Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-05-01

.;orary of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
u.s held al New York last week, at which
,be following address Of their President,
tho Rev'd JOHN SUhMERFIELD, was read
MARsEiLLEs, Feb 20, 1923.
Nh Dear Breih~en-You are too well
,.ouaioted with the circumstances which
nreyent my billing the chair upon this plea
snr,Sle occasion 10 require that should
SwelI upon them indeed it would be ir-
Ielatise IN those important objects which
have assembled you together; rot priUate
,,,u,,dthies hut the public good will be
your present theme {; on tnis realize my
mlI snare of JOY with you, for although IA
a far distant land, and that a land OF straD-
gsrs. my affections point to those whom
inye IN the truth" ana with whom
Glory 10 be in any wise associated 10 Car
wing on The cause OF our common Lord
Upon the occasion OF az anniversary
Ike YOURS, exhortation 10 renewed zeal
ni0ht bs deemed impertirent the pulse
nj every heart beats 100 high on such an
OCCASION 10 anticipate any decay IN your
future exaItlons. This IS rather a season
of Capitalization and rejoicing, and ~
commencing another year OF labor ana
reward, devnu,ly implOre toT you con-
tinuance OF that grace, which has enao'eh
YOU 70 remain 'steaiiast, immoyeaeie' al,
ways Astounding in the work OF the Lord!
In common w,;h all who love the ,nte-
rests of the Redeemer's Kingdom, ! re-
iolce al witnessing the increase at MS
slcnarv zeal, and Missionary means. which
toe past year lays open, not only I'd your
auxiliary and its parent society, out among
o,ber denominations of the CHRISTIAN
Church; 10 this "y VI also 10y ami reJolce
with me-" tor "whether Paul, Apo!lcs or
Cephas, all are yours $50 that IN what
ever part OF the vineyard the ~ork -
wrought, we view il''not as the work OF
man, but as il is in ruth the work oil
God :" for "n.iiher is he that p!an;etb any
thing neither he that watereth, IL IS God
,Ss eiyelh the increase !" We may COL
lee, from .fIereDt funds, but we bring to
the same Ex,hequer and have no great
erloy than IN the accumulation oil me re-
venue of that relative : 'oyy OF the DIVINE
character. which redoundS from the saliva
too OF men, through Christ Jesus, unto
,bp glory and praise OF God the Father !,
But ahstracting iron. general views OF
The mighty work Of missions, regard toe
branch 10 which you are attached vito
ppcullar pleasure on tins occasion You
know that from the beginning OF our exis
ienCe in me religious world. H.s'hoolSm
has always heen "history OF = S,ioDs
its venerable founder considering that THIS
was the FIRST character OF the CbrIstiah
Church, and believing il would be The last.
even at that day, when many SHALL run
TO and lro, and knowledge be increased,
wisely instituted a ministry which should
be a standing monument OF what God
cOyld do by this means sand what has
God Wrought Some there are. whom
the frost of many winters has not chilled
70 death, TO whom our Fathers word may
still ne spoken,
"Saw We not the cloud arise
"I.ittle as a human hand ~
It's present state zee ourselves have lived
10 see:
a. Now It spreads along the skies
"Hangs DER all the thirsty land
aWnen He first tue work begun
"Small and feeble was HIS day;
"No,r the Word doth swiftly run,
"NO,s it wins it, widening way
"More and more it spreads and grows;
"Ever mighty to pre- all,
"S Sins strong holds it now o'erthrows,
"Shakes the trembling gates OF hell :"
Indeeditbere are seasons wherein the
overwhelming influence OF these reGec>
tions 80 rests upon the mind, that unless
we heard the warning voice what doest
thou here Elijah % we should stand at tbe
base OF this mighty structure and wholiy
spend our the for nought, in adniFing The
symmetry and proportion OF all us paris,
oehol3ing "what manner OF stones ana
buildings are here" But thus warned,
we 100 ''ari.e and build - Thus Instead
Of the fathers are the children, and the
ChIdren's children shall YET add thereto
I'LL The top stone be raised, shouting grace,
grace, unto i!
Mg dear brethren, If there IS scene
within the universe of God. calculated to
Iift our minds 20 heaven; II there IS
scene calculated 20 bring down the hea-
yepIy bost 10 earth, il Is that "hiCa pour.
,rays in anticipation the hua! ,;'uV,ah o.
the Gospel OF the grace ct God; yes,
the Gospel must ultimately an! universal
ly triumph Well may we excia'm' what
an object ia this Il IS he tan'st scene
that the pencil of heaven, dipl IN The
coOrs OF its own rainbow, can deineate
and even the great voice issuing from Toe
eternal throne. can utter nothing more ex-
bherating and sublime than the consum'
nation OF this event. Behold the teber-
nscle of God is with men! :" Yes, my
brethren,
"Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
"Does his successive courses run
The glow which pervaded the Apostles
mighty mind, did not cause his pen 10 a
beratp; the spirit OF inspiration sat upon