New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-03
Bishops Warn
Methodists of
Church Trial
Vital Questions of New Age
Must Be Met, Ia Keynote
of Address at Quadren-
nial General Conference
Crisis in Ages Discussed
Bill of Particulars Takes UP
Problems and Charges To
Be Met and Answered

DES MONIES. Iowa, May 2.-Herald-
ing the Methodist Episcopal Quadren-
NAL General Conference meeting here
as the most important in the history of
the denomination, the address Of the
thirty-four bishops Of the Church sub.
mitted to the conference to- day declare.
the Church is on trial. On behalf OF
their denomination the bishops accept
the challenge and aver that the Church
must determine 70 deal courageously
with the vital questions the new aes
has presented.
Never before did a general confer.
ence meet at time like this" they
said in their address. eve cannot %
back to the less troubled, more simple
placid days.
we are at crisis in the ages. II
we fail here it will not matter what
else we do"
The address is devoted to answering
the question, "What is our chief busi.
ness at the present conference 0' I,
divides the question into eleven sub
divisions QUIZ
THE church as a whole and in Its
parts has been, and is, under heavy
tire," the address says. at hos been
charged with failure to prevent war
1t Is charged with impotence in the
current unrest and disorder. It 10 de-
clared to be out of touch with modern
industry, modern thought and domi-
n&nt modern life. 1t is charged with
beng the champion Of the obsolete
"ltn the failure to interpret Christ ia
personal and social life with power and
1ullness, with the failure to make the
motives.
There is a wholesome desire for co.
operation, but a reaction against eccle.
s1asticlsm. Both in Professionalism and
Romanism and outside Of both there is
vague, widespread idea Of a Christian
ity without church."
Bill Of Particulars
In its bill Of particulars the address
Of course the Church will stand in
ann'nenIng, uncompromising denuncia-
tion OF all violations Of law, against al
murderous child labor, all foul sweat.
shops, All unsafe mines, all deadly ten.
emenss, all starvation wages, all exces.
sive hours for those who toll. ali
prodigate luxuries, all standard Of wage
and life below the living standard. al,
un1at1nees ana harShness Of conditions
all brutal exactions, whether Of the
employer or union; all overlordships
whether Of capital or labor; all rod.
less. proAtserfng, whether in food
clothing. profits or wages; against ali
snhumsnity, injustice and blighting in.
equality; against all class-minded men
who demand special privileges or ex.
ceptsons on behalf Of their class.
I'm this mstarialistic day the Church
seeks spiritual bonds, with the eterna'
value OF human life in view. More
than 30 per cent Of the present laws
re1ate to property, less than 10 be,
cent to the interests Of human life
The emphasis is wrong and the proper.
ton vicious"
World Peace Discussed
Surely" the address continues in
its reference to world peace, I'VE mus,
take strong grounds against any more
wars and against war itself as g
method Of settling difficulties.
"Surely we must commit our Church
to the principle that internationa
troubles shall be adjusted by counsel
and arbitration, not by guns and the
slaughter of men; that the nations Of