South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-26


mon from an average preacher and
know whether ne rs. Presbyterian,
Congre gatiOnalist. Baptist or MethO-
dist.
Now the place OF Methodism is but
one OF the units in this great organ
lied body which makes up the church.
This brings Us TO "A place where we
would answer the criticism Taa dc
against the Methodist church in a re-
cent circular distributed by a religi-
Gus body. The circular is called
What Do Method SITS Intend To Do"
The pamphlet refers 10 them as in
significant: as a denomination where
one does not expect much display Of
scholarship: 1.-THE church as a whole
cannot be placed Intellectually far
above the Salvation army" our de-
nomination IS called. narrow mind
ed, trouble making ''un-Ameri-
can"
Are Not Complaining
We are not complaining. We grant
the right OF free speach TO all. We
only wish TO state the humble place
which Methodism has in the great
work OF Christ.
AS TO the insignificance OF MethO-
dLsm. While she is among the young
est CT UNCONVENTIONAL bodies, she has
an almost unparalleled growth. Her
numbers are now nearly 10 million.
According 10 the National Church
statistics report, published in Feb. 9,
1914 In America alone MethOdists net
increase in 1913 was 100000. The
next largest was the Roman Cath
Ollie with 212,0O0; the Baptist $4,000.
the Presbyterian $500. the Lutheran
$4,000. Disciples 1850, Episcopal
$4,000.
As TO the change Of Methodism's
place in the intellectual world in
which il is declared that her mem
bership is on a par with the Salvation
army, IL might be said that MethO-
dism has always stood for the free
Bible, free school and higher educa-
ton. Methodism has been with other
Protestant bodies seeking TO place
the Bible into the hands Of every
home in all the world
It's founders were men of learning.
They had enjoyed the culture of an
Oxford training. Its board of bishops
SHY training. Many of them have
earned in their college days the Phi
Kappa Key and have had conferred
upon them the highest degrees of lit
erary and theological honors. And
this very day MethOdism owns go
schools and universities valued at
63C, 600, 900 dollars
The great chautauqua movement
which has brought learning to the
humblest American homes is a Metho-
dist invention, was conceived, plan
ned and wrought out by Bishop John
II. Vincent, L. L. D., whose son is
now president of the University of
Minnesota.
No Reply Needed.
AS to the Methodist church being
''uI American" hardly reply need to
be made. But every union soldier will
recall the Pres't LincOlns words in
1864. That immortal president
through the general conference ad-
dressed the following letter TO the
Methodist families scattered through
out the world:
Gentlemen: In response to your
address, allow me to attest the ac-
curacv of its historical statements in
dOrse the sentiments it expresses and
thank you in the nations name for
the promise it gives
"Nobly sustained as the govern
ment has been by all the churches, 1
would utter nothing which might IL
the least appear inVidiOus against any.
Yet. without this il may fairly be said
that the Methodist Episcopal church,
not less devoted than the best is by its
greater numbers the most important
of all. 1t is no fault in others that
the Methodist church sends more SOL
diers to the field, more nurses to the
hospitals, and more prayers to hea-
ven than any. God bless the Metho-
dist church! Bless all the churches.
And blessed be God, who in this
great trial, giveth Us the churches"
At least Abraham Lincoln did not
consider our body ''un-American."
Nothing To- BE Ashamed of.
"MethOdism has little in her history
to be ashamed OF. She ever has been
willing to cooperate with all towards
hUmanity's uplift She never. has by
utterance, or act said, outside Metho-
dism there is no salvation She never
has made the acceptance of her doc
trines as the sole basis of entrance
with life. She has never said to
/ those who did not agree with her
He who accepts not our doctrine let
him be Anathema. She never has
been guilty of prosecuting those who
did not see eye to eye with her. She
never yet has reared a cross builded
a rock or kindled a fagot. She
never has drawn sword to kill or
marched behind lines Of glitterng
steel to destroy. Her love for the
world is as great as was John Wes-
ley's, who said The World is my
Parrish Her charity is still as broad
rs her founder who said: Il desire a
league Of offensive and defensive with
every soldier of Jesus Christ She
considers herself today not as the
sole church but as a part OF that
great church which Jesus founded
when two thousand years ago he
said: / viii biuld my church and the
gates OF hell shall not prevail against
ii. We join hands today with the
great universal church which exalts
our Christ"
OEEnTN-sO