Evening journal., 1914-05-18
HITS At POLITICS IN
methodist Church
Some Preachers, However,
Disagree With Mr.. Cookies
Indictment of Conference
DR.. REED THINKS
THE PAPER TIMELY

mated and that for the past twenty
i've or thirty years the General Con-
erences OF the -.urch mad been SHINING
gainst the church by enactimg legisla-
ion, the effect of which was 10 divert
he church from the principles on its
ounders to do away with responsibil-
ty of government in the church and to
emovc the church from the sympathies
# the common people, was read before
he meeting of the Methodist Preach
RS Association this morning by the
Rev. George \. Cooke, pastor Of Wes
cy NJ. h. Church, and discussed by the
association but no action was taken
lhe paper was headed. Needed Iegis
alton that should be enacted by Tho
Next General Conference
Members of the association asked
hat it be made plain that the paper
lid not express the sentiment of th'
association and was simply received foi
discussion.
The paper presented by Mr.. Cook
follows;
For the past % or 80 years our
General Conferences have been
shining against the church by en-
acting legislation the effect OF
which is to divert the church
from the principle of its found
ers; to do away with responsi-
bility in the government of the
church; to remove the church
from the sympathies and inter-
ests of the common people. These
mistakes can be remedied only by
good legislation, calculated TO un-
do the wrongs Of the past. There
is no other expiation for these
sins.
1. The legislation of 1912 re-
lating to the retirement OF
bishops paragraphs 210, 213l
should be abrogated. The third
restrictive rule forbids the Cen
eral Conference passing any
legislation in reference to our
Episcopacy. For the same rea-
son paragraphs SAP and 543 relat-
ing TO continuous and continu-
ance Episcopal supervision
should be repealed. II is a bad
and unwarranted evasion of the
constitution.
>. There should be legislation
to eliminate the pernicious poll
ties that monopolized so much OF
the time of the recent General
Conference. There should be
law to limit the number of gem
eral superintendent that can be
elected by any general CONFER
ence. There should never be a
greater number than one for
every ten annual conferences.
There should be only one execu-
tive official for each administra-
tive board, one publishing agent
one secretary for the Board CT
Foreign Missions and one secre-
tary for the Board of Home Ms
sions and Church Extension.
These should be given power TO
appoint their subordinates. There
should be no more than four OF
fetal editors elected by q Gen
eral Conference. Such Legislation
would of itself eliminate two
thirds OF the evils of our church
politics and allow the delegates
much more time TO devote to the
legitimate affairs of the church.
3. In the interest of the more
serviceable and more RESPONSE
bic Episcopacy, there should be
legislation to make our general
superintendents jointly RESPONSE
Bile for legislation at General
Conferences. They should be re-
quired to exercise a restrictive
veto power over our chief legisla-
tive body to compel greater eau
ton and deliberation on the part
of the conference and to preserve
the constitution inviolate. In ad-
dition there should be a law tc
require our bishops at their semi
annual meetings to pass judgment
on all questions of law that are
appealed from annual confer.
ences, said decisions to be pub
lished i'm the advocates of the
church and printed in the dis
cipline as official decisions. Our
present methods of deciding
questions of law is wholly made
Quate, universally unsatisfactory
4. There should be a law tC
quire all subsidiary corporations
such as benevolent boards, edu
cational institutions and elee
mosynary institutions that are
under the jurisdiction or undel
the auspices of the church, L
have their charters harmonizeC
with the construction of thu
church and that will clearly de
fine the authority of our gen
eral superintendents in relation
to the administration of suel
subsidiary corporations. Ou
church is a correctional institution
and correctional institution
must be centrally governed il
order to preserve the true bal
ance of centrifugal forces.
5. Our bishops should be hell
personally responsible for tn
doctrinal soundness of Ou
courses of conference study ant
for the instruction in our school
of theology where our minister
receive their special training
There should be legislation q
compel action and TO make re
sponsibilities real.
6. The time limit should be re
stored to the pastorate. Tn
limit should be three years an
there should be no exceptions
This should make our itineracy
the glory of early Methodism, a.
actuality as well as a name.
would increase the courage an
the efficiency of our pastors an
would make our people NOR
united and more successful.
After Mr.. Cooke read the paper,
Rev. w. c. Poole asked if the mat
was TO be allowed to go to the ne
papers. Mr.. Poole said he wante'
made clear that he held no such OF
, ions.
To this Mr. Cooke replied: 81