The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-12-14

Rev. Homer Bush, for many years
a prominent member of the South
Georgia Conference and well known
in Dawson and throughout this sec
ton, has given the press a statement
telling why he recently surrendered
his credentials as a minister OF the
gospel and withdrew from the
church. This statement, which was
sent to the South Georgia Confer
ence at it's recent session in Column
bus, says
Having terdered my ministerial
credentials and my membership in
the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, to my presiding elder, Rev.
E. F. Morgan, to be surrendered to
to the South Georgia Conference at
its session in Columbus, Ga, l desire
briefly to explain my reasons for so
doing.
| am not taking this step because
of any waning of faith. With in
creasing confidence | believe in the
Bible as the inspired and authOri-
tatiVe word of Jehovah in Jesus
Christ as the Redeemer and Savior
of men, and in the church as the
spirit begotten body and witness of
Christ in the world.
Nor does this step indicate any
personal trouble or feeling of any
kind, or rebellion or complaint be-
cause of injustice or unkindness
from any source. l have neither the
occasion nor the place in my heart
for anything akin to bitterness: With
gratitude 1 acknowledge the cOnsid
Grafton which has ever been shown
me and my family. Wherever l have |
served my relations have been pleas I
ant; and my associations, both in |
college work and in the pastorate, |
have resulted in the formation of |
many cherished friendships. My /
interest in these whom l have come
thus to appreciate and to love will /
abide through life.
But | am persuaded that it is
proper for me to take this step be-
cause | do not understand the scrip
lures to teach concerning the nature
of the church and it's mission and
function in the world as these things
are set forth in the accepted and
conceptions of the day.
and especially as they are embodied
and illustrated in the spirit and pro-
gram OF the modern church.
"WOrIdiiness of the Church."
S@Sne years ago | became impress
ed BY the prevalence of worldliness
in the church, and saddened by the
OF the world to the trag-
adY of it's own condition. Over these
things l meditated and mourned and
prayed. seeking special preparation
and grace for helping to remedy this
state Of affairs. Cont II
aing 90 pray and to search the scrip
lures diligently l was soon convinced !
that their teachings were in many
respects different to what | had been
taught to believe.
About this time there fell into
Plan of the Ages" by Mr. c. r. Rus
sal, and this served to open my eyes
to great deal more that | had not
perceived or understood concerning
the marvellous glory of the divine
for bringing the world .
back to righteousness and to life. /
As / have continued to see and re- /
jOice in these things they have been
a Source of inspiration and comfort .
to me-a stimulus to faith and an
incentive to increasing love to Him
wAose wisdom and power and grace
were exalted and magnified and
made to loom large and beautiful as
Fever before. 1t has caused the BIZ
bic to throw a flood of light on the
conditions in the church and the
world which formerly were a per-
picking mystery.
The church, especially in portions
of it's sundry creeds, still holds to
some features of the plan above, but
worldliness has wrought unbelief,
and the beauty of these features has