The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-02
THE LOYAL SOUTH.
The Rev. DR.. Steels Eloquent Words
His Address Before the Methodist
General Conference.
Fraternal Greeting on Behalf Of the
Church South.
The Loyalty of the South Superbly
Set Forth and Emphasized.
An Address Which Was Needed and
Which viii Most Certainly
Bring Forth Good
Fruit.

Of the Rev. Ct. A. Steel, A. NJ. d.
D., delivered before the general conference
Of the Methodist Episcopal church in New
York city on behalf OF the church south:
To ''.e General Conference of the Methodist Epis
90 copal Church:
Mr.. President and brethren, have
been charged with the pleasant duty OF
conveying TO You the iraternal greetings
of the Methodist Episcopal church, south.
In the name OF more than q million follow
ors of the Lamb / bid you hail and God
speed.
We were born Of the same divine Spirit
We were nursed by the same ecclesiastical
mother. We are linked together by the
hallowed associations Of an heroic child
hood. We are marshaled under the same
banner. We are pursuing the same provi-
dental mission on the earth. We are
zone army OF the living God, TO whose
command we bow" United 10y so many
and such sacred bonds, il is not possible
for us to feel other than the warmest and
most iraiernal intercs. in your work.
We rejoice, brethren, in your pros
perity We watch with grateful hearts
your worldwide activities, and perceive
that 'the Lord is with YOU" and 'has
given you the dew Of heaven and the fat
ness Of the earth" You have blessed
America with the fruits of your noble
toll, and made distant realms rejoice in
your light. Your ranks have "the swing
OF conquest" I'm their march, the enthusi-
asm OF victory in their hearts, and they
bear the banner OF our common Method
ism far TO the front OF the mighty conflict
with sin. We thank God for your great
..fl no asht alt
bringing Mcthodsm into closer sympathy
with the highest culture of the age and
putting the lever OF Christian education
under the masses that shall lit American
society to a higher and purer life. The
singing cry, "a Million for Missions" has
been heard In our southern camp, and
has thrilled us like n bugle sounding the
advance on the eve OF battle. Above ALL
we thank God for the deep spiritual life
yCI manifest. and for your fidelity to the
iundameh;a principles of Christianity rs
they are taught by Hcthodian. We sde
in you a mighty army Of the Lord OF
hosts, organized, aggressive and victorious.
Mr.. President, | am glad to bring YOU q
good report from the Methodist Episcopal
church, south, which, after YOU, Is the
largest division Of Methodism. There has
been steady advance along all lines, and
the outlook was never more hopeful than
II IL now.
We are faithful TO the doctrines, polity,
usages, traditions and experience OF Meth
odism, and "are travelling home 10 God in
the way our fathers trod." Deep and gen
uine reyiyals OF religion have blessed our
church from sea % sea, and the Lord has
added multiplied thousands 10 our fold.
Our institutions OF learning are prosperous,
and are welding widespread Christian
influence on our people. Our publishing
house 10 happily free from debt, and lis
presses are doing excellent service for the
cause Of Christian literature, our Church
Extension society is dotting the land with
better churches than We ever had before,
while the woman's department Of this
work Is building parsonages in all the
weaker portions Of our field. Our mis-
sions are growing in Mexico, brayely hold
ing their line in Brazil, organizing for an
advance In China, and we have recently
thrown a picket line into the sunrise Gun
pirc Of Japan.
Sir, without Boosting, We may say that
the staunch old ship mas outriddcn th,
storm, and is now putting on every pounS
OF steam, and spreading every inch o
canvas 20 the gale, and, brcasling the
pillows with triumphant prov, is siecrinl
straight for the port Of heaven, while al
her company. rejoicing glory bursts non
every tonguc.'
The Methodist Episcopal church, south
E-ghile strongly conservative, Is In proloun'
sympathy with the progressive spirit o
the age, and Il striving, with nobli
carnostncss, 10 build up Christian civil
ization In tile fields where providence hM
N.tl "A laHIt al
the GOSPEL offers the only permanent basi
for human society, and that its reign II
The hearts Of men will solve all the social
economic aud political problems that aga
tate our land. II II the highest construct
i've force In civilization, and its success vii
be the harmony of the world. We bcicv
that, "a public opinion IA the basis Of on
government and the source Of our laws
y general diffusion Of knowledge is essen
tial 20 the stability Of our free institutions
and that the peace and welfare Of III
whole country demand the education Z
all classes Of our people. And, sir, Ne'
England itself would not hold NOR
tonaciously 20 the system Of free publ
instruction, with all OF lis admitte
defects, than do the people OF our south
err States.
We believe that the separation Of ohurc
and State Is essential TO the maintenance
Of both civil and religious liberty, and "
look with alarm on any tendency odcpaI
from the fundamental principle Of our gov
eminent; but We also believe that tli
church ought 10 educate public sentimer
In favor Of righteousness, that the Chrl
tian conscience Of America ought 10 dom
nate ia political life, and that the onl
hope Of free ballot, whether In the sout
or In the north, IL for men 10 regard Anne
lean citizenship rs 4 gift Of God, aud vol
We believe that this country IL an
ought TO be the asylum Of the oppressed
every land: but We also believe that "
aud ought forever 10 remain, THE Land
the free and the home Of the brave al
that American, and not European IDEAS
civilization ought 20 prevail, even, " ne
cssary, 10 the exclusion Of the men wi
come, not 10 enjoy, but 70 destroy o.
liberties
We are pledged, cir, 10 the destructi'
Of the liquor traffic Of America. We
liove that the traffic u the organized, Vi
dicsiye, and deadly foe Of our ciyilixalio
- -. ~. Inf.xtxIIxnI U1UxT IN r1aaI =.