal
church was the presentation OF the Epis-
copal address prepared by the bishops
Bishop Daniel A. Goodsell OF Boston, read
the address.
The address Of the bishops. after recall
ing general conferences hitherto held in
this city and historical events Of the church
which had Baltimore for their scenes, notes
a gain in the number Of communicates
during the last four years Of Tis,S5, the
greatest gain during any similar period for
! sixteen years other figures slow the
number Of ministers In the annual confer
ences, not including local preachers to be
1883, an increase OF In; subject to APP
pointment pastors on trial and in fun
membership. 1879; local preachers serving
as pastors, 44S9 The total pastoral army
numbers 9ll61 These, according TO the
address, preach the gospel in lSO languages
and dialects The address continues
Value of Property.
The gain in the value OF churches Is
SsS,l49 60i; the gain I'm psrsonages Is Sl52S,S7i.
The total gain in church property for the
! four years last past is S3267S t3l. while the
total valuation OF our churches and par
sonages is SlSs,s24,0et The increase since
! the last general conference averages al
most sS.2QO0o0 each year. Our membership
/ In the United States Is 3.3060O0, while IN
me me worid the ne whole plumber ls s,SOLzte ~
number 2s7.0O0.
! Figures are given showing that since the
/ last general conference the value OF edu-
cational grounds and buildings has in
creased A6S2.589 ana is now SIS. .761 547; total
endowment $2SS5O 4s6, an increase OF s. $780,
SSi; and the value Of educational property
and enjoyment, exclusive Of debt has In
creased Nl.l4i.Ss2 and is now 1859 .5s2.
Since 1904 there have been gains OF III
1 teachers and professors, 2.s44 professional
students and 2.7e3 collegiate students
Relative TO investigation OF charges of
heresy by the bishops the address says:
We are unanimously OF the opinion
t that the bishops ought not to be charged
! being foreign to the work 10 which they
are appointed. We believe that the func-
ease should be confined 70 the annual con-
ttsrsnce Of the body which las lawful tur-
Ministerial Appointments.
The matter OF ministerial appointments
is treated thus;
! If there be increasing difficulties in any
degree as to making appointments It Is
] because OF growing interference on the
/ part of ministers and laymen with the
Judgment OF the bishops as to what is
best for the work. since ministers demand
I 70 be Kept within the range OF moro
| lucrative charges, because they have had
one or two of that sort and they feel hu-
inflated and DEGRADED If they are sent even
TO small reduction.
Churches make it impossible for tho
bishops 10 justly arrange the work by IN
| sistihg on appointments, which IL granted.
compel widespread injustice as TO other
| members OF the conference. Conferences
pass resolutions protesting against trans
fers without equivalent exchange and
then wholly refuse transfer; thus putting
/ the appointing power where is must dis
! appoint a church by sending a man not
| wanted or cruelty man by sending him
| to disappointed officiary, If not a dis
I appointed church. This has reached a
| tyranny and self-will when they do what
the law of the church demands OF them.
Brotherhood and Amusements.
l. 1t is declared that the church has not yet
reached unanimity touching the removal of
the limit from the pastorste and on the
subject of the brotherhood recommends
that the conference recognize a brother
hood of the Methodist Episcopal church
and provide for the Incorporation OF the
brotherhood in the economy Of the local
church. assume some general direction and
enact such legislation may be deemed
necessary. Unification Of the work OF the
deaconnesses under a central board Is
recommended.
AS TO amusements and the book Of dis
cipline. the address continues:
We are moved by a profound conviction
q. o. doIS ,i N sgSin aga = ealing your attention 70
We regret that the general prevalence OF
harmful smusements does not diminish.
tagonistic TO vital piety, promotIve of
worldliness and especially pernicious TO
we recommend, not that paragraph AZ
be stricken out, but that II be amended by
striking out the eOnfessediy partial list OF
worldly amusements found therein, be-
ginning with the last word IN the eighth
line, and ending with the word 'other" In
the eleventh line. which were inserted in
1872, leaving the ground for church trial
In case such trial becomes necessary, that
portion of the paragraph reading. Taking
| such amusement obviously OF mis-
leading questionable tendency or dis
obedience to the order and discipline OF the
| church." and especially the rule taking
such diversions az cannot be used IN the
name Of the Lord Jesus" Grave Injustice
terpreted as an abandonment OF our early
opposition TO worldly amusement Indeed
: IT is a return to the principles and to the
exact words furnished In the writing OF
Forces in Civic Life.
: In the course OF a discussion of civic
! righteousness. the address says:
We see clearly that within the next gem
Grafton there are TO be great social changes.
| The influence of wealth on political life and
measures is 20 grow less, whether Il be
in the hands of individuals OF corporations.
Inc MOIkluEuen are 70 nave more power,
: the idlers less. With a restless and
iconoclastic future before US, We must both
lead and restrain both rehgious forces.
and wrongs. but he can never create the
desire 20 remedy the wrongs which are the
issue OF greed.
5 Satisfaction 10 expressed that there has
E been prevented the re-establishment OF
E the canteen and the fouiing again OF the
a nations hand by direct participation in
q the sale Of liquor
Then follows:
The consecutive poygamy permitted BY
the divorce laws OF some OF our states 4.
10 a disgrace TO our country. II continues m
70 undermine family life and 20 break Up into
4 helpless and warning factions that whlch
q God means shall he a unit We greatly
y | rel joicc that the conscience OF the nation.
J. ( Is being quickened and that the demand ful
J. uniform divorce laws increases
Z Capital Rnd Trades Unions.
The bishops have quite a little to say
2 as 70 working men and the conditions and