Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-03
Episcopal Address to Methodist Gen,
eral Conference Complains of
Membership Gain.
REASONS FOR MEAGER ADVANCE
Less Than Two Per Cent of Add.
tions During Period.
CHURCH PRESS is AT FAULT
Lends Ear to Those Who Spread
Disaffeetion.
DOCTRINES ARE NOT DISTINCTIVE
Too Little Emphasis Being Placed
Upon Them-Use of EyangeIists
and Calling Pastors Bot h
Condemned.

Condemned.
| MINNEAPOLIS. May 2-Criticism Of
the condition which enabled the church
to gain less than per cent in its mem
bership in the last year." and charges
that the church press was being used
AS free forum by the promoters OF
disaffection." were made In the bishops
report to the quadrennial general con-
ference Of the Methodist Episcopal
church today.
The report. known as the Episcopal
Address was signed by eighteen bish-
ops in this. and six bishops in foreign
countries and is regarded as the most
important document to come before the
conference. as 1t contains the bishops
recommendations for the future guidance
and policy of the church.
The report was read by Bishop Earl
Cranston OF Washington. d. c. Another
section upon which the bishops have been
at work since the last general conference
at Baltimore four years ago will be de-
livered tomorrow.
WI euth Two Ber Cent
In the last year" said the report,
the church has made a net gain Of
but $500 which is less than per cent as
the outcome of the years activities and
the outlay OF many millions Of dollars.
The statistical paradox glares us out Of
countenance. 1t shames and humiliates
us What are honOrs OF office worth in
.l.. 4
marvel that some are proposing to reduce |
the major generals TO post duty and let |
the army dissole into antiquated eceles-
isatlcal camps"
This was reference TO a proposed |
limiting Of the activities to local dis
trict Of the bishops whose jurisdiction
now is universal
Some OF the reasons for the meager
growth, as set forth. were laid TO "A too
strict application OF the law of the church
demanding that all members w1o re-
move from a given community without
their church letters be drapped from
for bne year.
"A fs'r calculation the report said,
reveals the astounding fact flint prob
ably not less than 10000 members dis-
from our rolls by reckless use
n the dropping process
Old Doctrines Partly Abandoned.
Nevertheless We still face tae patent
act that our distinctive doctrines are
not being emphasized as they were once.
'r where preached. are discredited for
he time by q gainsaying world drunk {
With vain PHILOSOPHERS and sated with I
;luttlnous indulgences."
Pleading for an emphasis on ths lis
lnctive Wesleyan doctrines. the report :
aid they were the only power to save I
he nation against vice.
Where is the evidence that science q
as ever regenerated one soul. or that I
ulture has redeemed one Hbertine or q
AIKEN envy, malice pride. jealousy o.
reed out Of any heart. These utteranceY
re not reactionary unless this woEld (
as outgrown Jesus Christ
''Our second lapse is that our system
J not being worked as il formerly was
ertain distinctive parts have been aban-
oned, others modified. Innovations, nox.
'us TO our pastoral as well as to our !,
lpervisional methods. have intervene1 ;,
, the hurt of both"
The report condemned the practice that a,
as said to have grown up in certain :,
lurches Of calling In evangelists TO carry :,
revival services as against the former /,
lstom which placed the local pastor In h
large Of that work. :.
"Calling" Pastors is Condemned. h
Turning from this the report condemned
,e so-called congregational system Of 9
illing pastors for local churches, which
as said to have become general In
ethodism.
Referring to discussions In the church
iblications the report said:
We understand the church maintaIns
press for the advocacy Of her doctrines
ID the defense Of her polity when as u
lied. not as free forum for the vagar- IL
5 Of writer's who measure all problems 81
their own dooryards. or to Officially oi
notion the promoters Of disaffection. c'
lille We would not restrain dignified ol
d legitimate discussion of proposed 81
lendments 'or reforms. we deprecate
E admission Of ill-considered and intem- p'
rate criticisms Ct our polity or church u
encies."
)ne Of the proposals before this con- L
renee is that the bishops be placed in l.
finite charge Of the work in the terrs
~ adjacent TO their episcopal resi-
noes On this point the report said:
We ask the fixing of two or three
IRE episcopal residences in this country tn
strategic centers. With these add la
ms We believe that areas for Episcopal tir
can be so related to the resi-. XII
nee cities as to meet the express de- in
e for continuous oversight by resident hs
hops without any infroition Of the ye
itriCtiye rule" ch