Show MEMBERS LUST LOST I IBY BY METHODISTS IN IM YEAR YEARBy By Associated Press PHILADELPHIA Dec 4 The The Methodist Episcopal church in the tile United States lost members last lat I year This announcement was made by the Rev Edgar Blake executive secretary of ot the centenary program at the annual convention of ot the board of home borne missions of ot the Methodist Episcopal church He lie said the condition was an alarmIng alarming alarming alarm alarm- ing fact tact faced by all Protestant dioceses dio tto- tto and that other denominations sought to find excuses for tor it Other denominations it on the war because a large number of ot their clergyman were With th army declared the Rev Blake Some blame It on the influenza epidemic which carried off their congregations Still others say it is due to a revision of their records in cutting off the persons who have died lIed or moved Let us not deceive ourselves with these excuses The condition e exists We must face It fearlessly It cannot be successfully met by the centenary fund tunde We e must have a solid backing of or more than 40 Methodists In the United States tates |