The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1920-09-03

IhlS is laymen'S day at the COlum
bia River Conference and the attend
ance and interest were both all that
could be desired. More than 100 lay
men were in attendance at the con-
ference held in the Presbyterian church
during the forenoon Rev. H. o. Per-
ry, pastor of the Moscow Methodist
church, said: "This is one of the best
laymen's conference I have ever seen
1t is a record The attendance and
the interest are splendid"
Floyd L. Daggett, ex-mayor of Spo-
kane, was reelected president of the
association and R. L. Brainard, of
Kellogg, who was appointed secretary
during the past year to fill a vacancy,
was reelected secretary. The con-
ference appointed committees on re-
solutions, credentials and order of
business and transacted lot of busi-
ness during the forenoon. This after
noon there is joint session Of the
laymen and ministers in the Methodist
church, beginning at 1880.
A feature of the joint conference
was the address of Edward Laird
Mills, editor of the Pacific Christian
Advocated the official publication of
the Methodists of the northwestern
states, who spoke on "Democratizing
the World"
He said in substance: ''In this un-
certain and turbulent age when the
popular slogan is we don't know
where we're going, but we're on the
way there is unusual need for the
effective preaching of positive and
constructive program of social ad-
vance. This need is increased by the
yid nh no Ion a nj n
principles as a remedy for the ills of
human society. These principles teach
class antagonism and lead logically
to the dictatorship of the proletariat.
On the other hand the church is a
steward of the teachings of Jesus,
which are opposed to all occupational
classification of society and which
advocate universal brotherhood, to
which each social group makes its
contribution and of which nOw one
group is master. The world waits to-
day as never before for such mess
age. American Christianity, separate
from the state and democraticAly
controlled, is strategically located to
preach this truth. To do so most
it must first denOcratize
itself thoroughly and present to the
world good sample of
what Christian nation really is. We
must democratize ourselves with re-
gard to race distinctions. This does
not necessarily mean racial intermix
ture, but it does mean equality before
the law for white, black, red, yellow
and brown. Christianity is the only
world religion with message equally
adapted to all races. In the second
place we must democratize ourselves
in regard to denominational distinc-
tions. Emphasis must be placed up
on inward experience, not upon out
ward forms. This means cooperation
among all Christian bodies and fair
distribution of religious opportunities
Ind responsibilities among them.
Finally we must demOcratize our
selves SO far as social distinctions
Ire concerned. We cannot denounce
he dictatorship of the poletariat un-
ess we eliminate all dictatorship of |
,ther classes as we'll Bolshevism is |
/ symptom of disease, not cause of |
t. The church must deal with causes
The preaching of the principles of
Fesus and the practice of the brother
lOod of Jesus will cure all our present |
ocia1 ills"
Conference Gets Dividend
A pleasing feature of the morning
ession was the announcement that
he Columbia River Conference had
eceived S2,804 as its share of the di-
'idends for the year, from the Metho-
ist Book Concern. This sum goes
nto the fund for superannuated min
sters and their wives
May Join Puget Sound
A motion to unite the Columbia
liver and Puget Sound conferences,
7hich has been under consideration
or some time, was put before the
usiness session today and acted upon
v the appointment of committee
omposed of two district superintend-
nts, five ministers and five laymen |
) confer with like committee from
1e Pudget Sound conference to dis
1ss the proposed union. It developed,
owever, that there is much opposi- Y
on to the joining of the two confer t
1ces and among the arguments adj 6
anced were that only three cities in l