Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-26
BISHOPS, IN MILITANT
MOOD, JUSTIFY U. S.
Methodists Declare Hope of Civ
ilization Rests Upon Victory
Over Germany
ATLANTIC CITY. Oct. 26.


The House of Bishops, in an address to
100000 members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church throughout America, today
justified the entry of the United States into
the world war Bishop Joseph II. Berry, Ct
Philadelphia, who is the presiding officer
Of the body. was Ill this morning and un-
able to preside. His indisposition is not
of a serious nature, it was stated at his
hotel Nethodisms war declaration fol-
lows:
THE bishops assembled in the regular
session of the Methodist Episcopal Church
express the conviction that the fate of civ
iization hinges upon the outcome of the
present war If the doctrine that might
makes right, the acceptance of military au-
tocracy as the most efficient means or or
CALLING might the use of diplomatic
dupliCity to cover its designs and the re-
sort to inhumanities to spread terror and
lead to submission all triumph in this
struggle, cur civilization sinks back for
centuries.
NEW ENERGY FOR CIVILIZATION
"If upon the other hand, respect for the
sovereignty of each nation, great and
small, universal democracy and the protest
against inhumanites and violation of in
ternational. law triumph, civilization will
spring forward with new energy
The declaration further declares salts
faction with the seriousness with which
the people are taking the war. especially
with reference to the appeals for loans and
the acceptance of heavy taxation. 1t also
urges a heavier taxation of the protlts
of business, If necessary, In order to lighten
the burden of war debt for the coming
generations, but urges care in the raising
of funds so that accumulations for educa-
tional and philanthropic purposes shall not
be impaired,
II lays special emphasis upon the need
for a stern outlawry of all forms of vice
which sap strength Of our soldiers and OF
the manufacture and use of strong drink,
which saps the strength of the nation at
home, declaring that the economic strain
at the close Of the war as well as the
conservation of humanity both demand the
perpetual prohibition of the saloon 1t
further says:
HOPE FOR GERMAN REVOLT
I'VE desire to express our most earnest
hope that the appeal of the President 70
the people of the German Empire may hnd
ultimate response. We find it hard to ne
lieve that the crimes of official Germany
during the last three years really represent
the snirit of n people, with large sections
of whom our church has been working
for the advancement of the kingdom OF
God for half century. We would urge
with all our power upon the German people
that while America Is fighting against a
system which she cannot. in the light OF
facts. regard as other than evil she Is
striving to keep free from hatred OF the
German people. We welcome the statement
of President Wilson that we are not war
ring for the dismemberment of Germany or
for an economic boycott after the war.
The bishops this morning adopted plans
for a var hoard to carry Methodism di-
rectlv into the cantonments on this side OF
the Atlantic and into the prison camps
across the sea. AuthorizaU Ubn for the 10000
400 drive for foreign missions was deferred
until February The great drive, II au-
thorized then will be held in connection
,,,itb thn centennial of the board of foreign
n,issions pittsburgh was chosen for the
next semiannual meeting in May.