Evening journal., 1916-03-27
PASTOR SEES PER- |
IN Church POLITICS
Rev. George A. Cooke Says
Methodism Has Enough
Bishops and Secretaries
OPPOSED TO LOWERING
AMUSEMENT BARS

Calling attention to peril OF
church politics. the Rev. George A.
Cooke. pastor Of Wesley NJ. g. Church,
yesterday afternoon in Union NJ. y.
Church. made an interesting address
on "The Coming General Conference
and It's Relations n-thc Kingdom OF
Cod" lie declared against letting
down the bars on the amusement
question. said the church has plenty
of bishops without electing more Of
them, and called for check ON the
modernists. higher critics and free
thinkers who are undermining the
old-fashioned doctrines OF the church.
"What may the coming General
Conference. which meets in Saratoga
next May do in relation TO the king
dom OF God?" asked Mr. Cooke.
"Therc arc three possible results:
First. the General Conference may
ruin the church beyond recognition
and beyond possible remedy. ! know
enough about the foolish and wicked
schemes being Matched TO know there
is danger Of this very thing being
done God Forbid
Second. II may leave things about
as they arc, evil undisturbed, but the
good allowed. This result can be re-
allied by reasonable opposition 10
evil schemes.
"Third. There may be positive good
done by correcting fagrant evils and
returning to well tried paths. The
fight that is on is between those who
stand for the old order of things and
those who would rush us on TO an
everchanging program. The old ana
the new clash. One or the otner
must be prevail. Eternal principles
are at stake.
"The Wilmington Conference is for
old-fashioned theology as opposed 10
ncw-fangled notions. We are Tor Well
tried methods as opposed to fads ana
experiments. Our preachers are as
sound and loyal to Methodist doc
trine as any conference in the con-
noction. This is our distinction and
our glory. What is true OF our
preachers is equally true OF our peo-
ple. The Methodism of this peninsula
is Of the finest type
"Tbere Is the peril Of church poll
fics." said DR.. Cooke In referring 10
the serious issues that Will come pc
fore the General Conference. lie said
tbe church has "one-third more
bishops than we need TO attend to the
duties of the Office and three times as
many General Conference officers as
are needed. That is the way dan
ferrous political machine is built up
The church has become dangerousl!
top-heavy with this cumbersome ON
cialism. our Annual Conferences ar
ovor-shadowed and almost sunocate'
with the pressure OF General Confer
ence officials. There is a danger o
Annual Conferences losing their iden
tity and becoming automatic ma
chimes for the dumping of money into
the treasury OF some General Confer
ence board.
"To begin with there should be nc
bishops elected at Saratoga" added
Mr.. Cooke. eve have a great plenty
for the next four years
"The number of agents. secretaries
and editors should be reduced and
their duties should be so clearly de-
fined as TO make them really respon-
siblc for the administration OF their
Office
Referring to paragraph 271 OF the
Discipline, which bans worldly
amusements." Mr.. Cooke said
"Within recent years a determined
war has been made upon that law
from within the church. Educators
General Conference officials. pastors
of wealthy churches and Influential
laymen have lined up against ouI
amusement paragraph and are deter
mined to let down the bars to world
ness OF every kind. If their objec
could be accomplished, It would meai
the death blow to Methodism. II tn
worldly pleasure loving element o
the church prevails. II will mean tn
overthrow OF spirituality and the en-
OF revivaism In the church
Discussing the trend toward mod
ern thought" and higher criticism
in the church I'm recent years, Nh
Cooke said,
"A closer study OF the situation re
yeals the fact that many of these mod
ernists are pursuing their course wit
a fanatical zeal that Is utterly reck
less of consequences.
"The coming General Conferenc
may do great things for the Klngdor
OF God IL It will Illustrate the plan
OF the modernists, freethinkers. rs
tionalists and destructive critics q
Gods work who are using the MethC
dist Episcopal Church to destroy tn
Christian faith.
"The Wilmington Conference is au
thor OF the greatest law that has bee
proposed TO the church in fifty year
II proposes to give our bishops
qualified veto power over legislatio
at the general conference. The onl
possible effect Of such law would 4
to cause the General Conference
give more respect TO the constitute
of tho ohurch