The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-05-09
WORK OF CHURCH
SCORED IN REPORT
MADE BY BISHOPS
Methodist L e a d er S
"Shanned" by Fig
ures for Year
GROW 2 PER GENT
Bishops Would Emphasize
Distinctive Doctrines of
Denomination
GROW 2 PER CENT

Minneapolis, Mimi Because See
retary OF Agriculture Wilson presided
at the international brewers associa-
ton convention, the Methodist gen
eral conference today adopted resolu
tions censuring him and advising all
Methodists to withdraw their support
from him and from other officials OF
the government who encouraged his
service for the brewers. Taft men in
the conference fought the resolution.
Much interest is taken in the pro-
pos al to limit the term of service OF
ministers to five years in one pulpit,
which is supported by 2i bishops. At
present 19, 600 Methodist Episcopal
ministers scattered over the world are
allowed to remain at any post indeii-
nitely. In support of the proposed
plan it is urged as desirable because
under it some of the churches may
not have less able ministers all the
time and none of the churches may
have better ministers exclusively and
prominent pulpits, now held by few
may be thrown open to younger men.
Against the scheme it is said that
ministers who plan great work must
have time for its accomplishment and
that many great preachers have left
the church because of the time limit.
Minneapolis, Mimi. Criticism OF
the condition which enabled the
church to gain less tnan 2 per cent
in its membership in the last year
and charges that the church press was
being used as free forum by the
promoters of disaffection' were made
i'm the bishops report to the Quadren-
nial general conference OF the Meth
odist Episcopal church today.
The report, known as the 'episco-
pal address, was signed by eighteen
bishops in this country and six bish-
OBS in foreign countries and is re-
garded as the most important docu-
ment TO come b fore the conference
as it contains the bishops recommen-
dations for future guidance and pol
icy o the church.
"ln the last year, said the report,
''the church has made Il net gain OF
but 60 600. which is less than , per
cent, as the outcome of the year ac-
tivities and the outlay of many mil
lions of dollars. This statistical para
doX glares us out OF eountenance III
shames and humiliates us. Wh"t are
honors of office worth in any army
that does not win battles? No marvel
that some are proposing to reduce the
major generals TO post duty and let
the army dissolve into antique ecclesl-
astcal camps" This was reference
les of a local district of the bishops
whose jurisdiction now is universal
Some of the reasons for the meagel
growth, as, set forth, were laid to q
too strict application of the new law
of the church demanding that al
members who remove from a givel
community without their church let
ters be dropped from membership al
ter one year.
"A fair calculation," the repor
said. revealed the astonishing fac
that probably not less than 100000
members disappeared from our roll
by reckless use of the dropping pro
cess
.sNevertheless we still face the pat
ent fact that our distinctive doctrine
are not being emphasized as the
We're once, or where preached are dis
credited for the time by gainsayin
dorld drunk with vain philosophie
and sated with gluttonous indulge1
ces.'
Pleading for an emphasis on tn
distinctive wesleyan doctrines > tn
report said they we've the only powe
to save the nation against vice.
"Where is the evidence that sc
ence has even regenerated one sou
or that culture has converted or
libertine or taken envy, malice, prld
jealousy or greed out of any heart
These utterances are not reactional
unless the world has outgrown Jes'
Christ.
"Our second lapse is that our sy
TEN is not being worked as it forme
ly. Certain distinctive parts ha'
been abandonedfi oaths modified. !
uoyations, noxious to our pastoral