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Show Some Preachers Get a Shock. Quite a sensation was sprung at the Winona Bible conference, at' Winona, Indiana, Friday last by Rev. C. F. Aked.. pastor of the Fifth Avenue church, New York, which is supposed to be John D. Rockefeller's -church. The New York minister is an Englishman Eng-lishman and said to be one of the best paid ministers in the United States. He was "imported" from Liverpool, England, Eng-land, only three years ago. Winona was thronged with the leading Protestant ministers to hear "the great preacher of the Fifth Avenue church." Dr. Aked came out plainly and told the Bible conference that all the -Protestant churches were losing ground. "None of our churches are able to hold the gains we made in the. past," he said. "The people are growing more and more indifferent." he continued. "There must be something radically wrong with our preaching or our system of work. I am not talking without knowledge and investigation. I have prepared carefully the statistice on the subject." Then Dr. Aked proceeded to quote the statistics. "My figures show that 335 churches in Manhattan borough, New York, only gained 386 converts In one year the statistical 3rear just ended. There are 7,500 barren churches in Congregational, Methodist. Presbyterian and Baptist denominations." This last statement appeared - to cause great indignation among some of the ministers and several speakers took exception to Dr. Aked's remarks, one preacher saying that he was surprised "such a distinguished minister would give expression to such awful things-even things-even if true, when he must know the press and public would get hold of the statemnts and print them, thus doing the cause of religion great harm." Dr. Aked replied that "nothing was to be gained by concealing the truth." He said the ostrich policy would not do. The fact must be recognized as they presented themselves. "It is unnecessary that my hearers agree with me," concluded Dr. Aked. "I have simply addressed you frankly on a subject in which we are all interested. inter-ested. Let those who do not agree with my view get busy with tne facts, and them to be so." But Dr. Aked's facts were "not budged an Inch" by any one at the Winona Wi-nona Bible conference. The Ministerial associations will make a searching Investigation In-vestigation to ascertain If there is any redeeming side to the black picture of Protestantism that Mr. Aked has painted. It Is safe to say that nothing in recent re-cent years has caused such a sensation in Protestant ministerial circles in Indiana In-diana as the bold statistical statement of "Rockefeller's pastor." Catholic Columbian. Co-lumbian. hi. Miiii . iIipik, m mi i in urn i i , in .ii.i.iiiin m.n |