The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-23
DIR. Fifer of Denver Gives
Strong Address Before
State Leaguers.
OLD IN METHODISM
VESTS SALVATION
Declares Church Has Be.
come Convenience Rather
Than an Affection.

A picture Of the life of the shouting.
excttable Methodist circuit rider in the
days when the denomination was sub
DUNG the western wilderness was
drawn for delegates at the twenty
second annual convention of the Ep-
worth league at the First Methodist
church last night by the Rev. DIR. Orien
w. Ffer of Denver.
LII. Fifer called upon the delegates
10 bend their energies toward devising
means by which might be secured
the intense burning enthusiasm which
Is necessary for a victorious church" ]"
Church Become Convenience.
He declared that the Christians of
today nave made our sabbath to suf-
Ter, and our church too much of a con-
Venience rather than an affection He
urged that the church. like the ma
ton. enter at once vitally into the
worlds affairs.
Old Methodism Saved West,
DR.. Fifer spoke in part as follows:
The old in Methodism is worthy of
precious memory. 1T saved the west
ern states from infidelity and bar
barism.' 1t produced magnificent
type Of personal heroism. The new is
providential development adjusted to
strange and strategic times. The youth
ol Methodism must realize that their
forefathers in their day were the serv-
ants OF new visions aand convictions
Methods and interpretations were
changed for the sake of saving persons
who otherwise would have perished,
innovations did not appall the
founders of the church. Those inno-
Vations We're not confined solely to
unimportant methods, but embraced
great interpretations Of truths and
great duties of Christian society to
society that was not Christian.
The New in Methodism.
The new in Methodism is the
greater social vision. the world wide
obligation for service and kindness, the
need Of personal evan gelism. and the
stewardship of life and money. This
very war IS revealing ideals and i'm
perative duties to the modern church.
1t is not only nation. nor an indus
! trial order. nor a patriotic platform.
but church will be transformed,
never to be the same again
America has been led into the
world war by the inevitable force and
logic of her religious history. Churches
with millions of members cannot es-
tablish and support for generations
such enterprises as foreign missions,
race brotherhood. the vision of world
peace, the value of human life in So
cial terms. without entering inter-
national affairs where equality, justice
and honor are involved.
Like John the Baptist.
1.-The early type of Methodism was
much like John the Baptist. 1t was
startling, forceful, determined 1t
sprang up like a prairie fire. 1t was
sensational and full Of contrasts. Wes-
Icy was the college product, refined
and cultivated, preaching in cathe-
drals and then in open fields. having
in turn as listeners the college COM
munity and the farmers and miners
and laborers. Early Methodism was
characterized by plain living. humble
attire and fervent expressions of ear
nest faith. 1t had many rude forms.
1t made preachers out of stone masons
and reformed slave drivers. It's crowds
often were composed of the curious.
The Pioneer Methodist.
I'm America especially was the early
Methodist a striking figure. He did
not arrive in time to be much of a
colonial figure nor factor in the
Revolutionary war. But in the settle
ment of the land beyond the ALE
ghanies he was the princely figure
New England was pre- Exempted by the
Puritan or independent Congregation
alist, the middle colonies and Virginia
by the Quakers and the Episcopalians
the southern colonies by the Presby-
Continued on Page Three.)