Evening journal., 1910-12-13
CALLS CHURCH
TO ITS DUTY
Bishop Berry Would Have
MethOdiStS Work for Souls
Rather Than Dollars
URGES EVANGELISTIC
CAMPAIGN FOR MEMBERS

st. Pauls M. +. Church was filled
this morning with district superin-
tendents, ministers, laymen and mem
bers of the Methodist Episcopal
Church from all parts of Delaware
and the Eastern Shore of Maryland
at the meeting called for the purpose
Of the advancement of evangelism In
the churches of this conference.
This mornings meeting was pre-
sided over by the Rev. f. l.. Hoffeck-
err, superintendent of the Wilmington
District. who was assisted by the Rev
Robert Watt. superintendent of the
Eastern District, the Rev. c. p. Jones
superintendent o. the Salisbury Dis
trict, DR.. r. X. Stephenson, Dover
district, and the Rev. G. A. Hill, pas
tor of st. Pauls Church.
Communion service was observed
at the opening OF the meeting. FOL
lowing the communion, DR.. HoneckeI
introduced Bishop Berry, Of Bunalo
N. Y, as the principle speaker. bisn-
Oh Anderson was unable to get mere
The Bishop stated that he had been
relieved of his duties at two confer
ences that he Nigh come to Whining
TON to assist I'm getting the churches
Of the Wilmington District started
on a sweeping evangelistic campaign
such a compaign may soon be started
throughout the country, ne salo' III az
effort to get more people Tor th'
churches. , 80
He said the Methodist Church nae
haen made to grow and that severa
of her sister churches were holding
their own. but for that the Methodist
Church was never meant. Inc Meell
odist Church was made either 20 g
ahead or fall behind, he said ana ina
it was doing more going ahead thaf
dropping behind.
I'VE have reached the age he con
tinued. when It is necessary ina
some new method of aggressive
evangelism be adopted to win the
church back to its old position o
self-sacrifce and heroism. IL Is th'
soldier form Of evangelism that W.
need 80 badly to-day The kind tina
fights. that suffers, that sacrifices ant
that never gives up until heroic pat
/ tie is won"
Bishop Berry said the church ha'
grown wonderfully I'm the last year
notably IN finances, S49,O0O,0OO nav
ing been raised by the Methodists II
this country. OF this amount Slo,
coo. 900 mad been used for ministerla
services. and the remainder Tor th'
various expenses OF the church an'
the charities which had been asAlnl
their aid
The growth Of the church showed
net increase OF $4,000 members, or
comparative gain OF two and ma
mempers Tor each church during IN
year. The speaker pointed out tnat "a
millions that mad gone into the mi
s.onary work and the uplilt Of IN
dan kened races was a pretty lara
amount to expend for the gain OF Nv
and a half members to a church.
He said that he lelt that they wer
ali to blame in a measure Tor the Ia'
because he thought that the fnancis
side of the church and its needs we
emphasized so much more ferventl
than the work of the salvation OF IN
sinners and the winning of new mem
hers. That the idea OF the tinancia
necessities of the church was crowd
ing out the need Of the gaining OF ne'
members he felt sure and urged tina
a wide evangelistic campaign be IN
| augurated.
"There is continual pressure, pres
sure, pressure for dollars everywher
in our churches" the Bishop contin
ued. "Now let us get together and hay
a little pressure for the sinners a
well as the. dollar. The. whole truth q
the matter is that we are all slumbeT
ing when we ought to be awake an
busy"
Another meeting will be held In s
Paurs Church this afternoon and on
In Grace Church this evening to en-
courage the evangelistic movemen
Bishop Berry and others will speak.