The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-12-13
ADDRESS BY REV. R., v, BEERS
At the Centennial Services of Amer
lean Methodism,
Church, Thanksgiving Day, November
27th, 1884.

|
27th, 1884.
The following is the text of the adj
dress of the pastor of the E1kton
Presbyterian Church at the celebra-
ton of the Centennial Of Methodism
on Thanksgiving evening. After be-
ing introduced by F. A. Ellis, Esq,
the speaker said:
The circumstances under which we
are gathered here tonight are of es-
pecial interest to us all. For we Gel
citrate the Centennial of American
Methodism.
During the past ten years we have
had many centennial celebrations, and
| believe that they have been pro-
ductive of much coed to our nation;
they have given new strength, new
impetus to the national life. We Gel
ebrated the centennial of our national
independence, and as our eyes in one
sweep took in the whole panorama
of our national history that was
spread out before us, and we saw
how marvelously great was the
growth of the nation, not only in
population, but also in science, in
art, in manufacture and in agricul-
ture, who will not say that the nation
was spurred on to make nobler and
grander achievements in the future
than in the past? We also celebrated
the centennial of most of the battles
of the Revolution, by which means
our minds were carried back hun
dred years, and we saw in magma
ton pass before us our forefathers on
the bloody fields of battle, losing
their lives that we might enjoy free
dom; and as we thus beheld them,
was there not enkindled in our hearts
a more intense flame of patriotism
and stronger spirit of liberty than
we ever had before?
But | doubt if the nation has re-
ceived as much good from all these
centennial celebrations as it could
derive (and which l hope it ac7X de-
rlve) from the centennial celebration
of this yea-the eenteNa,yof1 american
-1lethodiSM; for if the nation will but
drink in the lessons which may be
derived from it, the moral and yeH-
eious life of the nation will be invig-
GRATED and strengthened as it never
was before. My hearers, American
Methodism is without doubt the
greatest religious fact of the age. Its
constituency in this the centennial
year of its organic life is larger than
was the entire population of the
United States in 1884. 1t counts al
most four million members, and may
claim to have almost, if not quite,
one-third of the American people
under its influence. And it has not
attained to its present vast proper
tons by immigration, like the Roman
Catholics, but by the faithful propa
CATION of the Gospel of love and life
1t has got hold of, and lifted the
masses, and impressed its character
upon them, and touched the national
heart, as no other church has been
able to touch it. 1t is a fact of power,
of growth, of inspiration, Of vast in
huence. And the Methodist Episco-
pal Church under whose auspices we
are assembled tonight comprises
nearly one-half of the Methodist ele-
ment in the United States, and it is
no injustice to the other divisions of
Methodism to say that the M. E.
church yields power and possesses
possibilities which twice the sum OF
their influence and opportunities
would not equal. 1t occupies the
entire territory Of our country, North,
South, East and West; it has accu-
mulated wealth and facilities; it is
united, and it has energy and power
of concentration
But perhaps some of you may by
this time be wondering that Ishould
be here tonight praising lethodlsm
SO highly. And to this feeling, if any
of you have it, l will respond by
saying that my good brother Shop
pard pastor of M. E. Church, did
not select my theme for my address
this evening, but simply very kindly
invited me to be present and gave
me the liberty to speak upon any re-
llgious topic | might choose; and so
l have selected my topic tonight of
my own free will, and therefore as
shall devote my time tonight in prais-
ing Methodism for its many excellent
characteristics | shall be performing
no unpleasant task which has been
thrust upon me against my will, but
shall be exercising what | consider
the glad b11V72cge of showing my
high and hearty appreciation of the
labors for the Master which have
been wrought by the Methodist Epis-
copal Church of America. And in
doing SO shall feel as if | was only
obeying the injunction of the Apostle:
"Rendcr honor to whom honor is
due
| am, indeed, Presbyterian and
glory in the fact. l am of Presby-
terrain ancestry; am PRESBYTERIAN
now, and | expect to be Presbvter-
ian as long as live But, although
l glory in being Presbyterian, yet
above all do glory in being a Chris
Hau, and as such | rejoice in all that