The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-10-30
ADDRESS TO METHODiSTS
Issued By tho Ecumenical Method
80 Conference at Washington.
~ states % the Church SET TovsA 60
Usssei Hinss Given n Regard 10 Ces-
ssnsing md 1nereaslng Iss sphero
- Labor sad Usefulness

ncro that the subcommittce which
hed been charged with the preparation
g the address from the ecumenical con-
ference 70 the Methodist churches and
Aethodists throughout the world had
completed its work. and the report
would oe presented BY DR.. Chapman, Of
1nRiand This gentleman came upon
ne platform and read the address =
follows:
- Ecsaenfcni M>fhoiia Conference 4, -
ssodsa People Thrcsskca fh< Wcrid:
we. tho members OF the second ecumenf-
neshodist conference. assembled n
Washington. greet our brethren In every
49,. ~. 20 which our common faith has sprsad
.nso ye and peaee from God. our -
s,er and the Lord jesus Christi
We giorify God tor the prosperity which
- ues given 60 our churches. BY II q blcas-
NJ tney have grown until they number =.
sso' o adherentA This 10 full Of encour-
e9ement An organization which has grown
rapidly In she free competition Of ehs
churches. and even crippled in some 81 ~ /
Hnenes oy many srtin cial disabilitieaL
must Be In vital harmony with IL. envirun
snsA ny the most inexorable test Meth
Soism = proved 70 be slngularly adapted %
nen eeos o. men, Although many adjust
Denss end developments must undoubssd-
y Be made 10 accomplish fully our mission.
- ~ beware OF think ing that any vital
eoan8es are ncce ssary. Faithfully usinR
eur present means. under the b1e~sinr
- GOD. our prosperity viii grow. We re. |
49, 20 recognise sne substantial unity
vnscn exists among the various Ncthodiss |
oodieA Its nrfn basis d . common erred n
40 are all faithful 20 the simple scripeurni /
And generous theology which God through
ene clear intellect and loving heart o. John
Wesley restored 60 His church Tie intel
Secsuai movement and the social changes of /
a ~ "A m. 49,
sne form Of expression or some shifting OF | I
me emphasis OF our teaching. but thew have ,
Dos LED Us even 10 reconsider that llvinw
sneoiogy which has nbunianfiy proved H.
al upon our pulses. Indeed. Il would Be I
strange II. while other churches are draw !.
Ing toward u. We should have departed from !
~ Ana there are other grounds Of unity
Ne arc proud OF the same spiritual ancen- z
tsy' We sing the same holy hymns: our
nooes o. worship are very similar, and | Q
wnst - most important Of all. the type Of Z
religious experience 10 fundamentally the
same throughout the Method ct world Our
ecciesiasticai principles are not 50 various Il
q she forms In which they are accidentally =
Rejoicing in these things. We think thar :
sne time has come for closer CO. operation p
- the Methodist churches botn at home ana | Il
abroad. which shall prevent waste Of power =
ma uuhaIlovcd rivalry Before the ryes Of n
many % 10 passes the delightful vision Of I
ane when. In each land where it Il planted. | 3
4eeh0dssm shalt be for every useful nur- | .
pose and che Meshodism OF the world shsn
- close and powerful federation Of The
.nurchcs for the spread Of the kingdom oil
jnrtse Ne need TO combine our enerxies
Or the work wc have 90 do IL vast and =
Urgent The skepticism and indifference
which are 90 natural 90 the human heart has
zen re enforced By an abuse OF science ana
philosophy. The hard lot Of millions makes !.
very oimcuit for them 70 believe IL God -
or Father. There = 90 much that churches N
lave not done 20 redress the wronu ana r.
'eaI the snnerings OF mankind that % u 49,
lafd for many 90 believe in their divine -
1ission- The standing evils Of 90 -
sesy are aggravated BY the close m
ressure In our great cities. ana are 81
lseovercd 20 the eyes OF all our daily news. h.
apers- let u preach and live the Gospel
Onrist IN 70 integrity. diminishing all mar :
~ conception Of our duty. Les W trace | Se
% moral evil Of men 70 IL true source In ! tn
heir surroundings. their physical natures M
heir ignorance. their pa ssions and their =:
tli. ena set ourselves TO deal comprehen- ~
vely with them To these spec lie ailments 90
mankind let us apply specific remedies. Liz
TO DO this it will be necessary for che -
embers Of our churches 20 make full ne -;
their political rights To allow the great =,
0wers Of law and governments and their -
80 greater influence 10 fall into the hands mol
uDgodiy men would be Incredible folly tin
~ rtn< 004 lUIBt4 tIuL m ~ oar 1 mr~<
lurchcs should become the instr % ents d
pitticai parties u 10 doubtless n<ccssaryI
- individuals should have par,y aeeseh-
ones. and Meshodists are found u Irv
the great historic partteA
q when member Of ourI I
which 10 most in harmony vish the
> ideas and con victions. let him never for. mil
9 that mere are great moral Interests - a.
'gtor to all party exigencies In uhIeh - -,
use seek nrss the Kingdom Of God snd uis
ghteousnessL Every proposal that In %
rtls the sanctify Of the home. the purity q We
,snen. she innocence Of children. that vi0- rel
leo TIE Christian sabbath. that sanctions n
q increases wrong. should be fmparstaIly 4
q earnestly resisted
% few Of che great evils which admIt IN &c
me degree Of public treatment Ne can nos tur
silent Intempcrance. the fruitful mother Il i
evils. Il largely created by Iegnlieed A.
nptati0n- Il u Too much to ask that our
ople will combine &C. use al lewal 81
70 abate thIs wanton soIicIta- =
. Of men 20 vice and crimef Let Tn
discourage In every way gambling ana | IA
thing. which spring from the love -.
cxcitcmcnt and the lust OF gaIn--tvo Of | - =
, besetting evils. and let Us abstain from FRA
reckless speculation In business which bod
. not be distinguished from gambling WI
cessive and unfair competition which q
'rcting much bitterness In the breasfsI
men and depo-iting 80 many OF the nate
- OF convulsion In society. should - -
edily avoided and discountenanccd- And
~ We not do all We can in quiet time % s
I'd public opinion and establish courts q -,
90 that the comp crime q ~.
grcssivc var may be avertcd-
W need % employ with the utmoos tx
,nomy NIL our resources. One secret 0f ties
strength Of Mcshodfsm has been sns ire 49,.
" which q allows 20 the gifts and 40
ergtes Of Ia iaisy. The pastoral -
RI Of our class leaders has beea APT
the highest value. Local preachers, born Wal
England and America. were 81 great ser- oon
. IN the early history Of our church n z
20 be hoped that the multiplication q
sterIcs may NOS tempt us 20 think thai Iay p
rachinK - unnecessary. We thank (s0d dog
che young men and women In our mls- for
. bands who arc carrying the Gospel - 80,
mote Villages nnd Into the alleys md
usts Of our crowded cities. uon
Lmonx che wasted treasures " the church uca
} she delicate ecnsIbilitIes. the saoe. - Kill
Iderness. and che persuasive poves q 1o,
~ women. We are all agreed shas -
sds % the world require. and that -
ndItions Of the ags allow. that eucht a
'snea should take more prominons place
The work of the church. The socSa,
1919 % grace IN which Meshodlsm ~
- rich are . congcninI nDhovv | -