The Washington times., 1915-03-27
Five Candidates for Ministry
Told Spiritual Life Cannot Be
Counterfeited.
'LECTURING NOT PREACHING
AimIess Talk Comes From
Empty Heart, Says Head Of
Southern Conference.

Strict observance Of Methodist disci-
pline and a spiritual life that cannot be
counterfeited by mere intellectually
was the injunction of Bishop Warren A.
Gambler to five candidates for the min
istry at the Baltimore conference Of the
NJ. e. Church South, held in the Mt.
Vernon Place Church today.
The men addressed by the bishop
were Charles n. Hall. Frank c. Ridge
way. S. J. Dulaney, Walter S. Thomas
and s. II. Speed. and his talk to them
was the principal event of today's
meeting.
Men should not enter the ministry as
mere profession nor even as mere
mission" said Bishop Gambler. Back
of 1t all should be our spirituality, our
own personal life in Christ.
Lacks Spiritual Purpose.
We can never know Him by mere
intellectually. Paul tells US that the
princes of this world did not know Him
| or they never would have crucified him,
yet they had better opportunity for
intellectual development than the
| apostles. Too many preachers are dis
posed to reduce preaching to mere lee
| turing. Though 1t may be- good lectur-
Ing It does not serve a spiritual pur-
| pose, but merely fills in an hour. 1t is
nothing more than a program.
"Aimless preaching comes from an
empty heart If We have not our own
spiritual life very full we use the Bible
| only to get texts out of for our dis
cussions. We are apt to have no more
! use for 1t than for book of familiar
quotations"
The tendency of some modernists to be
less strict in the matter of church disci-
pline was criticised by the bishop in
| the latter part of his address, who held
| that Mcthodists ought to live up to their
| principles, at least as we'll as the MEM
bers of other churches.
| For example, ! have never talked TO
a Baptist who would not defend bap-
tism and close communion, but ! have
heard several Methodists who thought
| the church should countenance card
playing, theater-PSHng, and dancing.
| Now, honestly, brethren. ] don't believe
| IL would hurt n Baptist as much to take
| communion with a Methodist as II would
hurt a Methodist TO go to show.
Editor Gives Report.
| A report of the work of the Christian
Advocate, a Southern Methodist publ
cation OF Nashville. was made today by
Thomas n. Ivey, editor. The publication
will celebrate the seventy-fifth annlver-
sary of its foundation next May.
| The report was followed by detailed
reports from all of che Sunday schools in
| the conference, most OF them showing
an increase in membership.
! A communication from an attorney III
| Staunton Va, was read saying that II
an Old safe deposit vault there, formerly
lowned by John $. Martin, deceased, there
had been found ESQ shares of stock IN
| the Weslyan Female Institute. having a
| par value OF 500 share. and asking
| what disposition should be made "i
| them The shares We're issued in 1894
The inquiry was referred to the commit
| tee on finances.
| Washington ministers and 1aymer
in attendance at the conference are
manifesting much interest in the Sc
lection of a presiding elder of the
| Washington district to succeed the
Rev. DR.. f.. V. REGISTER. who resign
| ed Yesterday on account OF feeble
health. lie will retire for year II
the hope of becoming stronger.
Urge Prohibition Here.
Recommendation of prohibition in the
District of Columbia and Of eventua
national prohibition by the Baltimort
conference of the NJ. E. Church Soutl
was made in the report of the com
mittee on temperance.
The committee report also suggest!
that the churches represented in thu
conference do all possible to help liqui
date the debt incurred by the EirGini
! Anti Saloon League last fall in carry
ing on its successful dry campaign. TIL
election of State officials in Virgins
who will be active in enforcing tn
prohibitory law was strongly urged.
The Rev. DR.. W. +. McMurry. o