Evening star., 1952-05-07
Methodists Approve
New Social Creed,
Reaffirm Smoking Ban
By Cospor Names
Stor Stoff Correspondent

SAN FRANCISCO. May 1.-THE
Methodist Church yesterday
adopted a new social creed. It
also staunchly reaffirmed a re-
quirement that candidates for the
ministry shall not smoke.
The latter resolution came at
the end of a long, crowded buSi-
ness day, for the general confer
ence meeting here. The delegates
ripped through 10 resolutions in
an afternoon session that extended
into the evening.
Many observers regard the new
social creed statement as an elimi-
nation of what some considered
socialistic IDEAS in the old creed
Main item of dispute in the old
statement called for "subordina-
ton of the profit motive to the
creative and cooperative spirit
The new statement says, 1--WE
stand for the principle Of the
acquisition of property by Chris
tian processes. and in the right OF
private ownership thereof with
full acknowledgment of steward
ship under God and accountability
to Him for its use"
Asserting the church would
espouSe no economic system, the
declaration insisted Christianity
must not be identified with any
economic order.
The creed closes with a declara-
ton that I'VE believe that the
free democratic way of life ruled
by Christian principles can bring
to mankind society in which
liberty is preserved, justice estab-
liShed, and brotherhood achieved"
Smoking Debate Is Short.
Debate on the smoking issue for
ministerial candidates was short
but sharp. Reaffirmation of the
previous prohibition against Smok-
ing came when a majority report
recommending less stringent
statement was rejected by the
delegates.
The proposed majority measure
asked candidates "do you make
complete rededication of your
self to the highest ideals of the
Christian ministry and consecrate
yourself to purity of life in body.
mind and spirit?"
The minority required candi-
dates to say he would bear wit
ness to ideals of the Christian
ministry by abstinence from the
use of tobacco and other indul-
gences which may injure" his in
f1uence in the field. 1
Proponents of the majority re-
port charged the body was re-
quiring a double standard for
Methodist laymen and for Meth
odist ministers.
fThis requirement exalts the
double le-standard," DR.. John Ver-
stAeg of Athens, Ohio, told the
g1thering. If smoking is wrong i
iis wrong for the laymen as well
as ministers. Did you ever know
aman to come home and beat up
his wife and children because he
had too much smoke in him?"
But defenders of the rule in-7
sisted its repeal would lower the
standards for ministers.
1T is not so much the use. of
tobacco as the impression that
will get abroad that somehow the
Methodist ministry has pulled
down its Standards" DR.. Cyrus
AlbertSon of Seattle warned. 1--WE
know that if we should delete this
phrase it will be accepted by many
in our profession as :, simply
letting down of the bars. We do
not want future candidates nor
members of the church nor the
public to get the idea that the
Methodist ministry is lowering its
standards"
Resolutions Listed.
Resolutions on international and
national issues were also ap-
proved by the body today. Among
them we're:
/. Denouncing of communism as
holding out deceptive promises to
underprivileged peoples and as
having new and terrible forms
of tyranny" when in power. But
the statement urged against
charging "the entire Russian
people with being communiStic"
and urged we send "a message of
Christian fellowship and good
will to them.
1t asserted Americas best de-
fense against communism was
not military force, but the elm
ination of racial and class dis
elimination. poverty. hunger and
disease" and more adequate pro-
vision for "the physical and spir-
itual needs of persons of all
lands"
2. The United Nations presents
the best hope for peace, and
MethodiStS everywhere were asked
to urge their governments to