Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1877-03-01
GRAND UNION MEETING.
oLD-TIME METHODIST FIRE ARorJspp q

MEIdODlST FIRE AROUSEUE
rHAIEhNAL FEELING ExI r lssED-HASua
sHAKING-HoLY COMMUNION.
On last Sunday night, as was an
nounced in the LEDGER. there was o.
Joint meeting of the two Methodise
congregations In this city at the MI.
E. church On Liberty street. The
house was crowded. to overfowing.
not seat being left vacant. 1t ap-
peared as if every member of both
churches was present, as we'll as many
from other denominations. The meet
ing was opened by the reading of the
l9th chapter of St. John by the pas
tor, MIR. Gillies, who also read the
69od hymn. After the singing of this
appropriate hymn, Mr.. Gillies lead i'm
prayer, which had very impressive
effect on all present. DIR. Vi1cil then
read the 712th Hgmn, after which Rev.
j. Glllies, the pastor, made neat lit
tie speech of wenome, in which he
ilkened the different Orthodox denom-
nations to rivers which would all be-
lost in the great oceans to which they
are tending. He is in favor of keep
ing up the time-honored custom of
handshaking and 'amens.s During his
speech he came forward and gave ths
right hand of fellowship to DIR. VinciI.
pastor of the NJ. E. Church South.
At the close of this speech DIR. Vim
Gil read two verses of the 7I8th hy,nu.
after which he came forward to the
desk to make few remarks, and al
though unwell, made his usual inn
preston on the minds Of those pres
ent, but before he left the stand. you
could see that his whole soul was
III his work-his very accents sending
an electric thrill through his hearers
He took occasion during his remarks
to say that he came there to represent
no party. He stood there as Meth
odist--a Christian. He said the two
branches OF the church were the same
per se,' only enthusiastically differ
ent. He said he thought denomina-
tions were good things; that each
church has its sphere and work, but
that he was opposed to these high
fences between. He wanted it so we
could look over and see our neighbors
exchange courtesies and speak
words of cheer as we all Journey
heavenward. AS is always the case
Dr. Vincips remarks were happy and
pertinent to the occasion. After the
singing of the 717th hymn, DIR. Shu-
mate made some remarks founded On
the text, ''Let there be no strife be-
tween thee and me-" g., &. He said
that the congregation was not there
to theorize but to put in practice those
principles laid down st Cape May in
1876. He made very appropriate
address, applying his principles very
forcibly by means of illustrations, one
of which was that in 1877 the M. f.
church like mighty oak had been
cleft asunder but it had since been
feeding from the same roots and that
there was not dead leaf or twio on;
either branch. He said now that each
part was to be raised up and bound
round with the cords of love and
fraternal feeling; and although the
tree would have. it's north and south
sides it would be giant in the forest
AT the close of his remarks the Lords
supper was administered, and yo
could see around the altar members of
both churches kneeling side by side.
breast to breast, bearing the cross of
Christ. This meeting was one. of the
grandest ever known in the history of
Mexico, and viii be remembered lone
by those present. May its good eff
feet be seen by others and they 90 and
do likewise.