Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-11
BISHOPTALKSO ON
METHODISM IN
UNITED STATES
Hardships of Early Workers
Explained to COnYOcatiOn
Delegates.
STATE MEETING ENDS

"The Future of MethOdism' was dis
eussed by Bishop Homer c. Stunt, who
presides over the Omaha area of the
Methodist Episcopal Church at the mass
meeting last night in Tomlinson Hall,
which. together with a general meeting
In Roberts Park Church, concluded the
State convocation of the Methodist
churches Of Indiana program.
''If the future Of MethOdism is to be
accurately estimated it must be done in
view of its past" declared Bishop Stunt.
cit was late in its entry among religious
forces of the United States. Other his
toric churches had been at work more
than a century before John Wesley's first
workers arrived in New York. The
flaming evangelism Of George Whitfield
blazed up against a sky where the light
Of Congregationalism. Episcopalianism
and Presbyterianism had been shining
for 80 years.
ut was handicapped by an uneducated
ministry, and by an utter lack OF at
tractive houses Of worship. It had no
colleges and no theological seminaries
were preparing it's preachers for their
tasks. But since the famous Christmas
conference of 1884 Methodism has become
the most numerous body Of adult. dis
cfplined Protestants in the world More
over II has now more educated ministers
than any other church. and stands well
alongside it's sister churches in the
matter Of colleges and theological
Eeminaries, and leads them all in its
widespread missionary labOrs.
1900 MINISTER'S
IN CHURCHES.
There are now between four and five
million members in its fold, and its
preaching and literary work is done
through q medium of 127 languages and
en- every continent except Australia. More
than 1900 ordained ministers preach in
fits pulpits, and churches that had run
ming start in financial strength and
educated leadership OF a century and a
half have still much less than half of its
statistical record TO show as their
achievement in winning men to disciple
ship for the Lord.
"At our present state Of growth in our
world-engirdling activities we shall have
a total membership of not less than
100000 by 1910. These will represent
large and influential churches in Europe,
Africa, Asia and South America.
These foreign groups will become
steadily more nearly self governing. This
will be at once a necessity If any sem
blance of unified fellowship is preserved.
outlying groups in the foreign fields
know that a steadily increasing demand
for more localized administrative respon-
sibility is faced all the way from Indi-
ana TO Argentina.
"Our general conferences in the next
two or three decades must make ample
provision for the adOlescent aspirations
Of growing Methodist units in all the
ends Of the earth, holding them TO US
as the States in this Union are bound
20 the Union, yet giving them ever larger
powers for the control Of their own in
terests. and increasing the numbers of
trained leaders from among the ministers
and members on each mission field at
a rate not now in conte mplation.
DELEGATE FROM
ROME GIVES ADDRESS.
"And in all our work we must keep
the emphasis upon Christian experience
through the new birth and the witness
of the spirit, and demand the adjustment
of social and industrial relations upon
the principles of Christian brotherhood
rather than economic advantage"
At Roberts Park Church, DR.. Bertram