New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-01
BISHOP S7RS MIETHOD|STS.
New Head of Church Here
Greets Ministers at Meeting.
MORAL REFORM NEEDED
Missions and Unity Discussed
Minister Attacks Gaynor-Dr.
Wilson Has Unusual Powers.

Bishop Luther 3. Wilson, the new resi-
dent superintendent of New York Metn-
odism, greeted the ministers of this dis
trict yesterday at their Monday meeting.
There were present ministers from New
Jersey. Brooklyn. Manhattan ard The
Bronx and the Hudson counties The rev
Bishop comes from Philadelphia, as
signed 10 this district by the last Gem
eral Conference.
The subjects ne emphasized on taking
charge were three: The moral condit' ons
Of New York the part OF Methodism IN
teaching and helping people born In for
eign lands and the necessity for unity
among Methodists II much Is to be ac-
comrlished.
Bishop Wilson. in his address 20 the
pastors. said:
1.-THE moral condition in New York at
the moment Is not what Christians could
wish II 10 be. II IS discouraging TO Chri =
tian workers. II political power is being
prosttuted 10 base purposes that fact IL
, dshcartening. 1 want 20 give and want
you to give. oil pos lble doubt TO tales We
hear.
! ~ political Job Is O most difficult one.
There are many ways 10 fail. There are
! many stories aioat that are not true.
But, after expressing all reasonable
doubt and making all needed advances.
/ II seems to me the situation is one to give
Us pause.
New York Is a city set on hill. All
the world tales note OF wfat 1t does. II Is
regarded abroad as essentially Chrls-
| tan city. Is Il? Do we wish II 10 stand
I'm the worlds eyes on It's record OF the
uCment? II seems TO me that az men, AZ
| Metz odists and as ministers II is time
we lent a hand to correct some OF these
wrongs"
The Bishop. who IS president OF the
! Foreign Mission Board OF his Church.
spoke OF foreign missions. bat added INT
mediately: I'VE have sympathy for dark
! est Africa. and would help. We have no
less sympathy for darkest New York. We
have no right TO leap over New York 9
needs in feve ish excitement TO relieve
China. Has MethOdsm done all II might
do for foreigners I'm New York; He
added that he did not know, but pointed
|
! The Bishops third appeal was for unity
among Methodists. lie said he head
from many quarters that Meteodists had
not accomplished much OF late years In
New York. and he also heard II openly
declared that II was not probable II would
accomplish much In the near future. lie
/ dlsclaimed agreement with these state
ments. but said he feared II 10 be true
that Methodism had not advanced greatly
| here within the last few years.
Yet MethodIsm IL not dec0dent,' he
Ldded. and several times thereafter In his
long talk on this matter OF Method {
unity, cooperation between churches and
organizations he repeated this statement
that Methodsm was not falling here or
elsewhere. lie feared. he said. that Meth
odism IN New York TOO often separated
Z the classes and the masses, with not
! lnfreouent leaning toward the classes. He
/ warned the ministers. both In his address
: and In his long prayer, ttat Christs cause
would succeed in New York only II they
| sacrificed themselves 10 the general good
Bishop Wilson comes TO New York as
Methodist resident superintendent for
/ four years under conditions different
from any OF mis- predecessors Because OF
ciamor for bishops with permanent gu
pervision over 81, en- fields. as in the case
OF Catholic and Episcopal bishops. the
last General Conference made conces-
sion ard gave the superint, nden.s arge
OF district and Bishop Wilson's turts-
dictlon includes a considerable number Of
/ conferences.
/ Immediately following the address or
| the Bishop the Rev. Dr +. c. Iglehart
attacked The record Of Mayor Gaynor IN
| falling 70 close saloons on Sundays. lie
said he told the Mayor two years ago
such a course on his part would lead TO
open crime and riot OF murder, and II
had done SO. Had the Mayor enforced
the law, declared the minister. he and
not Governor Wilson would now be can
didate for President lie said Theodore
Roosevelt had closed New York's saloons,
and Il was that act that made him Presi-