Evening journal., 1913-03-26

extent initiated against the Be
nevolences. First, the action Of the
General Conference relative TO divi-
sion OF the Sunday School missionary
money. Next. the literal interpre-
tation. involving an immediate ap-
plication OF the new provisions con-
corning the support OF our Confer
ence Claimants, and last Of all the
belated and unwise action of the
General Conference in loading down
the Episcopal Fund with matters
hitherto foreign TO il. thus necessita-
ting so radical an increase ia the
apportionment late in the year as 10
embarrass both pastors and people
Yet from the data now at hand II
looks as though there would be a
creditable increase in the benevol-
ences on Easton District. IL is safe
TO say, however, that the increase
would have been considerably larger
but for the hindrances mentioned
There is on the part Of the pastors
an increasing appreciation Of import
ance Of these claims. Why? The
answer Is at hand. The pastor is in
formed, hence inspired with enthus-
iasm born Of information The
church press is found in the parson-
age, and also the literature bristling
with facts that stir the heart, publish
ed by the various Benevolent Boards
OF the church. But what OF the lay
member? With comparatively rare
exceptions he is not informed. No
church paper finds its way into his
home. Literature Of a miscellaneous
and technical character, the latter
pertaining TO his particular business
affairs. can be found I'm abundance
but not Methodist literature. He is
not in touch with the movements Of
World Wide Methodism. He is doing
everything in his power to become an
intelligent business man, in agricul-
ture, commerce, or professional life,
but he is making no appreciable ef-
fort to become an intelligent, wide
awake Methodist. The picture is
overdrawn you say. Is It? Looked at
in the light of but one fact, viz, that
among the $4,000 members and pro-
bationers in our territory less than
500 Christian Advocates are taken Less
than one in 700 Not a fact to feel
elated over surely. Il is a safe and
sane prediction to assert that when
every official in Methodism, and good
~ proportion of our membership give
a place In the home to the Great
Oficial.' not to mention the lesser
lights in the way of unofficial church
papers. there will be a much larger
response to the call of the church
through its benevolent enterprises.
And none but the hard pressed, dill
gent pastor who makes again and
again a faithful canvass for our
chief official organ, the Christian Adj
vocate, know how many are the re-
buns suffered The cost the cost
is the usual cry How pitiful is such
an objection in the light of the fact
that one Of the greatest, II not the
grestest religious paper published
between these oceans can be had for
less than four cents a week. Well
informed givers will mean larger
givers TO this there are no known
exceptions II Is gratifying to learn
that the Easton District has furnish
ed a fair share OF the Ave thousand
Increase in the circulation of oul
Christian Advocate.
! Increase Of Benevolences.
"The child OF a revival Of Religion
the Methodist Episcopal Church mus
ever find her chief concern in tn
salvation OF souls When evangef
{ ism of the New Testament type lose
!. its interest for us as a denomination
} and is RELOCATED to a subsidiary place
J among our church activities 'Ichabo'
will be written across our borders
} for our glory will have departed Il
there such a danger? II would 81
} seem In the light Of recent events
J Elise why the creation Of a Commits
sion on Aggressive Evangelism and al
appeal for at least an increase Of tel
per cent of our total membership
b We have been in danger of commit
ting the sin of Israel in the number
ing OF the people. Socially ant
: financially we are far IN advance O
the Fathers, but on the spiritual sid
how stands the case? The comm
OF the early itinerant into back
slidden and vice-ridden communit
; was the signal for all sorts OF attack
: on the part of the servants of evi
l The reason? Who need ask Tn
; presence OF that fearless itinerar
BODIED III for the kingdom Of satan.
nearly every instance a revival follow
d ed, a sociay was established, and
: representative Of Righteousness in tn
: form Of Methodist Church took il
. place in that community. And is th
: modern Methodist Minister a veal
= ling? Is he recreant to his chief mis-
sion? Does he take his cue from n