The Daily Missoulian., 1912-08-25
A NOTABLE CONFERENCE

Vi
For week the annual conference Of the Methodist Epis-
copa church has been in session in Mssoula Its debera
tions have been important. In respects this
ference has been the most notable Of all those that have
been held in this state by the great church organization
which it represents Those who have followed the course
of the meetings. either through the reports in the news
papers by personal attendance cannot fail TO realize the
fact that the Methodists keeping pace with the times
1t has seemed to that the conference which is now
closing its sessions here has evidenced broader spirit than
has generally been credited to the Methodist church and
to other churches we'll From intercourse with the
members OF the conference and from study of the pro-
ceedngs as far as we have been able get in touch with
them it has seemed that there is tendency the part
OF this wonderfully effective church organization to hold
less aoo from people Of the world and purpose to
meet better than half way.
There have been several questions considered during the
days OF the conference which have made clear this dsposi
ton. The church closely in touch with the world
understands better its needs is earnest in its desire to
meet these than it used to be- We say more earnest be-
cause greater earnesness the natural consequence of the
better understanding which exists.
AS regard it, there could be effective means
o accomplishing the end for which all church work is
ganzed and carried on than get into this closer touch
with the world outside and to attain this better understand
ling of the needs of its people, The joy the sinner
who returns is not merely formal when these conditions
prevail 1t sincere heartfelt and practical 1t consists
lot something than chill smile and invitation to
rent pew in church. 1t manifess itself first in sincere
effort to get at the personal need OF this particular sinner
and to help him in the fight with the particular devil he
has to contend with
For long time the churchman misunderstood the publf
can just much the publican misunderstood the church.
Much of this mutual misunderstanding has been cleared up
and more of it will be cleared up soon The influence of
such the presiding bishop of this conference all
lin this direction And it is better for the church it is
infinitely better for the publican.
The command to go out into the world and sinners
has been long mSntepeted else the sighterS of the
gospel battery have given their guns too high elevation
for there has been lot OF wasted ammunition good deal
o the attack has been the heads of lot of people with
h,.c
at great distance.
We are firmly convinced that there are some sinners in
Mssoula to whom will be much to the glory of the
church will be the salvation of lot of people China
And these Mssoua sinners within easy reach moreover
they just great sinners any that China pro-
duce. When the church gets into touch in way
other with the local crop of sinnersthen it accomplish
ing its great work TO do this it not necessary to neglect
the Oriental Sinners but the home product should not be
neglected for the sake of the crop across the seas
Looking the reports which made to the confer
ence during the week notice that of all the graduates OF
the deaconess hospital school for nurses and only
has engaged in foreign missionary work. The rest have
found enough to keep them busy in working among their
neghbors 1t this lesson which the Holy Grail taught
suffering neghbor has first call upon each of usn the
church or out of it,
! This is not intended to be lay sermon-though it is
reaching out into that rather presumptuous form Of express
son 1t is intended only the formulating Of of the
to interesting observations of the week We believe that
the better get acquainted with the church and the better
the church acquainted with the better will be for all
| OF us.
Sometimes we feel that the ministers do not understand
the newspaper oiicebut then reflect that perhaps the
newspaper office does understand the minister's We do
feel however that there is newspaper office this
ing which understands the ministers better than it did
week ago. We would be mighty glad if we thought the min
ers had gained in understanding Of and of purpose
For it is only through understanding that team work
develop and only through team work that any good
be accomplished along any line.
working toward The
Of
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