The Mena weekly star., 1908-05-14
MADE A GOOD GAIN
GROWTH OF METHoDlsM IN PAST FOUR YEARS NOTED AT GEN
 ERAL CONFERENCE.
ADDRESS OF THE BISHOPS PREsENTE
Twenty Thousand One Hundred ana Sixty-One Pastors Now Preach 1os- pei to 3,3o7,275 communicants m 13o Languages and DisIects-hec- ommcndations.

Baltimore, May 8.-The feature oI Thursdays sitting of the quadrenniai general conference of the Methoaisl Episcopal church was the presentation of the Episcopal address prepared Dys the bishops. Bishop A. Goodseh oi Boston read the address.
 The address of the bishops, alter recalling general conferences hitherto held in this city, and historical events of the church which had Baltimore TOT their scenes, notes gain in the num- Der of communicants during the past four years of 27S,357, the greatest gain during any similar period for 10 years Other figures show the mum Der of ministers in the annual confer ences (not including local preachers) to be 19,353, an increase of LII. The total pastoral army numbers 20,lol. These preach the gospel in 13O lang uages and dialects.
 The total gain in church property for the four years last past is s32.678.- 431, while the total valuation Of churches and parsonages is $lS6,924.- 024. The membership in the United States Is now 3,036,0O0, while in the whole world the number is 3.307, ,275, at the close of 1907. The foreign com municants number 267,000. As to amusements, and the book of disci- pline, the address says:
 "We recommend that paragraph PAS be amended by striking out the con- fessedly partial list of worldly amuse- ments found therein, beginning with the last word in the eighth line. and ending with the word other" in the 11th line, which were inserted in 1872, leaving as the ground for church trial, in case such trial becomes necessary, that portion of the paragraph reading: taking such amusements as are ob- viously of misleading or questionable moral tendency, or disobedience to the order and discipline of the church, and especially our original rule, to taking such diversions as cannot be used in the name of the Lord Jesus
 Grave injustice will be done if this recommendation is interpreted as an abandonment of our early opposition to worldly amusements, Indeed. 1t Is return to the principles and to the exact words furnished by John Wes- ley"
 As to divorce: "The conservative policy permitted by the divorce laws of some of our states Is disgrace to our country. It continues to under mine family life and to break up into helpless and warning factions that which God means shall be a unit We greatly rejoice that the conscience of the nations Is being quickened on this subject and that the demand for uni form divorce laws increases" The reading of the address ire quently was interrupted by applause as the venerable bishop voiced some l telling point in the document When he had read it's scathing denunciation of the liquor traffic he called upon the delegates to rise here, now, and with the bishops pledge eternal enmity to this foe of man and God" the entire assemblage sprang to Its feet, utter ing cheer after cheer One of the delegates started to sing America" " The great throng caught up the hymn and the hall resounded with it's strains. As the last refrain ceased some one began the hymn. "Gloryl Glory! Halleujah, Our God is march ing on." This new outlet of the en- thusiasm, which seemed to grow, was seized upon, and to the tune of John Browns Body" the verse was repeated several times.