The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-02
Report of Bishops to Methodist
QuadrenniaI Conference
Calls Attention to Many Need
ed Changes and Reforms.
A NET GAIN OF BUT $4,000
To Show for Years Work ana
Outlay of Millions.
Half a Million Members Are
Dropped From the Rolls.

MINNEAPOLIS. May 2-Criticism of the
condition which enabled the church "
gain less than 2 per cent in lts lleiii-
bership in the last year and chdrs
that the church press was belng useu
''as a free forum by the promoters oi
disafection" were made IN the DIST
OBS report to the quad II genera
conference of the Methodist Eplscopal
church today.
The report known as the Episcopal
address was signed by Is bishops III
this. and bishops in foreign coun-
tries, and is regarded as the most I'M
portant document to come before the
conference as it contains the bishops
recommendations for the future Sulo-
ance and policy of the church.
The report was read by Bishop Earl
Cranston of Washington, D. Z. AnopheA
section, upon which the blshopS haVG
been at work since the last genera
conference at Baltimore four years aso'
will be delivered tomorrow.
I'm the last year." said the report,
1.-The church has made net gam Oh
but $1,000 which is less than per cent
as the outcome of the years acllN4t1eS
and the outlay of many millions OF ool-
lars. The statistical paradox glareS US
ont of countenance. It shames ana
humiIiates US. What are honors OF
Offices worth in any army that ooes
not win battles? No marvel that some
are proposing to reduce the major gem
erals to post duty, and let the army
dissolve into antique ecclesiastical
camps"
This was a reference to a proposed
limiting of the activities to local DIS
trict of the bishops whose jurisdiction
now is universal.
Some of the Reasons.
Some of the reasons for the meaSeI
growth, as set forth were lalo 10 q
too strict application OF the law OF
the church demanding that all mem
bers who remove from given com
uunity without their church letters
be dropped from membership after
one year s,ia
"A fair calculation" the report SAD
reveals the astounding tact tnat
probably not less than 100000 mem
bers disappeared from our rolls py
reckless use of the dropping process
Nevertheless we stll race tne
patent fact that our distinctive DOC
frines are not being emphasized as
thev were once or where preacheo'
are discredited for the time by a gam
saving world drunk with vain phlloso-
phies and sated with gluttonous lnoul-
gences." +La
distinctive wesleyan doctrines, the re-
mort said they were the only power |
to save the nation against vice.
ssWhere is the evidence that science
hes ever regenerated one soul or that
culture has redeemed one libertine, or |
taken envy malice, pride, jealousy or |
greed out of any heart? These utter |
ances are not reactionary, unless TINS
world has outgrown Jesus Christ.
ssOur second lapse is that our sys- |
tenn is not being worked as 1t former
" was Certain distinctive parts have
been abandoned, others modified. m
novations. noxious to our pastoral as
well as to our supervlsional methods;;
have interviewed to the hurt of both"
Condemns Evangelists.
The report condemned the practice
that was said to have grown up in
certain churches of calling In evangel-
lists to carry on revival services as
against the former custom which
placed the local pastor in charge of
that work.
Turning from this the report con-
demned the socalled congregational |
system of calling pastors for local
churches which was said to have be-
come general in Methodism.
Referring to discussions in the |
church publications, the report said:
1--WE understand the church main
tains press for the advocacy of her
doctrine and the defense of her polity |
when assailed, not as a free forum |
for the vagaries of writer's who meas
ure all problems by their own door
yards, or officially to sanction the pro-
moters of disaffection. While we |
would not restrain dignif1ed and legiti- |
mate discussion of proposed amend |
ments or reforms, we deprecate the |
admission of inconsiderate and intem-
perate criticisms of our polity, or |
church agencies
One of the proposals before this
conference is that the bishops be |
placed in definite charge of the work
in the territory adjacent to their Epis- |
copal residences. On this point the
report said:
I'VE ask the fixing of two or three |
more Episcopal residences in this
country at strategic centers With
these additions We believe that areas
for Episcopal supervision can he co
related to the residence cities as to
meet the express desire for continuous
oversight by residenu. bishops without
any lnfraction of the restrictive rl5le
The conference ordered a coproiS- !
sion appointed to investigate the E,1is
copal supervision of the 325.OOo neern (
members in southern states. WiIii9rn
w Lucas of Meridian. Miss. charged
That although Bishop Thomas r. Me-
" IS residence was fixed as New ORLEANS
the bishop had resided there nor more
than 80 days in the last four 1,aa,r
Mr. Lucas and other southern. delega+es
declared that unless the negro roeTobe,e
secured the leadership they so,; ,-l,+ +Lc,
Hro