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Show Most Important Meeting in History of Denomination in Session. CHURCHES OF WORLD ARE NOW ON TRIAL Bishops Declare "We Are at, Crisis of the Ages," and Must Not Fail. DE MOINES, Iowa. May 2. Declarations Declar-ations against lawlessness, "confusion and anarchy" and devotion to orderly 1 government were expressed today at 1 the Methodist Episcopal quadrlennial J meeting in the address of the bishops, j delivered by Bishop William F. Mc-! Dowell, of Washington. Principles for ; which the church should stand were-' set forth in the address. j DES MOINES, la., May 2 Heralding Herald-ing the Methodist Episcopal quadrien-nial quadrien-nial general conference meeting here as the most Important In the history; of the denomination, the addresses of the thirty-fourth bishops of the church submitted to the conference today, declares de-clares the church is on trial. In be-Ihalf be-Ihalf of their denomination? the bishops ' accept the challenge and aver that) tho church must determine to deal ' ( courageously with the vital questions tho national age has presented. "Never before did a general confer-once confer-once meet at a time like this," they say in their address "We cannot go back to the less troubled, more simple, placid days. Church Facing Crisis. "We' are at a crisis in the ages. If we fall here, it will not matter what else we do." The address is devoted to answering the question: "What is our chief lousiness lous-iness at the presoiit conference?" Eleven Points to Settle. It divides the question into eleven sub-divisions as follows: "What is our chief businese at this conference on behalf of tho church itself? it-self? Concerning the young life of the world? With reference to the social, so-cial, Industrial and economic conditions condi-tions in the world? On the race problem? prob-lem? As we face divided and dismembered dis-membered Christendom? In regard to the non-Christian world7 With reference refer-ence to rural life? With reference tq city life? With, reference to extending, extend-ing, perpetuating and conserving the outstanding features of stewardship, intercession and world vision brought to the church in the centennary movement? move-ment? With reference to the reconstruction recon-struction of Europe? With reference to world peace and the new internationalism?" interna-tionalism?" In its bill of particulars, the address says: Church Must Stand For Right. "Of course, the church will stand In unflinching, uncompromising denunciation denunci-ation of all violations, of law; against all murderous child labor; all foul Bweatshops; all unsafe mines; all deadly tenements; all starvation wages; all excessive hours for those who toll; all profligate luxury, all standards of wage and life below the living standard; all unfairness and harshness of conditions; all brutal exactions, ex-actions, whether of the omployer or inion; all overt hardships ivhether of capital or labor; GodlesB profiteering whether in food, clothing, profits or wages; against all inhumanity, injus-tice injus-tice and blighting inequality; against nil class-minded msn who demand special spe-cial privileges or exceptions on behalf of their cioS. "In V-.'.s materialistic day the church seorf spiritual amends with tho eternal eter-nal value of human life In view. More than ninety per cent of tho present laws relate to property; less than ten per cent to the interests of human i life; the emphasis is wrong nnd the proportion vIcIouh," Must Take Strong Stand "Surely," says the address, in its reference to world peace, "we must take strong grounds against any more wars and against war, itself as a meth-(od meth-(od of settling difficulties. Surely we must commit our church to the principle prin-ciple that International troubles shall he adjusted by counsel nnd arbitration, arbitra-tion, not by guns nnd the slaughter of men; that the nations of the world shall be bound together by a working covenant of peace, that, however it (shall bo brought about, such compromise compro-mise should be made between tho president pres-ident of tho United States and the senate of the United States as snail secure a real and effective leagucof nations In which tho United States shall have a proper and honorable place among the nations of the world in preserving the peace and bearing tho burdens of the world; that narrow nationalism shall not set Itself against world unity and a truo internationalism." international-ism." A reactionary spirit in the church 'will cnuse it to lose iLs -leadership. In the "forward moving World," tho address ad-dress declared. Relation of Church- to Religion. The address did not discuss or recommend, rec-ommend, specif Icyucla of church legislation, legis-lation, b,u.t dealt with the relation of the church to the..reh'gious, social and economic conditions of tho world today; to-day; "Foundations are disturbed. Economic, Eco-nomic, social and industrial conditions are volcanic. They go far beneath mere questions of wages, hours and I profits," the bishops said. "Thjyj reach the roots of .organized life, the i basis of government Itself Ev-! cry where free Institutions are threat-j ened. Tho church must not fall in the effort to preserve them. We cannot can-not give sympathy or approval to Bolshevism, Bol-shevism, whether of the red-handed mob or of the soft-handed sentimentalist, sentimen-talist, to anarchy whether of the street or of the chair. Between the destructive, destruc-tive, radica and the unyielding reac tionary movements of tho radical, the bomb thrower, the red terror on the one hand and rock-ribbed contender for spcrinl privilege, feudal brutality and domination of wealth on the other; oth-er; between wild radicalism and inhuman in-human standpatism, between autocracy autoc-racy at the top and anarchy at the bottom; betweon tyranny of wealth and tyranny of strength, the church of Jesus Christ must this day hold a steadycourse, speak in clear tones end minister 'to order, stability and righteousness. right-eousness. Those who array class against class, man against man, in any manner, arc foes, not friends, of society." so-ciety." Great Need of Ministero. In pointing out n great need of the church for ministers, Bishop McDowell McDow-ell declared: "The protestant church as a whole has never been wise or adequate in its care or thought of youth." "We do not now abate one jot or tittle of our hostility to liquor's indescribable inde-scribable crime against the world," the bishop said when discussing prohibition. prohibi-tion. "We have not the slightest intention in-tention of yielding any part of tho victory we have gained. We do not propose to compromise with mild forms of intoxicants." Anarchy would follow fol-low the evasion of the eighteenth amendment to tho federal constitution, ho said. Tho chUrch, "however, must turn to the creation of a "new positive, posi-tive, constructive life for community welfare,"- he added. . Church Problem Is Deep. In regard to church union tho bishop I asserted, "tho problem is far deeper j and more significant than simply fus- I ing two or more denominations and I much deeper than any plan of organisation. organi-sation. Tho motive for union must bo' big enough to carry the movement, uigj enough to last on all lands in nil! years." ' To the conference, he said, "we ask! you to declare in clear and ringing! tones that the Methodist Episcopal church will work together with nnv ! church that works with and for Jesus i Christ" I |