The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-12-13

| CEDAR OF Lebanon winch spreads It's
branches in every direction, or a
grand temple with many chapels or
affairs, or, better still, conquerlng
army which is all the more efectI1e
for being divided into many corps,
divisions, brigades, regiments, battal-
ions and companies, each under its
own head, and all subject to the gen.
eral-in- chief Every christian de-
nomination has its special mission,
and there is abundant labor for
all in this great and wicked
world. l believe that at present none
of the leading denominations of Chris
tendon which do their work for the
Master faithfully could be spared with
out most serious injury to the progress
of the Gospel at home and abroad. If
we consider the appalling amount of
ignorance, immortality and vice, of in
fidelity and Indifference in Christian
lauds, and then the fact that nearly
o-thlrds of the human family are
still buried in idolatry, we ought to
thank God that he has raised up so
many agencies for the defense and
spread ofhis Kingdom of truth and right
eousness throughout the world. And
we should heartily rejoice in the build
ing of every new church or chapel, and
IN the conversion of every soul by
whatever name or agency. Every
man is man, first and last, whatever
be his race or nationality and every
| Christian is Christian, first of all and
last of all, no matter what his ecclcSiaS-
hcal connection may be. All Chris
tians are one in Christ Jesus. They
are all members of his body; they are
all redeemed by the same blood, bap-
TIED in the same triune name, justified
by the same grace through faith, sancti-
fled by the same spirit, animated by
the same love to God and men, and
they travel on different roads to the
same Fathers house in heaven. The
cultivation of fraternal fellowship, |
believe, is essential to the nature of
Christianity as a religion of Lo7e to God
and man, and it is precious byl0i2eee
as well as sacred duty. And so l es-
TEEN myself highly privileged, that l,
in the name of the Presbyterian Church
can tonight extend the hand of cordial
fellowship to the NJ. E. church, recog-
nizing in her ministry and membership
fellow aborers in the same glorious
mission, working for the attainment Of
the same grand end that we are; and
on this National Thanksgiving Day, l
heartily unite with them in giving
thanks unto God for the 100 years,
labors of the Methodist Church in our
land and the grand results which have
| been their outgrowth. This church
has been raised up by Divine Provi-
dence to do peculiar work. 1t has a
record of labor, struggle, victory and
blessing, which is written on the an
mails of history. And with this record
spread before us, and with the trophies
of success before our eyes, it will be
my privilege tonight to set forth one or
two reasons why | think all Christians
should thank God for the hundred
years of American Methodism. |
shall not now refer to its missionary
work, for in this it has not excelled the
Moravian Church. l will not refer to
its educational work, for in this it has
not equalled our own Presbyterian
Church ; | will not refer to its benevo-
lent and philanthropic work, for in
this other denominations have equal
led it. Neither shall l speak of the
great work it has accomplished in the
way of saving souls for this, of course,
all Christians should give glory unto
| God, but | shall refer now to some
characteristics which it has shown in
its history, for which all Christian de-
nominations should be deeply CRATE
full, and which it would be well for
them all to emulate.
The first reason for Thanksgiving,
which | will mention is their sELF-sAC-
RIFICING-zEAL, and indomitable energy.
Whatever other traits Methodists have
shown, this has certainly been their
chief and greatest-Intense enthusiasm,
great earnestness and untlrlng devo-
ton to their Master. They cared not
where they preached, whether in city
or country in a church or a chapel 4;
under cover or in the open field. Mel
Their did they care for personal COM
fort, only so they might save souls for
the Master. John Wesley once said
when he was interrupted, while preach
ing, by noises and personal violence ::
"To save souls is my vocation, the
world is my parish A1d that seems
to have been the inward spirit OF all
his followers. As an example of their
zeal, | will mention BishQb Coke, who
landed at New York in this month one
hundred years ago, and in the Deem
Der following organized the Methodist
Church in America. Besides his lab
ors in America, he traversed Great
Britain aud Ireland, crossed the ocean
eighteen times at his own expense,
founded a mission among the negroes
in the West Indies, and one also in the
East Indies, SO that during his life
time it was not considered necessary
to organize missionary society; for
he embodied that great interest in his
own person. If you wish another ex-
ample, look at Bishob I4SbMv, the