Evening star., 1948-05-03
Methodist Conference
Votes 10 Raise Salaries.
OF Bishops 10 $1,000
By Cospor Nonnes
Stor Stoff Corysxnondenf

DID lON, May ne general
conference of the Methodist Church
meeting here today voted to in
crease the salaries of bishops from
ST 500 to $4,000 a year. The reso-
luton also increased the retirement
allowance for bishop from $4,000 to
$1,000 a year.
This is the first time since 1910
that the bishops have received an
increase in salary. At that time they
were. raised from $1,000 a year to
$500 a year.
The resolution this morning also
called for an increase in allowance
for secretarial help and Office ex-
pense of 5000 year, bringing the
annual sum to $2,700.
Needs Are Cited.
Increased costs of living, the need
Of bishops to save something so
they would be entirely independent
on their retirement allowances and
comparisons with business and
occupations for persons of compar-
able standing were cited in the de-
bate.
Earlier. the conference was told
that Methodists increased their
gifts to the church by more than
s10,000,000 over previous annual
contributions. The report was made
to the quadrennial meeting by the
General Board of Lay Activities.
The board also reported that 3,948
recruits for the ministry were en-
rolled during the same period, and
9,293 recruits for other full-time
church work. A total of Isl ,687 Meth
odists pledged themselves as tithers
those giving 10 per cent of their
earnings annually to the church.
during l947 while 493, 1866 enrolled as
proportionate givers.
Campaigns Successful.
Campaigns launched during the
past two years totaling $105 .560,537
are all being brought to a successful
conclusion, the report stated. Pro-
jects involved were $29 9,685, 900 for
universities, colleges and schools;
S49, ,684 900 for hospitals and homes;
81, 1875 900 for reserve pension funds;
Sl5,000,000 for buildings and pay
ments of debts, and s4,0O6, ,537 for in
crease in salaries to ministers.
D. Stewart Patterson of Washing
ton, executive secretary of the Meth
odist Commission on Chaplains, is
vice president of the General Board
of Lay Activities.
The 377 lay and BIT ministerial
delegates are expected today to come
to grips with the first of resolutions
concerning the attitude of the
church toward public questions
From today until the conference
closes Saturday measures dealing
with communism, international re-
lations, universal military training
and similar questions will be dis
cussed by the legislative body of the
denomination.
Bishop Kern Speaks.
1--WE cannot trade the sickle for
the cross. nor put Karl Marx in the
place of Jesus Christ Bishop Paul
B. Kern of Nashville. Tenn, presi-
dent of the Methodist Council of
Bishops, declared yesterday in
radio broadcast attacking COM
munism. Two great ideologies
stand pitted against each other in
the arena of our modern world,
secular communism and Christian
democracy" he continued. THE
world it not big enough for both.
If the Christian faith is to be the
motivating force in the life of to-
morrow, it must demonstrate it's
superiority to the pagan philosophy
of materialism.
A call on the church to make
itself felt against evil within our
selves and within society was
voiced yesterday by the Right Rev
Henry Knox Sheriff., presiding
bishop of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. at an ecumenical service
held by the General Conference yes
terday Exploitation, discrimina-
ton, Slums in country and city
war, extreme nationalism-these
are to be faced and overcome. cost
what it may, because the church
must be true to the master who
would draw all men to him
Civil Service Commissioner Arthur
S. Flemming of Washington, presi-
dent of the Washington Federation
of Churches, will address the con-
ference tonight on LAY activities in
the church"
Holy Cross Dinner Planned
The Very Rev. William J, Healy,
S. j., president of the College of
Holy Cross. will speak at the an
nual dinner of South Atlantic Holy
Cross Alumni Club at $50 pm.
Wednesday at the Mayfower Hotel.
The club includes graduates from
the Worcester, Mass. school living
in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia