The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-04-13
CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL.


Address of the Bishops on the Anniversary
of WashingLon's Inauguration.-
The Bishops of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church have ISSUED the following
address to the members of their com
munion:
The Executive Committee on the Cen
tennial Celebration OF Westinghouse In
auguratiou have issued an address to the
clergy of the United States, requesting
that special services be held in the var-
Gus churches of the country at pine
o clock on the morning of April 30 next.
This address is accompanied by an appeal,
making a similar request on the part OF
representatives ministers of various reli E
ious bodies of New York City We, the
Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, most heartily endorse this i'm
portant and significant movement. We
regard the occasion as worthy of profound
attention, and commend it to the consid-
Grafton OF all the ministers aud laymen of
our Church
When Washington was iuaugurated
onr members were very few, but the i'm
portance of that event and its bearing
upon our later history were clearly seen
by the 20 preachers who met at the sec
oud conference held in New York city
The Congress of the United States was in
session in the same city at the same time.
The occasion was regarded by our preach
ers as a fit opportunity to express to
Washington our loyalty as a Church, our
faith in the new constitution, and our be
lief in the future welfare of the Republic.
Bishops Asbury and Coke We're present.
Bishop ASbury submitted to the Confer
ence the following propositions:
whether 1t would not be proper for
us as a Church to present congratula-
Tory address to General Washington, who
has been lately inaugurated President of
these United States, in which should be
embodied our appreciation of the Consti-
tuition and protesting our allegiance to
the Government"
The Conference received the PROPOSE
iton with Great cordiality, and appointed
| Bishops Asbury and Coke to draw up an
address. This address was presented in
person to Washington by the two Bishops.
| 1t contained the following significant
points: Congratulations on Washington's
| election as President of the United States;
| acknowledgements of his frequent express
sons of dependence on the great Governor
| of the universe; stroug confidence i'll the
adaptation of the Constitution of the
| United States to the needs of the people;
belief in Washington. that he would
prove faithful and impartial patron of
| genuine and vital religion; and, finally, a
pledge on behalf of the Church to pray
that God Almighty might endue him with
the gifts of the Holy Spirit, SO that he
might be enabled co fill his important
station to the glory of God, the good of
His Church, the happiness and prosperity
of the L hited States, and the welfare of
all mankind.
This address to Washington was the
first declaration of congratulation and
loyalty presented by any religious body
on the occasion o. his Inauguration as
President of the United States. Other
bodies were equally loyal, but the prompt
ness of our own Church was favored by
the fortunate juncture of the sessions of
the New York Conference and of the
National Congress when the Inauguration
| took place.
Until the Presidency of Washington
the efforts of our fathers for self govern
ment were of doubtful issue. They had
achieved independence by a desperate
contest, extending along the whole bloody
pathway from Lexington to Yorktown.
But would public order, unity and pros
perity follow independence? After years
of weakness and distraction following the
War of the Revolution the complete So
luton of this problem began with Wash
| ington's inauguration
Up to his assuming the Presidency our
Republic was only theory; but with his
administration it became a sublime fact
Our history during the hundred years
since his Inauguration has justified the
| heroiSm and prayers of our Revolutionary
fathers. Our moral aud religious devel-
opement has been equal to our material
progress Who can doubt that the words
| which Washington uttered at his inaug-
uration were but the echo of the popular
reliance upon the divine protection at that
momeutous hour? This was his language !:
"It would be peculiarly improper to
omit, in this first official act, my fervent
supplication to that Almighty being who
rules over this universe who presides in
| the councils of nations, and whose provi-
dental aids can supply every human de-
feet, that His benediction may consecrate
to the liberties and happiness of the peo-
pie of the United States a Government
instituted by themselves for these essen
| tial purposes. and may enable every in
strument employed in its administration
| 20 execute with success the functions al
| lotted to his charge"
With deep sense of gratitude to God
for His protection and guidance of the
nation, and for His constant presence
with our ministers aud members to con
vene in their usual places of worship on
Tuesday morning, April Both, at o clock
and hold such services of prayer and
thanksgiving as are appropriate to the
one huudredth anniversary Of the inaug-
uration of Washington as President of
the United States.
Thomas Bowman, Randolph S. Foster,
Stephen M. Merrill, Edward G. An
drews. Henry w. Warren, Cyrus D..
Foss. John f. Hurst, VIM. y Middle,
John NJ Walden, Willard F. Msllaleu,
Charles H. Fowler, John NJ Vincent,
James N. Fitzgerald, Isaac w. Joyce,
John P. Newman, Daniel A. Goodsell
New York, March 6, 1889.