Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-15
"A. {. CENTENARY ceLEsRATIon.
Addresses by Judge Stone. y. n.
Powell and Rev. Dr.. Gilbert.

powell and nes. Dr. GILBERT
The services at the Division street NJ. E
church last evening were characterized a.
platform meeting and the addresses were,
for the most part, b. laslnen- The themes
chosen had special adaptation TO the centsn-
arg celebration now being observed b. al
Methodist churches throughout the land To
Hon j. W. Stone was assigned the nrst
topic ''Our Debt to the Fathers"
Judge Stone characterized the Methodist
Episcopal church as the American church;
the church that had its foundation cotempor-
airy with American independence. He re-
viewed the labors of John Wesley In
planting the Methodist church upon this
continent and the work of the first
two American bishops, Pope and Asbury.
His tribute 10 Wesley was well-worded and
beautiful eulogy upon the man. be spoke
of him as man essentially In advance OF
his age, as the enemy Of vice and slavery, as
the friend OF the poor and oppressed, as the
cheerful giver 10 ey7ry charitable enterprise,
and gave soutLey's, Coleridge's and Macau-
Ieys estimate of him. America was pre-
destined TO be the great field for Methodist
development. Ia this development she has
ever been loyal TO the republic. Born al
most together, side by side have they ad-
vanced. The Methodist Episcopal confer
ence was the first TO recognize the new re-
public, first to congratulate the repub-
tic over the success Of the rebellion. 1t
was Lincoln who said: q The Methodist
Church sent more soldiers TO the field, more
nurses 10 the hospitals, more prayers TO
heaven during the rebellion than any other
church" Methodism has taken advantage
OF the indications of Providence and now
occupies the most enviable position.
j. II. Powell, Of the Congregational
Church, spoke of ''Methodism and Other
Denominations" He was only representa-
tive OF a sister denomination that wished to
express goodwill 10 Methodists. Other de-
nominations, he said, owed To Methodists a
debt of gratitude for their anwavering conf
dence in Jesus Christ. Methodism has grown
because il has held fast TO the power OF the
gospel. Other denominations should thank
Methodists for the history of their heroism
and simplicity. The Methodist Episcopal
Church, more than any other, was the church
for the masses. Methodism is also to be
commended by sister denominations for its
enthusiasm and warm -heartedness. A Metho-
dist is enthusiastic or is nothing. 1t is also
TO be commended for the doctrinal influences
it has had over Calvenism.
Rev. Dr. Gilbert spoke in closing of Our
Vantage Ground" He gave two points as
the great secrets of Methodist success in this
country. One was the doctrinal basis upon
which the church rests. The one great pur-
pose of the church has been the saving of
souls. The twenty-five articles of faith were
so framed that any evangelical minister
could subscribe TO them; theirs was creed
that ali could accept. John Wesley, in its
formation, had cut oat and omitted all those
points that would cause fruitless discussion
and controversy, and left only such srti-
cles as any believer could readily accept
The second great point was the church gov
ernment The comparison between the
church organization and that of our civil
government is very striking and similar.
The church was conservative and yet pro-
oressive. The church stands facing the fu-
ture ready to adopt or exclude anything
from its creed or methods that shall hinder
the one great object-the saving of men.