The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1888-06-16


Methodist belief. The platform OF Netf
u odissm, sir, with its logical implication
. and Catholic spirit, offers the most con
y prehensive and honorable basis for tn
= union OF Christendom and if this uniol
is ever realized, it will not be on th
fiction of "the historic Episcopate," bu
| upon substantially the ground occupie,
by Methodism for one hundred wears.
3 Mr.. President, We are told that we ar,
IN transition period that we must re
| write the doctrines of the church, anc
put them upon scientific basis, or Civ,
them to the winds as idle tales that VI
are on the eve OF controversies that vii
shake the very foundations of Christian
lty that the discussion of the "SecouC
Probation" is only skirmish thai
precedes a battle that will involve the
highest destinies of truth Sir, it NAV
be SO. 1t is certain that we are living in
an age of intellectual unrest, and tha,
destructive criticism, sometimes in sacred
vestments, lays ruthless hands on the
most holy truth. But We have no fear
OF the issue. Christianity is now a
triumphant fact, organized, incorporate.
lmmanent and indestructibIe in the very
| life of the race itself. Sir. whatever NAV
be the fate of other systems, the cardinal
doctrines of Methodsm will stand fast
as the 'pillared armament" and shine
with unobscured light. The Christian
fatalism of Augustinian theology will
60 down the Calvinistic dogma Of par-
ticular redemptioDlvill be exploded: the
fiction OF "the historic episcopate" will
be given to the winds; ali forms OF sac
ramentalism will be uprooted and swept
away; but the fundamental positions OF
Methodist Arminian theology will form
the immovable rallying-points around
which the constructive thought Of the
future will gather to organize anew tie
belief of the world! [ Applause.
Sir, what America needs is not Chris
tianity OF form, but Christianity ri
power cries OF "Amen ~: not what
men call progressive orthodoxy" but
an aggressive gospel not "a new theo.
Iogy,' but baptism OF the Holy Ghost.
Applause The gospel OF the Son pt
God, preached with the power OF the
Holy Ghost, is the hope of America and
Of the world This, and this only. viii.
drive infidelity back, with its dark an.
threatening horde of liberalism, secular
ism, socialism, nihlism, and all the pee
versions and misbellefs of Christian truth
that league themselves against us. Sir,
philosophers can not save US. science can
not save us, Government can not save
us, political parties can not save US.
social theories can not save us. secular
education can not save US, but living
Christ can save us! [Applause. ! An
uplifted Christ will lift up America, and
it is the supreme mission of Methodism
to lift up the Christ OF God. Cries OF
amen ~
Sir. | nave said that America is before
us. 1t is open to our advance from pole
to pole. But, sir, America is only one
division Of the worldwide field before us.
Across the Pacific the Orient is seething
from center to circumference with the
ierment OF the new life introduced bv
the gospel. The steady beat Of the pulse
of Christian civilization against the
heart OF Asia has at last broken down
the barriers to progress, from the sunny
waters of Yokohama to the deserts oil
Thibet, and the whole fabric Of Oriental |
ism-social, POLITICAL and reiyious-is |
tottering to its fall Japan Is in the
throes OF revolution, and opens an en-
pire to the conquest OF tnn cross.
China is anxious and alarmed. Russia |
is laundering along her northern border |
England is advancing along her southern |
line. Her coast, from kwangtung to |
Corea, CLEANS with a girdIe Of foreign
colonies. Commerce is pressing upon
her at every point. Diplomacy, in the
interest OF international progress, has
wrested from her concession after conceS-
sion, until crisis has come in the al
fairs OF the East which makes it Of the
utmost Importance that the Churches
not only OF America, but OF Europe also,
should pour into that vast country the
constructive agencies and forces OF
Christian civilization, and take the land
Ior Christ. Hear, hear" Beyond
China, sir, lies India; beyond India lies
Africa. These are all our peighbors; we
IRE bound together by the laws of human
and the nobler ties of brother
rood in Jesus Christ. How wide, sir, is
he field before u.s. How wonderful our
How the fate OF ages
eems to hinge on our service
Sir, | know not how others may feel.
,ut as for myself, feel that in the pres.
nee OF such opportunities it is treason
o Jesus Christ for us 10 antagoni2a each
ther, [ [Applause. There should be
rofound harmony and cooperation
etween us in the prosecution of this
'ork. No political prejudice, no parti- ,
an feeling, no sectional sentiment, no ,,
enominational jealousy, nor any other '
hing, should be allowed to swerve US a ,
from the line OF high, holy, !
nselfish, Christ.like endeavor to bring !
lis lost world back to God. Loud ap- v
lause.
Mr.. President, indulge me- sir; l feel .
le burden OF my message. l speak e
ON my heart. Would God, sir, that I !
light convince the Methodist Episcopal
hurch that we of the Methodist Episco. =
al Church, South, desire to clasp hands 4
ith you in perpetual peace, and to- h
,ther rise to the height of this vast op- h
ortunity. Sir, we do not want formal 4
with its periodic Official court A
les, and its Intellectual sentmentalism II
1t practical fraternity, expressing a,
self in legislation and administration, y
deed as well as words. We want a q,
aterrity studious to avoid differences :,
Id to find points of agreement. We =;
ant fraternity that honors each others, y;
olives, recognizes each others difficult ~
,s, has patience with each others faults, y
ri rotonto aooh S.thor', al ,n,ka. NY | v