The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-02


ever the animosities OF the past, hush the
dissensons OF the present, draw closer TO
our brethren in fraternal alliance, and tQ
lock out shields for a united adyanCc
against the gates of he'll!
Mr. President, America is before us, and
our age is the opportunity of the American
church. Will we prove equal to the task?
Is Methodism able TO grapplc with the
forces of highly compile civilization, and
mold the life of great and cultivated peo-
pie TO the pattern OF Righteousness Can
we hold the inevitable progress of this
mighty nation firmly to the essential truth?
These, sir, are practical questions, in pres.
scncc OF which all other controversies
should be silenccd, and which should knit
~ together rs one man. sir, If we are
true TO ourselves, the golden age of the
Methodist church is in the future, and it
will continue TO be the greatest evangelical
power ON this continent.
In its origin, sir, Mcthodism was grand
rcconditoning of truth, as truth Is in
Jesus; and ii carries IN Its very couslitu-
ton the purpose aud potency Of unlimited
expansion. ltls not merely an orgUnila-
ton, but force, a pOW,r a divine life.
The strength OF MCthodi,u, sir H. not in
it's polity, admirable as that undoubtedly
is, but ia lis doctrines and lbs spirit lis
polity changes, but its doctrines and lis
spirit are the same Yesterday TODAY, and
forever Il is in profound harmony, both
with the form aud geniu, of our free in,ti-
buttons, and with the scup, of our progress.
i've age.
The higher intellectual drii Of the age
Is toward It's lundamen d truths, aud the
most advanced eyane, Iistigal thought OF
this century can find NJ more appropriate
cNpr. ssion than the symbols ut Methodist
belief. The platform vi NOthodism, sir
with its logical implications ana Catholic
spirit, oilers the most comprehensive and
honorable basis for the union oi Chri,ten-
DOM and il this unity il ever realized, ID
will not be on the fiction 90 "thr historic
Episcopgic,' but upon substantially the
ground occupied by My,uodism for 100
years.
Mr.. President, we ar told that We ave
in a Transition period; that we must r..
write the doctrines oi tn church, and put
them upon a scientific lI-.s, or give them
tu the winds rs idle tale and We are ON
the eve OF controversies that will shake the
very foundations OF Christianity. that the
discussion OF the Second Probation
is oaly thc sLiunsD which pvc.lc-
a battle that will iuvulNC the high.
est dysiuips ui truth. Sir il may De- so.
II is certain that We are living in lu
age OF intellectual unrs,, aud that do.
Eiruc,iyc criticism, sometimes IN sacred
yCsimcnts, LAYS ruthlcss hands ON the most
holy truth. But We ha,r no fear ul Do,
issue. Christianity Is now "a triumphant
fact, Organized, incorporate, imminent,
and indc,lruriihlc In the very life oi the
race itself. Fir, whatever NAV hc thp tate
ui other SYSTEMS. the cardinal doctrines OF
/ M"thodl-iu will stand fast ~ the "piIlarci
/ nriuamuul,' aud shine with unol-Curpd
I light. Tho Christian iala.ism Of AusUsiin
l IAN mythology will 50 down, the Calvin
| istic dogma of padicul'r redemption vii
| be- exploded, tie fiction Of "thc historic
/ cpiscopIic' will bc given 10 the winds
} ul forms oi recommendation will b. up
l rooted aud swept aWly hut The iunda
I mental positions Of MythUdist'Amlnim
I theology will form the imm1ynhlc mlly.nl
/ poin,1 around which the cons,turliy,
| thought ol the future will gather TO organ
| izc anew the belief OF tie world
Sir. what America needs is not O Chris
| iiuniiy OF form, but q Christianity 81
/ power not what men call 'prErs.iy,
| ORTHODOXY" but an aggressive gospel mol
"a now theology buta baptism Of On,
Holy Ghost. Tho gospel 81 the Son %
| tod preached with the power Of the HOLY
| Ghost IL the hope II Aucdca AMI 81 III,
/ world. This, and this only, will drive in
| fidelity back, with its dark and threaten
| ing horde OF liberalism, sgyulurism, social.
/ ism, nihilism and al thc prryuriOns an.
| disbclicis oi Christian truth that league
| themselves against MS Sir, philosopher
/ cannot save M, science cannot rave M
/ government cannot saw uE political par
| ties cannot save ~. social theories caunO
save M. secular education cannot save a.
but living Christ can ave us, An up
/ lifted Christ will 10 up America, aud It b
the supreme mission Of Mcihydism tu lii
up the Christ 81 God.
SIR. have said that America IL Lcior
~. II is open 10 our aduucu from poll
Ia pole.
Gut. sir. Aaerica is ONLY one division o
| the worldwide field befur rs Across thu
Pacific the Orient IL sccth.ug from ccntc
a. circumference with ihr irmont II ihu
now life introduced by tIr gospel. Tn
steady beat NJ the pulls of Christian ciy
ilin,ion against the holr ui Asia has q
last, broken down tho barriers 81 pruuCs
from the sunny waters %. Yokohama 10 thi
deserts oi 1hibct. and ihr whole fabric o
Orioninlism, social, political and religious
j. toitcring Ia 10 fall Japan b. 10 tn
thr0Cs Of revolution, AMI opens nn cmpif'
a. the conquest ~ thu rrI.s. China b
anxious and alarmed. Russia b. thunder
ing along her northern border Englin'
j. advancing along her southern line. lie
| coast from kWanglung FOO turVa, CLEAN
with grdlc Of forcigH colonies. Com
mcrcc Is pressing upon l.r OF every point
Diplomacy, Ia the intcrs' nI iuicmaliona
progress, las wrcsled fiUu hDr cUncc ssiol
after concession, until crisis has come II
the aliain Of the east, Which makes ~ ih
utmost importance thai lhr churches, no
only 81 America, bui u' Europe alH1
should pour into that yi,si country the con
siructiyc agencies aud forces ~ thrisiinl
civilization, aud take ~ land for Christ
Beyond China, sir, lios India, beyond IN
dia, lies Africa. Thcs M all our neigh
bors; We are bound together hy the law
Of human solidarity an iho nohlcr ties q
brotherhood In Jesus Christ How wide
sir, ~ the field before n How wonderful
our opportunity How the fate Of age
seems 81 hinge on our frNIcC'
Sir. ! know not how others may feel
but ~ for myself, BEL that Ia the pres
ence Of such opporiuniucs q Is treason :
J Jesus Christ for rs a. aniagonizc cacI
other. There should h. profound hai
mony and cooperation between ~ ia w
prosecution Of this work. No politica
prejudice, no partisan i1clng, no scctiona
sentiment, no dcnominaliunal Jealous,