The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-02
.OME SUNDAY THOUGHTS.
Illustrations by Rev. D. B. Price
Defining Msthodism and
tho Church.
Growth Of the Faith Since
First Planted In
America.
.ady Henry Somerset and Hsr Mission to
AmerloA In the Cause OF
Temperance.

TT-TEHlf Hfs86&TH'
Rev. D. b. Price, of tho Warren street
Methodist church, preached on Nethodism
ssterday.
The following texts Of scripture will serve
d illustrations in defining this subject, Of
which We will glance, in their application
o this great theme: Matt. 1913; Acts BAT;
Deut 1917; l Cor. 1862; Mark 1915; Matt.
k8:19. Methodism does not claim to be the
vhols church, but she does claim to be a
part of the whole church. Tho many ,allu-
lions which We shall make to Msthodism
Ire not made In the spirit of sgotism, but
because Of our familiarity with her history.
First we will consider the church s~piritu-
lily. "Thou art the Christ, the son Of the
living God. Upon this rock will l build my
phurch; and the gates OF hell shall not pre-
rail against it," Upon this consciousness.
PERSONAL and divine, the militant church
. founded, and there 10 but n such
Phurch. This spiritual knowledge comes
rom God, hence is imprsgnable. Seien-
lists. tourists, historians, ~gsologists and
Astronomers, have c%unningly devised and
bly, executed assaults upon it eighteen
hundred years and there it stands; and
hall stand defiant Of time, Of men, OF
levils-a glorious witness to the truth Of
10 Founder, when Ho said ION this rock
rave I built my church, and the gates of
hell shall not prevail against it," Spirit
lally the church is composed Of those who
now that Jesus il the Christ, and no man
ban call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Jhrist plainly tells how men are inducted
INTO his kingdom. To the Jewish ruler He
aid, "Ye must be born again." and to his
lisciples, Except ye DO converted, and be-
bone as little children ye shall not enter
INTO the kingdom of heaven" In the con-
bciousness of this change man goes to the
martyrs stake. Built upon this rock the
lhurch has stood and will stand.
The church becomes moro tangible when
kiewsd In the light of its numerical and
benevolent strength. In the carly days of
|he Christian church 'the Lord added to
he church daily such as should be saved"
The numerical strength OF the church is
Understandable. Those added to the Lord
ian be relied upon. In benevolence the
bhurch has done much, but IL able to do
las been directed to give AZ the Lord
had prospered him. Paul does not lay
Town a rule, but a principle, and insists
npon msthod-'Upon the first day OF the
week." i,
SECOND. Let us consider briefly the
he world and preach the gospel to every
brsature." Again, "Teach all nations"
svanRelization is the great thought. Life
md voice are the two elements or instru-
nsntalitiss. Go and send is the sum of
auty. This distributing all nations is a
I%tupsndous work. The work imperativelv
demands certain qualities-conquerine
lualitier, to-wit: Vigorous faith, fervency
bf spirit. unworldliness, self sacrifice.
Doctrinally she must preach the unre-
btricted love of God to our fallen race, gen
bral redemption by Jesus Christ, justitica-
zion by faith, the witness of the spirit,
entire holiness of heart and life. Con
Herted men are ever melted to seek their
fellow men and this temper is CARRYING the
gospel to the regions beyond. Wesley's
itst missionary went out with a bottle OF
milk and a Loaf of bread. Preaching the
gospel everywhere is the great mission of
bhe church. Christ her great head sat the
Example. See Him on the mountain teach
ng the multitudes, on the sea shore preach.
ing to the people, in the synagogue and in
The temple e~xpounding the law, interpret
fng prophesies aud enforcing the doctrine
Df His kingdom. In Jerusalem, in Galilee,
n Samaria, by the wayside everywhere the
SON Of God is seen and His voice Is heard
inviting the weary and heavy laden to come
TO him and find rest. He sent forth hia
disciples and said, "As We 20. Preach
One hundred and fifty years ago Methodism
was planted in America and sho has been
pndeavoring to carry out the above named
injunction. And what hath God wrought?
There are 5000, 600 of N%ethodists in this
sixth person is a Methodist. The i~ntinsr-
ant has crossed the Rocky mountains and
bill along the, shores of the broad Pacific
preached Christ and Him oruoifed. The
Indian in his wigwam, the toiler III tho
icld and the men on the frontier all have
promote all kindly charity. The test which
Christ required Of Peters love was, Feed
my sheep, feed my lambs" And, lest any
pne should limit it to his professed follow
ers, he said, IF thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give him drink" The di-
vinsst form on earth ia charity in the garb
Of a servant. Christianity is philanthropy.
Here men learn to look upon zach other az
brothers and pon Goo as Father.
Finally the church is to establish-con-
struct. Leave not the sheep without q
shepherd. "God setteth forth the solitary
n families" and commands US mot to for
sake tho assembling of ourselves together"
done in order to reach the remotest man.
Organize and learn the great lesson of
hdaptability. Have faith In the word of
The great head of the church. Truth chasea
away the darkness of long night. The
word of our God abides. On Grecian head
ands and Roman hills the temples Of Ju-
piter stand in Wondering ruins; but tenn
lies sacred to Jesus are hourly visited on
every shore. Time, that weakens all things
else, has but strengthened tho impregnable
position of the bellevers' faith. And as
year by year the tree adds another ring to
It's circumference, every year adds its testi-
mony to this great truth. 1.-The grass
withereth, and the flower fadsth. but the
word of the Lord shall endure forever"