The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-10-05
BISHOP SMITH
OPENS MEETING
OF METHODISTS
Ministers and Laymen Here
From All Parts of State
Many Talks Scheduled

With delegates from all sections
of North Dakota present, the annual
North Dakota Methodist conference
was formally opened here this morn
ing.
The conference was opened by
Bishop H. Lester Smith Of Helena,
Mont, who is presiding officer.
Speaking on ''The Gift of Spirit
ual Power" Bishop Smith told Of
the commission Jesus gave his dis
ciples, as contained in the Gospel OF
st. Matthew: "All power is given
unto me-Go We therefore-and Lo,
[ am with you Away"
The Interpretation of these words,
Bishop Smith said, has always been
that Jesus had reached the throne
Of supreme power in heaven and
earth by the divine use of His orig
inal power and authority in his
divinely sacrificial life, atoning
death and triumphant resurrection.
Bestows Sufficient Power
"Now, as tn, supreme Lord, He
bestows power upon his disciples
sufficient for every human, moral
and spiritual need and promises an
all sufficient and ncver-failing en-.
duement which He assures us will
be- triumphantly adequate for the
salvation of men and the establish
ment of the Kingdom of Heaven"
Bishop Smith said.
ut is, however, apparent from the
experience Of the church since this
gift of power that those who possess
it and use it attain to this height OF
privilege only after struggle SINH
lar to the one through which Jesus
passed"
First Of all, Bishop Smith said,
there is the baptism experience, say
ing that 1--WE must appreciate the
eift of the Spirit through the pro.
cess of cleansing, dedication and
surrender"
at is not sufficient to be emptied
of sin and cleansed from its corrup..
ton; we must await the entrance Of
the Spirit of God," the bishop point.
ed out, It is the spirit-filled life and
not merely the life emptied of sin
which is the life of spiritual power,
he averred.
The Supreme Purpose
The supreme purpose of spiritual
mower in the individual believer is
the attainment of Christlike char
acter and the achievement Of q
Christlike service, the bishop said.
adding that the supreme purpose OF
spiritual power in the church is the
accomplishments of the purpose and
program of Christ in the world and
the establishment Of the Kingdom Of
Heaven on Earth so that the will
of God may be done on earth as it
is in heaven.
1--WE become possessors OF the
power of God only that we may do
the will Of God and cooperate with
him in making His will prevail
among men," the speaker said.
"Only as we have this ideal and pur-
pose and practice can we attain unto
that fellowship, with Christ which
will make us comrades and partners
with Him in personal, social and
world redemption.
"He can only company with those
who permit Him to work in and
through them to His ends. When
ever we lose sight of His purpose in
our own lives or in the world and
fail to bend all efforts to the achieve
ment of His plans, we part company
with Him and all possibility of spir-
itual victory is lost to US and the
church."
"The Methodist church will MOI
succeed in its great missionary and
evangelistic enter. .,rises until it re-
turns to the practical principles Of
it's great founder, John Wesley" de.
claxed tho Rev. Luther E. Lovcjoy,
D. D., Of Chicago, Stewardship
Secretary of the World Service Com.
mission Of the Methodist Episcopal
church, at the afternoon session to-
day. !.
"Christianity will not win the
world from modern doubt or from,
Oriental paganism," continued DR.
Lovejoy, "until it digs down to the
bed rock Of the ethical and spiritual
standards o. Jesus.
More Forgetful today
"The maxim Of early Methodism
was Others; the practice # modern
society is self. Men are not today
more selfish at heart-they are
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