The evening leader. (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) 191?-19??, 1918-05-02

Atlanta, Nav 2.-Patriotism marked
the opening session Of the general
conference of the Southern Methodist
chuyfs dere today when the bishops
adj 5 was delivered, in which it was
declared 1--WE should be less than pa
triotic and courageous Americans if
we failed to give him (the president)
cordial support in every way" This
was greeted by enthusiastic applause.
Another demonstration followed the
declaration protesting against the ut
terance of any word which would
weaken the presidents hand or ems
courage and comfort the enemy.
The address, which was the feature
of the first session, reviewed the work
of Southern Methodism during the
past four years, and was read by
Bishop Collins Denny.
Atlanta, Ga, May 1.-THE Episco-
pal address to the eighteenth general
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, was read by Bishop
Collins Denny of Richmond, Va, at
the opening of the conference here to-
day. The address which was written
by Bishop E. E. Ross, and confirmed
Ky all the bishops, was one of the
lengthiest ever delivered to the gem
elzAl conference, reviewing the work
Of the church during the past fouy
years and making recommendations
for the future.
Commentator of the action Of Pres
ident Wilson before and after the de-
claration of war against Germany was
expressed by the bishops, who declar-
ed, eve should be less than patriotic
and courageous Americans if we fail
ed to give him our cordial support in
every way"
at is scarcely necessary for us to
say that the world is now involved in
the most colossal war in human his
tory" said the address. "The destruc-
ton of property and the loss of life
have already been appalling and there
is no prospect, so far as we can see,
for an early peace. But we feel entire
" justified in saying that our own
country, though it has been drawn in
to active participation in the conflict,
is in no wise responsible for original
ing it. Neither our rulers or our peo-
pie wanted it. AS nation we were
more than content to live at peace
with all men. By no act of ours had
we incurred the just hostility of the
ba'ligerent powers. 1t gives US the
greatest satisfaction to affirm that our
president went to the utmost possible
limit to keep Us out of the fray. II
he is censurable for anything and we
do not think he is--it is for having
been too forbearing. Not till it be-
came entirely, necessary for US K
fight or else submit to the most vi
client and brutal outrages at the hands
of the German kaiser and those who
are banded together with him for the
tyrannical domination of the worlt
did Mr.. Wilson at last advise the con.
gress to draw the sword. In our judg-
ment he was fully warranted in taking
this extreme step, and we should be
less than patriotic and courageou:
Americans,if wefailed to give him oul
cordial support in every way.
''The impartial verdict of history
which in the long run is always right
can hardly fail to approve the course
which he has pursued.
'At this particular juncture, wher
SO much depends on the harmonious
and united action of all American cit
liens, we protest against the utter.
ance of any word that would either
weaken his hands or give the slight
est encourage or comfort to oul
national enemies.
while we, of course, long and pra.
for peace, yet we trust when it comes
it will be peace full of justice ant
righteousness. It will be better tx
fight on and suffer on than to capitu
late to a despotism whose methods re
call the worst chapters Of heather bar
barity."
The bishops Strongly oppose tn,
movement to restrict the areas of thu