Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-31
OF TINES
NO SIGN OF APATHY IN
METHODIST CHURCH
Bishop Berry Criticises In
activity Of Pastors in In
terest Of the Publication,
Which Never in It's His
tory Had Paid Expenses.

tory Had Paid Expenses.
Reports that religious interest was war;
ing Ia Philadelphia and vicinity gained
currency and caused much comment bo'
cause of the announcement Of the sus-
pension OF the Methodist Times. for 20
years published IN the interests OF local
AIethodIsm, we're vigorously denied by
prominent clergymen and oficiels Of the
Philadelphia Conference today.
Al the same time the reports we're com
tradicted evidence was produced TO show
that the opposite was true. The Rev.
8 w Gehrett one Of tho members OF tho
editorial and business committee Of the
conference which has had charge Of the
pubiication during the last two years,
said that the Methodsts were never more
actively Interested in religious work ana
that II was not because of a falling OF OF
subscribers that the suspension was au-
thorlzed.
Never in ita existence had the Timos
paid expenses" said Doctor Gehrett, "an1
It's subscription lists we're as large ns they
had averaged for many years when the
action was taken. However, there was
deficit OF about $1,000 last year and sim
liar amount this year, and since there
seeiuod little probability that the increase
would be forthcoming TO make the papor
pay for itself and we had a good oppor-
tunIty to soil to the Christian Advocate,
OF New York we decided that was the
best thing to be done.
LOST MONEY FOR YEARS
''when the Times was published by the
Tract Society of the Philadelphia Confer
enoo the society took care of the deficit,
and for years the publication was con-
tinued at loss. as II was believed that
Il was of invaluable assistance to the
work of the Methodist Church In this sec
ton. Later, at the time the paper was
turned over to committee, 1t was an
ticipatod that, from assurances OF sup
port given by clorgymen throughout the
conference, the new management, which
was not to receive remuneration for Its
work. would he able to keep the paper go
Ing without loss.
"At the last conference In Norristown
ministers pledged themselves to send In
at least 1--WE new subscriptions each from
their parishes in order to keep the Timos
going when IL was announced that the loss
was continuing as last year. However, al
though four months have passed since
that time. only about 20 OF the 900 clergy
men have fulfilled their pledge. Under the
circumstances the Editorial Committee
decided that 1t would be wise TO sell when
there was an opportunity without increas-
ing the deficit If the members OF the con-
ference were not sufficiently interested to
keep the publication going without loss"
There was great sorrow among min
listers and laymen when they heard that
Philadelphia. the leading city of Method
ism, was no longer to have a publication
OF its own. Telephone wires were busy
with messages lying back and forth, as
many felt that there was yet chance
that the transfer of the subscription lists
TO the New York publishers could be
STAYED off. They finally gave up In sof-
row when they found that there was no
further hope of reviving the old paper.
geyeral men offered to be one of 100 to pay
$40 a year to keep the weekly alive In the
interests of Philadelphia Methodist work.
But their offers had come too late. The
die was cast, and the Philadelphia
Methodist Times was no more.
BISHOP cRITICIsEs PASTORS.
Commenting on the suspension of the
Times. Bishop Joseph f. Berry expressed
great grief that the paper had TO go and
expressed his belief that there was n
great field OF usefulness for 1t here. He
did not hesitate 70 criticise the inactivity
OF pastors in the interests of the paper.
He said:
'rhat this change seems necessary 1
am sincerely sorry. But that II Is nec-
eAsary is somewhat clear. The Times
has been given a fair trial. and II has
proved financially Improbable. Indeed,
that has been my experience of the paper
during most OF its history of nearly 40
years. The group OF men who took the
paper over from the Philadelphia Tract
Society nearly three years ago have given
freely of their time and energy without
a penny OF remuneration. They have paid
the monthly deficits with as much cheer
fulness as they could command. But, OF
uaf nj
forever,
II am still confident that there Is a
real need for local Methodist Episcopal
paper in this great city. II is impossible
for me to estimate too highly the value
the publication has been 20 my own work,
But there has been no disposition upon
the part OF many pastors to give practical
support. Some have said nice things
about the Times and Conference has
adopted resolutions Of eommendation.
But that sort Of thing does not pay the
printers bills The paper could have
been placed upon permanent footing
had our brethren done what they easily
might have done. am not complaining.
am simly stating facts"
Bishop Berry especially commended the
work OF the editor OF the paper, the Rev,
Or. Gladstone Holm, pastor OF the First
Methodist Church OF Germantown. He
advocated that the Methodists OF the con-
ference strongly support the New York
Christian Advocate which Is to hll unex-
plred subscriptions. and expressed the
hope that that paper would become a
national Methodist journal.
Tho Methodist Times was started by the
Rev Or. ], p, Mccullough as the Monthly
Messenger When II was turned over to
the Tract Society some years after It's
foundation It was made a weekly and
the name was changed 10 the Methodist
Tmoa From that time until the present
Il has had . stormy battle on the hnan-
elsi sea.
,.a,.n -. ~ >,,e,,,,,,, ,,ov,.yo