Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-03
CHURCH FACES CRISIS
MUST DEAL WITH VITAL
QUESTIONS SAY METHOOISTS


the Methodist Episcopal quadrenni-
al general conference meeting here
as the most important in the history
of the denomination, the address of
the 81 bishops of the church sub
mitted TO the conference today de-
clares tine church is on trial On
behalf of their denomination the
bishops accept the challenge and
aver that the church must deter
mine TO deal coura geeusly with the
vital questions of the new age as
presented.
Never before did a general con-
ference meet at time like this"
they said in their address. we can
not go back to the less troubled,
more simple. placid days.
We are ar crisis in the ages. If
we fail here it will not matter what
else We do"
The address is DEVOTED to answer
ing the question: What is our chief
business at the present conference p"
The church as a whole and in its
parts has been and is under heavy
fire" the address says. 1T has been
charged with failure to prevent war.
1t is charged with impotence in the
current unrest and disorder It is
declared to be out of touch with mod :
ern industry, modern thought and
dominant life.
1t is charged with beins the cham
pion of the obsolete. with failure to
interpret Christ to personal and so
cial life with power AMI fullness,
with the failure TO make the worlds
ideals or to supply the worlds mo-
tives.
/ There is a wholesome desire for
cooperation but reaction against
ecclesiaticiSm. Both in protestant
ism and Romanism and outside of
both there is a vague widespread
idea of a Christianity without a
church"
In its bill of particulars. the ad-
! dress says:
OF course the church will stand
in unhinchine, uncompromising de-
nunciation if all violations OF law:
, against all murderous child labor: all
! foul sweat shops. all unsafe mines.
all deadly tenements, all starvation
wages. all excessive hours for those
who toll. all profiigate ll:xuries, all
! standard of wage and life below the
| living standard, all unfairness and
| harshness of conditions, all brutal
exactions, whether of the employel.
or union, all oyer lordships whether
! OF capital or labor, all goddess prof.
teering, whether in food. clothing,
! profits or wages; against all inhu-
mainly. injustice and b,:ghting in
equality: against all class minded
! men who demand special privileges
or exceptions on behalf of their
i class"
| Surely, the address says in its ref
erence TO world peace, I'VE must take
strong grounds against any more wars.
and against war itself as method OF
! settling differences. Surely We must
commit our church to the principle tina.
! international troubles shall be adjusted
by council and arbitration. not by guns
and the slaughter of men; that the ma :
! tons OF the world be bound together
| by working covenant Of peace; that.
| however it shall be brought about, such
compromise should be made between
| the President of the United States and
the Senate Of the United States as shall
secure real and effective leagu of ma
tons in which the United States shall
nave proper and honorable place
among the nations of the world in pre-
serving the peace and bearing the bur-
dens OF the world; that narrow nation
ailsm shall not set itself against world
unity and true internationalism: that
We shall unite with the churches of all
| countries that are even now seeking TO
promote international friendship and
| good will: that weak nations shall not
, be the prey and victims of the stronger
ones; and that all nations shall reduce
ornaments and armies. battleshps and
navies to minimum consistent with
safety and that the vast expenditures
! tor lighting purposes shall be used for
, educational, Industrial and domestic
welfare instead"