Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-20
TIRE CENTENARY PASTORAL.
The Address of the Conference to the
McthOdssss of the Country.

VISIONS IN THE CHURCH, ETC.
The address to the gethodsts OF the country,
published by the Centenary H. e. Conference,
which has just closed it's sessions IN baltimore.
reviews briefly the history OF the first century
OF organized Methodsm, and exhorts Metho-
dists Ito give such prsycriui consideration to
those faithful representations OF the marvellous
tokens Of the divine favor which have marked
the steps OF our advancement through the CEN
| fury as the vital interests invoived viii both
Justify and demand"
| MethoGists are reminded however that the
| mission given them is not vet CONNECTED and
| entreated 10 not forget that hitherto Methodists
have been distinguished by the emphasis they
nave gwen TO the essential doctrines OF christi
snity.
There are" the address continues. .'other
doctrines to be Observation-Disclosures which
| relate to salvation applied well a. provided
doctrines which uaderlic the experiences OF the
soul In its emergenoe out of the darkness aud
death Of sin into the light and life in righteous
ness These other doctrines have been the raj
| lying cry Of Methodism In the past. and must be
| In the future. They are repentance faith, iusti.
hcaton, adoption. the witness OF the Spirit.
| sanctiscation and christian perfection. Out OF
| these come al our experiences. all our ioys and
hopes. our inspiration and zeal, and uDon these
are ouit oil our special forms and means Of
grace our charities, our benevolences and our
connectionat institutions. These doctrines
ABOVE all Others. have given tone an! shape aad
spirit TO the organism. aud determined i,s work
anu pace In history. Take iIUm Methodism
THESE doctrines o. experience or even the en-
phasis given theri. or overlap them with life,ess
forms ana ceremonies, mar them by human
speculations concerning the mode of the q vine
procedure IN them, or confuse them by any con-
celVabte depart ure from their simplicity SO that
they shall become only doctrines Of the creed
unveriied in the soul as the very esseIce of snl-
walton. and then our glory is departed forever.
We Therefore plead with YOU. brethren. as YOU
value the purity OF the church. and it's mower TO
convert the people and spread scriptural hoi-
ness. hold fast these doctrines as they come from
the fathers. as they appear in the scriptures aud
as they have been attested by the experiences Of
the church in past ares"
WORD OF WARNING
1--WE would also be INDUCED in a word Of
warning. Methodism has been but little
troubled with heresy I'm her ranks. Now We
discern tendency which suggests watchfuI-
ness There is a spirit OF inquiry abroad which
needs to be directed and restrained Under the
guise Of liberality aud LOYALTY TO Christ. men
strike at the foundations. Without intending
| evil, the inexperienced are captiyated hy the
| sound of pleasing words. and call Tor restate-
| ments OF established truths. We only remind
you that whatever restatement tends to mnfy
sn or TO eNalt the carnal nature into the sphere
| OF grace or TO give TO the unaided powers of the
soul the inherent capabillty which the spirit OF
n.
nicious. The essential corruption of human
nature is one of the sternest facts In the mil
verse. The utter hepessness of the soul with
out Christ, must be insisted upon as q crucial
doctrine. There is salvation in none other.
| tive no place 10 any new philosophy however
| specious, which reduces depravty TO figure Of
speech or rebellion against God 10 a foble"
| Nethodists are adjured not TO turn from their
| standards OF tie church to follow strange
lights. They are urged earnestly to maintain
| family religion and the holy sanctuary of home.
| to attend well to the instruction of children.
| guard their reading carefully. watch over their
amusements. and make their surroundings of a
| character TO elevate and strengthen them In a
| virtuous life.
| TIE SABBATH.
| "a spiritual church without Sabbath" the
| address continues. lis an impossibllity God
| has consecrated One-seyenth of our DAYS to rest
and worship. The law enjoining its obsery-
ance is both positive and moral imbedded In
the decalogue enforced in the New Testament,
and interpreted and illustrated in the practice
of the Primitive Church. But il is not less
| benevolent than a positive institution. IL 10
| needed by all the t0iling millions of earth. To
the laborer it is a boon OF priceless value, and
| TO the professional man and the man OF business
with nerve and brain strained TO the utmost
tension. it comes as a benediction indeed; to
| the Christian IL is Indispensable. All classes
heed the physical and moral recuperation it
| brings. But this precious gift OF God is imper.
| lied prthe sordid claims OF mammon. and the
no less imperious clamor OF sensuaty. IL be-
hooves the church to stand up I'm the firmness OF
| her God-elyen might to Withstand the aggres-
| sions OF evil men who would destroy this pillar
OF our Christian civilization. We ask first of all
that in your own personal conduct you will honor
the divine command. Remember the Sabbath
day to keep il holy Make the holy day de-
light, not burden. Gather Into all tie lighr
and cheerfulness of living faith. Be joyful in
the Lord. Put away secular thoughts and con-
versatiOns. secular reading and work and let
the day be sacred to spiritual exercises and re-
freshments, and TO works OF charity and neces-
sty. We beseech you, as. Christian people
to stand like wall of adamant against all who
would profane the day of the Lord"
STAND FOR MORALITY,
'The pointed utterances OF this Centennial
Conference on all those questions OF morality
and reform which now occupy SO large a place
in the thoughts Of the people are earnestly COM
meDded to your prayerful attention. Methodism
cannot afford to stand behind the foremost
ranks in the battle against profanity llcentious-
ness and intemperance, or whatever kindred
vices cause the land to mourn. lier voice il for
war against everything that dishonors God or
aftcts humanity. From the beginning she has
given clear and emphatic testimony against the
liquor traffic, and Is fully committed to the ex-
tirpation OF this molstrous evil Let there be
no faterlng in This purpose. We counsel wisdom
and prudence as TO methods. and hearty CO.
operation with all whose plans accord with
Christian principles, and yet we most earnestly
insist that the ultimate aim of all our endeavors
shall not fall short of constitutional prohibition
of the traffic in the states aud in the nation
The facilities afforded for easy divorces in many
OF the states furnish Just cause for alarm. Polyg-
anous practices in our territories merit the
righteous Indignation Of an outraged people;
and yet the abuses of the essential ideas of mar
riage, as found in the divorce laws on our statute
books and administered in our courts, fall but
little, II any, below the denominations of Mormon
ism, and call loudly for the publication of public
sentiment on this subject. As Christians we
must stand upon the law OF the New Testament,
and permit no compromise with the looser
opinions and practices which have become so
fearfully prevalent in our times. The sacredness
OF the marriage relation as an institution OF God
must be maintained and our undivided influ-
ence should be joined with that of all who stand
on the solid ground of the hoy Scriptures to
beat back the dood-tide of RIGHTEOUSNESS which
threatens to overwhelm all that Is pure in the
framework OF our social life. Every interest Of
morality and religion Is involved in this CUES
ton of divorce. Let not our efforts relax till
our church stands free from ofense in this
thing"
THE DIVISIONS IN THE CHURCH.
Not least among the evils We deplore as
Methodists is the spirit of strife and division
which, we are sorry to say, is not yet wholly
eradicated from our Zion. Far be 10 from us to
pronounce every division OF the church schis-
NAUTICAL There has been, doubtless, some provi-