The Washington herald., 1920-05-09

moral and spiritual appliances" de-
clared Bishop william F. Mcdowell,
Of Washington, before the quad
renrial conference OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Des Aoines.
Iowa, which has just closed its ses-
sion.
Economic ills cannot be cured by
economic appliances. Society Is In
greater danger OF breaking down
It's own character than its finances
or Industries. IL the church fails as
= moral or regenerating force 1t is
helpless economically"
Emphasis ON Spiritual.
Bishop Mcdowell was reading the
letter drawn up and approved by the
thirty-one bishops Of the Methodist
Church to give their opinion of what
should be the guiding policies of the
uuadrennial conference, the supreme
legislative body of the Methodist
Church
The letter differed from previous
letters in the emphasis 1t placed on
the spiritual as opposed to the
worldly duties Of the church. II
made IL clear that the church leaders
placed no reliance on laws and reg
ulations and economic efforts to al
lay the spirit Of unrest and bring
back health and normality to the
nation as whole.
The letter recognized its duty to
restore peace of mind and body
politic. but said:
"The church in this social disor-
Ger must be chiefly q regenerating.
spiFitualizing. idealizing power. We
eannot gather grapes from thorns
nor figs from thistles. we cannOt
secure Christian society except by
making Christian men and women"
Rests With individual.
Definitely discarding any program
Df law or economics to accomplish
It's object. the letter says:
"It is not for the church to So
eialize or capitalize or industrialize
pr even civilize the state. but by
6od's power to regenerate 1t. to
Christianize II in the whole range
81 its personal, social, financial, and
Industrial life. The church Is not
lone with its task until this Is
aone.'
There is in the letter rhetorical
sxcoriation of trends Of mind and
conditions both political and eco
nomic, but in nearly every case IL is
stressed that the remedy lies In the
h mechanical statutory enactments.
How to Combat the Reds-
The letter says:
I'VE cannot give sympathy or ap-
prevail to Bolshevism whether Of the
red-handed mob or the soft-handed
Bentimentalist, to anarchy whether
II the street or of the chair" Rem
sdies are expressed as:
hA Oh at
course toward universal democracy
based on right. a course that will
ave the world from the excesses of
.anaticism, the unbridled sway Of
greed. the tyranny of the few or the
tyranny Of the many. Today, as
always, the church is for orderlI-
ness, steadIness, fairness and law;
and today the church must speak
hat steadying word to which the
whole world will listen"
OHers Three Suggestions.
The church departs from it's stand
against committing itself to specific
legal cures for human ills only in
three instances:
DETERMINATION to oppose any
compromise of any kind with the
liquo. trafic: II urgc1 the President
and the Senate to effect q compro-
misc that will enable the United
States to enter the league of ma
lions, but does not Indicate the ma
surc Of the compromise: II declares
Tor higher salaries for school teach-'
MS"
AS to the conduct Of the church
kself. the letter declares against
my attempt at setting up a church
Shgarchy whether OF bishops or
sommissions. and against any atti-
snde Of superiority by the white race
Dver races of any other color.
Delegates believe the pronounce
nent against race consciousness
Ff1l prove a body blow to any at
empt to have the Methodist Church
mite with the Methodist Church
touth-
Aim to Work In Asia.
The Northern Church has taken
Great numbers of negroes into its
south Church does not want these
iegroes. but the Northern Church
rfll not give them up.
The bishops assert that now Is
ne strategic time to. Christianixe
ksia, particularly China and Japan.
Lest the leaders of thought in those |
ountries. disregarding their ancient
,effgfons. reject all religions, the
bfshops thought II we'll to establish
snce and for all the principle of
ace ana color equality in the Meth
sdist Church
Touching general world condi-
IONS. the letter said:
I'VE, must guard ourselves to 20
crward with a forward-going God.
We must not be reactionary, or OBJ |
hcurantist. chiefly cautious and safe.
Il Is our perdition to be safe when |
sor the truth We ought to die The |
shurch must have courage, faith.
-eadiness to go anywhere with, the |
Holy Spirit. wisdom to 20 nowhere
Without the Holy Spirit.
1T Is easy to appreciate historic
movements and the past activities
u God. but the Church of Christ |
INST be sensitive and responsive to |,
sod's next great movements. must
Eeep step with a living God.
Back Orderly Government.
New days anG conditions are
lpon Rs. The world everywhere Is |
n a raging storm. In this social |
'erment what Is oar chief business? /
To-day in the year 1890 the church l
must be a steacyIng power. II /
leems TO us to be part OF our chief !
susiness Fat this conference to de-
Hare now our alignment with or
tsriy gorernment and our belief In |
sgal process in society: TO declare /
igaiBst rhe lawlessness. conf,isio6 !,
md anafehy Foundations are ais
.urbed a Economic. social and in
iuStri<l conditions are volcanic,