American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-05-16

Delivered before the General Con
'erence of the NJ. T.. Church, South,
1t Louisville, Ky, by Rev. DIR.
Charles II. Fowler, delegate from
the Noilheln NJ. +. Church:
Behold orr vast array of enemies,
and rum, and horrld
host. Here l meet another ercmy
of gain, the madness OF men
for wealth not so much to hoard 1T
like old fashioned misers, but to
lavish vt on themselves aud on their
passions like old fashioned prOdi-
gals. Tuis ungodly greed must be
slain in the church, and constantly
rehnked out of the church.
Where can we find forces to mass
against corruption in office and ont
of it . Where shall we find tonic
that will tone up the public con
science, and make it fatal to steal
from the public treasury or betray
tue public confidence
What guard shall we post about
the sanctity of virtue? With what
IegiOns shall we trample out the
social evils By what power shall
We shut off the flood OF foolish aud
ruinous literature How Can the
hosts of Israel be made to check the
mighty on rushing tide of wOrldli-
nesss Surely we are not only born
from heroic stock, but We are also
born into heroic work. Sometimes,
when l look over my appointments,
such as are common in these days,
with good church edifice aud fur
nisI,ed parsonage, and organized
society and responsible trustees, and
certain support, and see these as
the Iuit ct the lai'Ors of heroic,
kingly and gotiIy -anointed sou S,
who hard such kinsllip with the AL
mighty that they could speak light
out OF darkness, call order ont OF
chaos, and create a church ont OF
nothing. / have felt not a little
Inundated at not being counted
worthy Of some more perilouS post.
Two years ago stood in the ashes
of one of our desnlated cities, and
saw our church enterprises rr"stratf
and our brethren pensioners upon
public benevolenre. srOud there
IN the little council, surrounded 10y
some Of the old veterans who had
camped there by the old fort before
there was any city; who had toiled
Oh through all har,lships for the
church; who bad prayed at the
planting of every charge, and wat.
cred each new sprout with anxious
tears. 1 looked npOn them old
bowed and tremblimg-ands Saw the
sparkle Of the old fire in their weep
ing eyes. Inever felt more CRATE
full Tor anything than l did tina
boar for the vigor of early life, ant
for thu, privilege OF trying to repeat
the work of the worn heroes abOu
me. Standing where I do this hour
surrounded by the princes of Israel
before this host of skilled and VA
liant warriors, it seems a poor ties
of a mans metal to lie saint il
these days. But when l look forti
upon the enemy, see his host NOV
ing down upon the church from al
qnaIters aud with all weapons, opel
|
scnfftrS overawing the recruits. sci
entists trying to cut off supplies
naturalists sapping and mining TIN
foundations, nberaiists spiking tn
guns. and workings poisoning tn
ra,iOns, III it seems to me n
mean degree of strife. John WEES
ley Or Francis Asbury might turf
| MI, IL
rise from their graves to scourg
Darwin back to his ancestor
Adam Clarke or jesse Lee mig
count 1t all joy to cross lanc-s witt
Huxley. The sainte.l Fletcher o
the sanity Goodman could well al
ford to be translated over again TO
the privilege of cla-ping the arm
of their prayers about Tyndail AM
his prayergauge. We are in H.
mean encounter. The enemies q
God in these days must be met fou
70 foot and hand to hand, rs Of OLD
The hosts of Israel, like the square
of BriIOns OH the field of Waterln6
must stand shoulder to shoulder
needing only the voice of the Grea
Commander.
Brothers, the one conflict of tn
age eliminates about us. MethO
dis III is in the breach. Around I'll
head of our Column rally the NOR;
forces of the universe. The shade
of the mighty dead are wa,chin
every for ward step. He'll tremble
as We crowd together IN the contest
The redeemed shout new victory a
We forget self and all but the gr-s,
cause III the hour ot peril. AS
stand in th.s presence do nl
mean this company of inerants-
l mean this cloud of witnesses
these cOnIrn,IIng hosts; this on
lMp-Iiied cause of NY dH ing Mast.
lis l stand in this presence | al
compelled to ask what am /? VIVA
are You? Whal is any man in sue
an hour, that >utf;rings aud pers,
cutions should be considered for on
moment The other day in Coz
greSs, Lamar, the hOnOIed son {
Mississippi, said Call occasion ft
strife and disrrust between til
Non tn and South had passed away
and there no longer remains an
cause for continued estrangemen
My country men know one anoI he
and you will love one another
Forgiveness and charity must new.
find better examples and more Twin
emhodlments in political parti.