The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-20

their ardor and energy 70 suitable forms
of benevolent work Ia surely one or
the highest duties OF the church We feel that
our sunday schools have not IA yet realized this
vast possibility: hut the home - the great nur-
sery OF religious faith and life. They
One-sided theories of concession
which prevent our looking for signs
of the religious faith and life. with the dawn of
intelligence and the f1rst development of viii.
False tests, III which the nature OF the child Ia
quite forgotten. prevent US from finding them.
We would that parents should feel that they
can hardly look too early for the faint begin
niBgs OF tie spiritual life In the hearts OF their
children. nor too carefully foster them. At the
same time we must insist, as we have always
done. that the mature religious life should TIE
definite and conscious IL may arise as gradually
ought % become a clear and selfattestlng as
the summer noon. The education OF our young
E.ep'e shall OF never great cease eeneef to oppose
every system o. national education when
unduly favors any particular church In these
days, when out OF science u perverSely 1orgeu
weapon Ia attack our faith. one Of the foremost
duties OF every church IL to guard her sons
against the danger and enable them 10 90 some
thing 20 wildcats for true science It's high pace
: n bandmaId Of pure religion. To this end we
rejoice in the formation of higher schools, ana
IN every step which tends to give US our right
place in the university systems or the VARIOUS
lands in which our people dwell.
THE MISSION CAUSE.
Among the foremost objects Of our interest are
the foreign missions OF our church The motto
OF our founder. 1.-The world is my parish" has
never ceased 20 echo in the hearts Of his spirit
ual children. Some of the brightest pages In our
annals tell the story of the patience, the sacrifice
and triumphs OF brethren on the mission
field. In the present day, when our numbers are
increasing and our resources growing. when
through the inquiry of scholars the adventure OF
travellers the enterprise of traders and the spread
of the ADglo-American peoples. the world 10
becoming known and oDen and the call of God Is
II Il
our missionary ardor To decline. We aeknowl-
edge with JOY the increasing activity OF some OF
our churches and especially what our women are
doing for their heather sisters. Against the
trade in spirits and the trade In opium, which
are doing much to defeat and discredit our mis-
sions in Africa and China, We shall never cease
10 raise our voice.
While loving all them that love God, and de-
desiring closer cooperation with them in His
service we renew our protest against every &C.
clesastical system which invades the rights OF
conscience. which claims TO he the only channel
of The infinite grace OF our Lord Jesus Christ,
and sets up q human priest an Indispensable
mediator between man and God. Let Us beware
OF taking a narrower view OF our mission ana
our resources. Let order be harmOnized with
the free play of individuality, and let US impose
no limits upon reverent inquiry.
The increase OF people in number, ana
wealth. and power has laid US under a great re-
spOnsibiiity. Ii seems probable that before long
MethOdists will constitute nearly a fourth OF the
factor of growing importance in that
great race which by restless
impulse T. ,PTeading its d Isgids oi
every continent Let us rise 10 the height OF our
calling We ought In go wherever our race goes.
TO multiply churches and to increase our
con- municaton, and so become bond OF union
among the widespread people of English blood.
And we should strive to check that dangerous
ing races easily fall. so shall we
do our duty To orr fellow men and play our part
In the great plan OF God. Before another ecu
menlcal council The world Will have passed into
another century. Ten critical years OF tho
swiftly moving modern world will have rolled
away. Opportunities will have offered them
selves which will never come again. We pray
that our churches may clearly zee and rightly In
terpret the signs OF the times. and. discerning
the will of God. may yield themselves to It,
Through the reading OF the word or God,
regular seasons of prayer in secret in the family
aud i'm the church. the class-meetng, public
worship and the holy sacrament, where We re-
member that the Lord gave himself for us
and gives himself TO Us. from these are
drawn the grace Of life. In them we learn to do
onr God and gather that wisdom and strength
without which our vast enterprises are folly and
vanity. We especially commend To your faith
ful and finest observance the week OF prayer
which will shortly be held throughout the Meth
odist world.
Now the God of peace. that brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ. that great
shepherd of the sheep, through the blood or the
everlasting covenant. make you perfect IN every
good work TO do His will. working in you that
which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus
Christ, 10 whom the glory forever ana ever,
amen.
At the conclusion of the reading the
address was unanimously adopted without
amendment by the conference. lt viii be
signed by all or the officers who have
presided over the conference and by the
four secretaries and Will then be distri butets
by the senior bishops and presidents of
Methodist conferences throughout the
world as an embodiment of the views OF
the Ecumenical Conference respecting the
present state aud future of MethOdism.