Evening journal., 1916-05-09
nETRODISTS WOULD
MODIFY THE RITUAL
Recommendations for Alter
ationS of Marriage Service
Taken Up by Conference
BAPTISM FORM
ALSO CHANGED

SARATOGA SPRINGS, n. r., May
By special order the General
Methodist Episcopal Conference con-
sidered the report or the commits
sion on revision of the ritual yester-
day. The report recommends altera-
tions In the marriage baptismal and
burial services materially modifying
the code inherited from the Church of
England in the eighteenth century.
Phrases heretofore considered sacred
are eliminated and more liberal read
ings substituted. The Rev. Dr. Fred.
Winslow Adams Of New York. pastor
OF the St. Andrews Methodist Epis-
copal Church. was a member of the
commission that formulated the re-
port.
One OF the phrases in the marriage
service considered super1uous by the
commission reads with my worldly
goods I thee cndow This is stricken
out as having no legal standing and
In most cases as having no material
significance.
The question in the marriage ser
vice. "Who giveth this woman TO be
married to this man?" rs marked by
the commission as optional and, in
closed in brackets. The Methodist
Episcopal Church years ago omitted
"wilt thou Obcy?" and In the pro-
posed service exactly the same ques-
lions are asked both of the bride and
bridegroom
BaptiSmal Phrase l'nethical.
q al
nate from the haptismal service the
words "for as much as all men arc
conceived and born in sin" on the
theory that this was a medieval and
unethcai Wow OF the subject and not
worthy OF the dignity and intelli-
gence Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church
In IFS revision OF the burial SER
vice. the commission omits some OF
the Old Testament passages, such as
portions Of the seth and 9Oth Psalms.
which emphasize the idea Of death as
punishment or discipline. In the
place OF these are inserted passages
from the New Testament emphasiz-
ing the ideas of comfort and hope,
and lessons are added from the l4th
chapter of John and the 7th chapter
of Revelations.
One much disputed phrase, which
attributes all death to God. is elimin-
ated. This reads For as much as
II hath pleased Almighty God in His
wise providence to take out Of the
world the soul of the departed The
commission is OF the opinion that this
IS misstatcment. and that very fire.
luently man himself. and not God, is
20 be blamed for his death
A special burial service has been
added in the ritual as revised by the
commission for children.
New Admiitance Form.
The proposed ritual also would make
IL Unnecessary for persons seeking ad-
mission TO the Methodist EpIscopal
Church to make a statement OF belief
in the % articles OF the Church. In
stead Of such profession the follow
Ing are substituted
~Do you accept Jesus Christ as your
Saviour and do you acknowledge Him
as your Lord and Master?'
"Do you receive and profess the
Christian faith as contained in the
New Testament of our Lord Jesus
Christi"
"Will you he loyal to the Methodist
Church and uphold it by your prayers.
your presence, your services and your
means?'
The Church retains the twenty-five
articles as It's doctrinal standard. but
simply does not impose them as con-
dition OF admission 10 membership. A
special form is provided for receiving
children into the Church.
One OF the duties OF the sub-commit-
tee on Episcopal residences during
the present conference will he the as
signment Of Bishops Bishop William
y. Mcdowell Of Chicago. is expected
10 be transferred to Washington. this
residence being vacated by the retire
ment of Bishop Cranston
A comprehensive plan designed 10
provide increased sums for missionary
work iD this and foreign countries is
expected TO he adopted by the GEN
eral Conference. according to many of
the delegates. Surh action will result
because Of appeals from Bishops in
foreign lands They have asserted that.
although conditions arising from the
European war have Handicapped THEIR
Efforts. an opportunity will be pre-
sented at the close Of the conflict for
increased missionary work. A special
committee probably will recommend
action this week on a report submit
ted by the finance commission. in
which 1t was asserted that too many
churches are deyoting their funds to
expensive music and costly buildings
and are neglecting the missionary
held.