The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1918-05-02

(By Associ
ATLANTA, May Patriotism
ference of Southern Methodist Churci
declaring, eve should be less patriot
to give the President cordial support il
applause. Another demonstration folls
utterance of any word which would w
age or comfort the enemy. The A6
first session, reviewed the work Of
years read by Bishop Collins Denny.
Atlanta, May 2.-The Episcopal
address to the eighteenth general con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, was read by Bishop,
Collins Denny of Richmond, Va, at
the opening session of the conference
here today. The address, which was
written by Bishop E. E. Hoss, and con-
firmed by all the bishops, was one of
the lengthiest ever delivered to the
general conference, reviewoig the
work of the church during the past
four years and making recommends.
tions for the future.
Commendation of the action Of
President Wilson before and after the
declaration of war against Germany
was expressed by the bishops. who
declared "We should be less than pa
triotic and courageous Americans il
we failed to give him our cordial sup
port in every way"
"It 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.
tion of property and the loss OF life
have already been appalling and there
is no prospect, so far as we can Hee.'
for an early peace. But we fssl ., ~ !. q
tirely justified in zasisg that sorass ~ ~
country, though it has been ,drawnA,N
to active participation in the conflict,
is in no wise responsible for originat-
people 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 belligerent 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. If he is censurable for any
thing-and we do not think he is-it
is for having been too forbearing.
Not until it became entirely necessary
for us to fight or else submit to the
most violent and brutal outrages at
the hands of the German kaiser and
those who are banded together with
him for the tyrannical domination of
the world, did Mr.. Wilson at last ad-
wise the congress to draw the sword.
In our judgment he was fully war
ranted in taking this extreme step,
and we should be less than patriotic
and courageous Americans if we fail
ed to give him our cordial support in
every way.
"The important 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, when
so much depends on the harmonious
and united action of all American cit
izens, we protest against the utter
ance of any word that would either
weaken his hands or give the slight
est encouragement or comfort to our
national enemies.
"While we, of course, long and pray
for peace, yet we trust when it comes
it will be peace full of justice and
righteousness. 1t will be better to
fight on and suffer on than to capt.
ulate to a despotism whose methods
recall the worst chapters of heather
barbarity."
The bishops strongly appose the
movement to restrict the areas of the
bishops, so that while they are un-
limited as to the presidency of an
nual conferences throughout the
whole connection they must reside in
certain districts for limited time and
be responsible for the development Of
church work in that district and re-
port quadrennially to the general con-
ference. The address was in this con-
nection that "any scheme for limit
ing their field or jurisdiction would be
sure to diminish the esteem in which
they are held by the general public
and by the church."
The address touched on very live
question when it scored the board of