The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-05-26

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cord, of patriotism and wisdom.
May they fifty introduce a century
of larger civil good than the world
has yet known, q century of wider
intelligence and better morals, of
liberty and order more perfectly
allied, of confirmed unity, peace
and prosperity. But the patriot
who is also an intelligent christian
surveys a wider horizon than his
fellow citizens. He interprets and
values all centuries and all nations
by their relations to the kingdom
and glory of Christ. He must,
therefore, be moved by the pro-
founder sentiments and recognize
higher duties on such an occasion
as this, for to the American Chris
tian his own land and time seem to
have been designated for peculiar
illustration of the Divine kingdom
and for special and large contribu-
tons to it. Here has fiourished
government historically deduced
from the christian principle of
equality and brotherhood-a gov
ernment from the people, by the
people and for the people. Here
the ChurcL, made independent of
the State, has illustrated the sim
plicity, the freedom aud the vigOr
of ancient Christianity. Here a ma
ton, growing within a century
from 100000 to 100000, and
overspreading vast regions recently
occupied by the savage and the
wild beast, has so maintained and
diffused the faith that the increase
of churches. of communicates, of
schools distinctly consecrated to
Christ and of organized Christian
charities has relatively, outstripped
the increase of population. The
significance of these facts cannot
be overestlmated. They illustrate
the dependence of social welfare on
| religion. They are tokens of the
vitality and beneficence of the Cos
pei. They are auguries of its fu-
lure triumphs. They make the
land and the country wherein they
appear conspicuous in the history
ef redemption. They impose
weighty obligations. We must
not, brethren, be content to stand
at this meeting place of the centur-
les at this hour of retrospect and
anticipation simply with secular
and patriotic rejoicing, nor will
formal and scanty recognition of
the great purposes of God in our
country's history, when beyond
this measure of other times does
the Church now seem to be sum-
moned to reVerent praise and per-
feet prayer to the remuneration of
selfish and worldly aims, for sym
pathy and cooperation with the
Lord and Redeemer of mankind,
and to be faithful study and use
of all agencies by which the ma
tional life may be wrought into
harmony with the Divine law and
design. Particularly should Amer
lean MethoIists thus mark the
close of the fret century of our
national history, for our Church is
almost coeYal with the State.
Gladly admitting the great use
| fulness of other churches, aud at
tempting no exact estimate of the
service of Methodism, we yet be-
lieve that God has given to it this
honor-thst by its direct influence
upon the national sentimen: aud
character it has been a helpful aux
Hilary of the Republic, and per-
haps theindispensable condition of
it's success The inheritors of such
history will not be unfaithful TO
the traditions of their fathers, the
patriotism which prompted the
venerable Asbury and his coadju-
tors to present the first of many
addresses, by which the churches
welcomed Washington to the new
Government, aud which the lamen-
led Lincoln in the crisis of the re-
cent civil war was honored, in the
statement made that the Methodist
Church sent more soldiers to the
field, more nurses to thehospital and
more prayers to Heaven, than any
other. Let US not be wanting now
that we have closed the century in
which the State and Church, though
in law and in fact separate and
distinct, have been mutually help
full and cooperative to the noblest
results.
Every Conference should have it's
well provided and vigorous semin-
ties should be amply endowed. On
this work depends the prosperity
and permanence of the Republic,
| JAC 1AIOl1ISOHOO hA0 PO"OL Vi luO
church, the welfare of our children
and children's children to the latest
generation, the honor of our Lord
and our final responsibility at His
bar. Concur to improve and en-
force these obligations, praying that
you may have wisdom and strength
to fully discharge them, and COM
mending you in all things to the
grace of our Lord, we remain your
brethren in Christ.
Signed by order and in behalf of
the General Conference at Balti-
more, Maryland, May 1st, 1876.
The address was referred to a
Committee of Nine, to be announc-
ed hereafter!
DIVISION OF THE CONFERENCE.
Rev. William II. Perrine, of Mich
igan, submitted a resolution as to
the proprieLy of dividing the Gener-
al Conference into two bodies, con-
sisting of clerical senate and house
of lay representatives, and proceed
ed to address the conference at
some length, after which his propo-
sition was laid on the table.