The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-07-04

lnC pulpiI was OuISpokcu lOT cuuCuliOn
and freedom. 1t was John Wesley, who,
under God, laid in an upper chamber in
London. in 1740 not alone the foundations
Of Methodism that has become almost
universal, and, which now marches under
its banners fifteen millions of the seven
ty-five millions that speak the English
language, but who, also stood up against
menaces and guys and ribaldry and the
venom of his foes, and spoke deathless
words for human freedom. Do not think
I wander from tie thought of my discourse
when l present to you for your reverend
consideration such an interpreter of great
truths. Although an Englishman by birth.
Wesley's great heart went out to America,
and for two years illuminated education
and christianity, so that to him more than
to any other on this continent is it owing
that our western states grew up without
passing through period of semi-bsrba-
rism. His body lies in Westminster Alb
bey, but no such pantheon eau hold the
heart Of one of the emancipators of his
race.
And side by side with him was the stern
Puritan Leader, Johnathan Edwards.
Born in 1903 in a wilderness; educated in
a college which had scarcely local habi-
tation and name;with weak infrm body
but with heart the most loving that ever
thrilled in the presenc, of the Gloritied
he taught that "true religion consists in
holy affections, the spring of all which,
is "a love of divine things for their Oaen
beauty and ssoeetness." He was prince of
logicians, because he believed what he
wrote and what he said. He did for the
argument of christianity what Wesley did
for its fire, and Whitefeld for its elo-
quence. His great mission was to lead
men back to God, land from his pulpit as
from judgement throne, he pronounced
the words of doom to the un-godly." He
did for his time what Elijah did for the
worship of the true God--what Dante did
for poetry-what Petrarch did for love.
He cast the awful shadows of the life to
come, over the dull landscape of an
irreverent age. A piety rs austere as a
monks of the Flagellation, and of tender
as Fenelou's an intellect as pure as Pa-
tos; an acuteness in dialectics surprising
the schoolmen's and reason as clear as
our Northern winter starlight, and withal
the heart of little child in the arms of
Jesus-a simple worshipper Of simple
truth" On March 22d, 1853, with the
benedictions of hemisphere made better
by his work this christian hero died.
The old world had planted colonies for
gold, and for territory. and for the enslave-
ment of the human race; but never before
had colonies been planted, and sustained.
and builded upon education and the rights
of men. Eleven years before Bunker Hill,
James Otis, the statesman of the Ravolu.
tion, famed in defense of the rights Of the
Colonies. Speaking of the future, said
this prophet of the heroric day "They will
never think of independence till driven to
it as the last fatal resort, against minister.
ial oppression, which will make the wisest
mad and the weakest strong. The world
has advanced to the eve of the highest
scene of earthly power and grandeur which
has ever yet been displayed to the view
of mankind. Who will win the prize, is
with God; but human nature must and will
be rescued from the general slavery that
has so long triumphed over the species.
while the clarion voices of Otis, and War.
ren, and Adams, and Hancock stirred the
more sluggish pulses of the northern heart,
the South, always more mercurial and
more alive to the inspiration of heroic
ideas Qor the blood of the Cavaliers who
fought at Massby, and Marston Moor.
coursed through their veins) was moyed
with fiery indignation by that "son of the
soil Patrick Henry, Virginlas most gifted
orator. His Declaration of rights" in
spired Thomas Jefferson, who was wit
ness to the scene at their presentation,
with that deep resistance to tyrany, which
became the ruling principle of his future
life. 1t was In the presentation of what
Jefferson oalled "Henry's Immortal Reso-
lutions" that Henry rose to the height of
the great occasion. A fierce debate arose
in the House Of Burgesses and threats and
menaces were uttered; but above and be-
yond all these voices of treason or Of SER
vile acQuisescence TO tyrany there came
out the passion and fire of the youthful
soul of Henry. He had not only to fight.
hand to hand but to cheer and encourage
the faint hearted and the trembling whe
drew back from the contest Says an
eloquent writer "The cords of argument
with which his adversaries frequently
flattered themselves that they had bound
him fast, became as threads in his hands.
He burst them with as much ease as the
unshorn Sampson did the bands Of the
Philistnes. He seized the pillars Of the
temple, shook them terribly, and seemed
TO threaten his opponents with ruin. II
was an insessent storm Of thunder and