Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-12
WILL ATTEND METHODIST
 CONFERENCE NEXT MEEK
District Superintendent G. G. scriv- ensr to Present Annual Report at Providence Gathering.


 Among those who will represent Nor Eich at the New England Southern Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church which meets in Providence. R. l. next week, is Rev. G. G. Scrivener, district superintendent of the Norwich District MT. Scrivener will present his annual report of the Norwich dis trlct some time during the week. In addition to the regular business pr the conference, an important fea- ture will be the presentation of the Centenary World Programme by wis lung clergy. direct from centenary heaaquarters in New York city. Speeches oil the centenary prograr4 will include four main topics: Re sources of Methodism, Can and Will the Church Meet the Present Wuaid Emergency? The Home Field; The 1 Foreign Field: The Centenary and the Present World Conflict.
 Relationship of the Centenary World Programme to the war will be emphasized, and the importance of a pig scale constructive programme to help in our aFpWed purpose of ex- tending world democracy, and to off, 1 set the tragicaliv necessary destruc-
 
 democracy. The loyalty of American Methodists to President Wilson and his war programme as enunciated in his several messages will be reahirm- l ed, not only at this conference. but at all the spring conferences of the Meth odiet Episcopal church, all over the United States. Several Of the visiting ministers nave been selected as among the most 1 eieduerlt speakers in the Methodist tclergy. They will make patriotic ad- dresses, and it Is probable that reso- lutions will be passed. expressing the spirit of the conference
 Influences of the war upon the fu-
 ture of the church. and constructive programme of influence which the church must exert as a result of the war will be considered at length. In deciding to raise a special fund as part Of the centenary world program provision has been made for war
 needs. Half a million dollars is to be
 spent, In this country for the soldier
 boys, strengthening churches in the lnegihborhood of training camps, and oo-operating with chaplains and '. M. c. A. workers for systematic work in the camps.
 To make an immediate beginning on the huge task of reconstruction work
 everseas, a million dollars is wanted for building houses and schools, and helping care for the orphan children Of France and Italy. The work of the Methodist Episcopal church has sdf- fered severely in Udine, Italy, which
 has been captured by the Austrians the church buildings there probably
 having been destroyed
 Official standing is given the rela- t1onship of the church to the war by the creation of a war council of the
 Methodist Episcopal church. with rep Iresentatives in Washington who are
 working in direct cooperation with the 1 lgovernment in the departments ct justice, food administration, Liberty
 loans and war savings, with the Red Cross and with the United States | Medical Department. The influence of this war council will reach directly from the government in Washington to every chapel and Sunday school of the Methodist Episcopal church in the United States.
 Bishop Theodore S. Henderson of Detroit executive officer of the war
 council, is devoting his entire time this spring to delivering a ferrent mes sage of patriotism to all the spring conferences he is able to reach. At the recent conference in Philadelphia, where special conference service f1ae
 was dedicated, Bishop Henderson ln1ade a stirring. address He pointed out that in addition to our Deciara tion of Independence there is need for la Declaration of Interdependence o1 all the nations fighting for democracy He added that there can be no broth erhood. and no world democracy ex- cept through Jesus Christ.
 Bishop Henderson reminded his au-
 dience that Uncle Sam has lately made radical change in his publicity policy. The navy recruiting poster. fused to offer young men "A fine op. portunity to see the world" Todd,
 they read. ''rhe United States Nav, needs fighting men, and needs then
 now" When the church cAmes tt
 this same change of policy. when i
 stops looking on. and begins to cal for fighting men to wage a real kfgh against the forces of evil, then, apt not until then, it may hope to accom-
 plish something worth while.