Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORK.

The Proceedings Continued Yesterday
Evening Address by DR.. Vincent.
The second days session of the Methodist
Sunday school congress was opened with
devotional exercises, conducted by the Rev.
@. Griswold, the Rev. DR.. Vincent presid-
ing. The congress first took up the dis
cussion of '.The distinctive doctrines of
Methodism," promised by TIVE nty minute
paper on the subject by the Rev. Q. NJ.
Heard. Following is an abstract of the
paper:
He'is worthy of remark that there is but
little specific direction in the new testament
concerning the forms of organic Christian
life. The mode of worship, the details of
church government, and the forms of adj
ministrating the ordinances are not so
definitely ordained, but that good men,
equally scholarly and conscientious, differ
concerning them in their views and practice.
We cannot avoid believing that there is
method in this lack of method. This in
defniteness as to the usages which are
proper for the church in its worship and
work, we conceive has two purposes, first,
doctrine of spiritual life, so signify that life
is more important than the manners of
life.
If forms were of supreme Importance, they
would not have been left 50 much opportun-
ity for diversity of operations and difference
of opinion among honest and intelligent be-
levers. If the attention of men had been
too much directed to outward rites and cere-
monies, they would have lost sight of the
weightier matters of the law. Attention was
here directed to the forms of worship as con
tanned in the old testament and the ordi-
nances of the Mosaic church. The speaker
characterized the old testament as designed
to develop spiritual language for the ex-
preston of religious and spiritual truths.
When there is a genuine and vigorous spir-
itual life, it may be safely left to form law
of manifestation for itself, guided only by
those fundamental principles which are out
lined in the teachings and example of Christ
and his early disciples.
Where the spirit of the Lord is there is
this liberty. Not liberty to dispense with
all forms, for that is contrary to the nature
of things as connected with our present life,
and at variance with the teachings and OK
ample of Christ and his apostles. The speak
er said that the peculiarities of Methodism,
chrystalized around life which God, by the
holy spirit, bestowed upon John Wesley and
his coadjutors-a life which demanded a
fuller expression than was allowed by the ster-
eotyped Irregularities of the Anglican church.
The first invisible outcome of this life, was
an itinerant ministry. The spirit put the
ego" of the original commission into the
hearts of the ministers, and they went
preaching everywhere the gospel of the
kingdom. 1t was first found that moving
lights attracted more attention than station
airy ones, that blazing torches, carried from
pace to place, kindles more fires than the
one which blazes only in the place where it
was kindled.
After adverting at length upon the itener-
ant system, attention was called to the i'm
portant duties of the layman in church
economy, particular attention being called
to the important part played by the system
of class meetings as means of developing
the lay talent of the church. In conclusion
the distinctive usages of Methodism were
given as the "itinerant ministry class
meetings and love- feasts for the develop
and local ministry to which the laity of
the church are eligible.
DIR. Vincent spoke of the witness of the
spirit-the great fact of divine communica-
ton. 1t was not necessary to go through a
course of theological training to understand
the distinctive meaning Of this great gift.
An interesting discussion followed on the
distinctive doctrines of Methodism, the
points adduced being as follows: First, call
men are sinners;'' second, "Christ died for
an;'' third, "Christ died to save from all
SIM fourth, ''all who fully accept Christ
have the direct witness of the spirit;'' and,
fifth, call who accept Christ by faith and
continue to the end shall be saved.''
An intermission of ten minutes ensued,
after which a conversation took place on the
subject of GLOW to train our children and
youth in intelligent and Catholic loyalty to
the distinctive doctrines and usages of the
Methodist Episcopal church." The CONVEX
sation was conducted by Rev. DR.. Vincent,
and participated in by the congregation.
The congress adjourned at noon until 2:3o
o'clock.