Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-08
BIG GAINS
IN CHURCH
BISHOPS CONFERENCE HEARS
INTERESTING ADDRESS
INCREASE OF 27a,a57 coMMUNI-
cANTs REVEALED
Pastoral Army breaches Gospel in 1870
Languages and Districts-TotaI
Gain in Property of
$32,67s,431
BY Associated Press.

BALIlMOhE, May line Iedture
of todays sitting of the quadrennial
general conference of the Methodist
Episcopal bishops was representa-
tion of the episcopal address prepared
by the bishops. Bishop Daniel A.
Goodsel of Boston read the address.
The address notes a gain in the
number of communicates during the
last years of 27S,357, the greatest dur
ing any similar period for sixteen
years. The total pastoral army" num-
bers 20,161. These, according to the
address, preach the gospel in 130 Ian
guagcs and dialects.
The total gain in church property
for the four years is $32678,431 and
the total valuation of churches and
parsonages is 1S6,924024
The membership in the United States
is 3,036,000 while in the whole world
the number was 3,307,275 at the close
of 1907.
Figures are given showing that since
the last general conference the value
of educational grounds and buildings
has increased $4,6S2,539 and is now
$25,761,547 total endowments $2S.S5o.-
4S6, an increase of $5,S60,384, and the
value of educational property and en-
dowment, exclusive of debt, has in
creased 11,141,892 and is now $47,-
569.532.
Heresy Is Discussed
Relative to investigation of charges
of heresy by the bishops the address
says:
I'VE are unanimously of the opinion
that the bishops ought not to be
charged with any functions of investi-
cations" and that preliminary inves-
tigation in these cases should be con-
fined to the annual conference of the
body which has Lawful. jurisdiction
Touching the support of the ministry
| the address says:
while we still insist it is unwise
| to plan for emoluments in the church
which are likely to make the access
sories of salary and have more at
| tractiye than the work itself, it Is the
| highest wisdom to offer such support
as secures freedom from anxiety as
well as modest provisions for intelli-
gence, culture and education of chill
dren.
IF there be increasing difficulties in
any degree as to making appointments
1t is because of growing interference
on the parts of ministers and laymen
with the judgment of bishops as to
what is best for the work. We keenly
feel the embarrassing thus caused by
both ministers and churches by pro-
ceedings wholly outside the law"
Favors Brotherhood
The address recommends that the
conference recognize a brotherhood of
the Methodist Episcopal church. Uni
fication of the work of the deaconesses
under central board is recommended
AS to amusements and the book of
discipline the address continues:
I'VE are moved by profound con-
viction of duty in again calling your
attention to the subject of popular
amusements in relation to the spirit
and conduct of spiritual life. We re-
gret that the great prevalence of harm
full amusements does not diminish.
We still firmly hold that they are an
tagonistic to vital piety, promotive of
worldliness and especially pernicious
to youth.
1--WE recommend, not that paragraph
248 be stricken out, but that it be
amended by striking out the confessed
ly partial list of worldly amusements
found therein, beginning with the last
word in the eighth line and ending
with the word other in the eleventh
line, which were inserted in 1872. leav-
ing as the ground for church trial In
case such trial becomes necessary that
portion of the paragraph reading:
Amendment Favored
Taking such amusements as are OBJ
viously of misleading or questionable
moral tendency, or disobedience to the
order and discipline of the church, and
especially our original rule, to taxing
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 amusement. Indeed 1t is
return to the principles and to the ex-
act words furnished by John Wesley"
In the course of a discussion of civic
righteousness the bishops say:
I'VE see clearly that within the next
generation there are to be great social
changes. The influence of wealth on
political life and morals is to grow less,
whether it be in the hands of individ-
uals or corporations. The workingmen
are to have more power, and idlers less.
With a restless and iconoclastic future
before us, we must both lead and re-
strain by religious forces"
Satisfaction Is expressed that there
has been prevented "the re-esta blish-
ment of the canteen and the fouling
again of the nations hand by direct
participation in the sale of liquor"
Divorce Laws a Disgrace
As to divorce: 'The consecutive
polygamy permitted by the divorce laws
of some of our states is a disgrace to
our country. 1t continues to undermine
family life and to break UP into help
less and warning factions that which
God means shall be a unit We greatly
rejoice that the conscience of the nation
is being quickened on this subject and
the demand for uniform divorce laws
increased
AS to Mormonism the bishops de-
clare: 1--WE believe from the best evil
dence we can obtain that the polyga-
NOUS practices of the past are still
found in the states and territories oc-
cupied in part by representatives or the
Mormon bodies In several states they
have such political strength and fur
nit'. such sympathetic juries that the
law against such polygamous practices
are not executed.
1--WE believe that, as in divorce, these
tConttnued on Page Twoa