Norwich bulletin., 1918-12-18

Buffalo, N. Y., upon The SplFltudl AA- terpretation of the Centenary, given on Tuesday evening at Trinity Meth odist Episcopal church, was the cli- nax point Of the Norwich district con l ference, which held merniag, afternoon | and evening sessions here on Tues l day.
 Rev. G. c. scriyener, this city, dis trict superintendent, was the presiding officer
 l Rev. Mr. Mitchell said in substance: "The worlds cry for help is heard and met by the Centenary's spiritual programme. According to the Bible man Is spiritual when he has in him l the mind of Christ--when he thinks as Christ would think, feels as Christ would feel, acts as Christ would act under the circumstances. Let this mind be in you which also was in l Christ Jesus is the exf1ortation. Measured by this rule, the Centenary 1 is a most spiritual enterH.rise. "1-It has -.he Divine vision. Could you sit beside God on His throne and l look at the world as he sees it? Do you l imagine He is concerned for merely q portion of the human race, America 1 for example or is He equally desi- rous for ali2 Undoubtedly for all. This Centenary is getting he resourc- es of the Methodist Episcopal Church 1 behind Gods programme for the saw ing of the entire world,
 | "2-It has the Divine kind of vi- sion in this matter. It views the re- 1 denption of mankind as while but | it sees it also in detail. Individually and concretely. It is not ID in the air. ] it gets down to the actual needs Of 1 individuals and of situations and has i definite plans for meeting these. Like the Lord Jesus it would save all men, ] but Like He, it understands that they come to a knowledge of the truth one | by one.
 .'33-Then the Centenarr has the Di- vine attitude towards the worlds cry for help. It is moved wit, compassion
 but does not waste itself in mere sym pathy. It acts, does something about
 it, plans, Aabors and sacrifices for oth- CTS is among US as one that serves
 "4-In thus attempting great things for God it is going to receive great
 thinks from God. The moment man
 joins himself with the Almighty ir
 any task he is going to experience the divine coupanionshir, and as he
 goes forward Tn this, he will more an6
 more share the Divine Life"
 At the opening session of the con.
 ference, which was attended by abou
 60 delegates from the churches of tkt
 eastern section of this district, Rev # J. R. Magee Of RoSbury gaT" the gen eral survey of the Centenary out lining the problems to be dealt with
 the city problems. the problem of thi foreign speaking people, and thi problem of degenerate rhra; life in tn, 1 home field. In the foreign field h. , i pointed out that war reconstruetiol work makes special cali oli mission 1 ayr effort and offers speCial oppor 2 tunities.
 New England Survey. District Superintendent scrivene presented the New England survey il part as follows:
 'sThe rural population Of New Eng land is practically static Lack of op portunity fer advancement in the ru
 ral community life thus impoverished
 deteriorates, both Intellectually an
 socially
 s'Fhe church is planning to meet thi
 situation by establishing adequate cen
 ters of training and education for tn
 rural young people. Effic;ant churche
 are to be established in tie scores (
 small towns where church services ar e held.
 "The church will provide rura workers four our sparseiy settled sec E tions who will infuse new life an l ideals into the impoverished life ( 5 the community.
 Morgan Memorials are to be es ! tablished in several cities, which wi have public forums, schools; of reli T T gious education, and rccreational fa l cilities for young peopla, to meet tn :. need in the congested districts. ''TEe problem of Standardization 1 : also facing the church. Out of ! rI.,4s ~F z u cording to the last census, nearly 4
 p0o.o00 are Of foreign extra ctien. Thes
 fgudes range from B per cent. i G 69 per cent. in Rhode Island and ( per cent in mass. The governmer a cannot meet the religious needs the . are so basic 'and the New Englan $ churches must help to take care of tt F Inuititudes who are drifting into ir t fidelity and atheism.
 n "We are also facing the uuestic IT of the supply of men. New England
 no longer providing it's own leader
 ship in religious affairs Tn Bosto
 there is not 2 single leaefng evangel
 cal church manned by a New Eaglar l9 pastor. Leaders are being trained T. meet these needs in a new school plar ie ned in conjunction with Bogten tin e. versity, Morgan Memorial and il ss Deaconess' association
 .- Afternoon Session.
 Rev. A. F. Meyer of Worcester toc
 the place of Rev. W. P. Davis e. ProyincetoYp at the opening of tl of afternoon session at ? o'clock, speal h ing upon Organization.
 in He was followed by Rev. L. E. Low ,n joy of New York who gave 8 stror is address upon Stewardship
 
 t. ifs broad programme for living a'
 service, not q narrow one. .t calls f
 the best man has, time, talent, el 7 ergy, initiative. devotion. prayers, h
 children and his money There is I
 room on this platform for the fanati
 fool, Fharisea. or church troublepal
 CT. The handspring Of Stewardsh
 is not law, or cold, forced and form
 giving of required portion, but
 free, glad pouring out. i'll loving To!
 atty to God, of all that ,nan ca
 spare; sometimes a great deal som'
 times half his income, sometimes mnc
 less. but never less than would safi
 fly an Orthodox Norman. piour p;
 gan, Or a respectable Jew
 Rev. Edwin La Court Of Boston pr
 scented the subject of Life Service.
 part he spoke as follows: During the next five years the 8 Methodist churches of New EnglaI are called upon by the Centenary pr gramme to furnish 19S young peop for training for leadership in ioc church work and specific life servi such as the ministry missionary wor social service and religious and e uoational worlti As parr of the gre programme we propose to enlist 5; GOO young people in such work. { SIIrU0v of EF1 pIavrd NFafhnIiS