The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-05-11
BISHOP VINCENT AT FRANKFORT.

The Chautauqua Chancellor Opens the May
Festival Of the Epworth Lesgue
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
FRANKFORT. Ind, May 10.-The May
festival of literature and music. under the
auspices of the Epworth League of the
Methodist Church, opened tonight with an
address By the Rev. Bishop John H..
Vincent. Ii. d., Chancellor of Chautauqua
University. The Bishops subject was
Wisdom" He spoke for over an hour. his
theme being treated in q broad. catholic
light with special emphasis given to the
development of the mind and the acquisi-
tion Of that wisdom which lie above the
price of rubies." This was the first visit of
Bishop Vincent to Frankfort, and her peo-
pie crowded the church both morning aud
evening.
An informal reception was rendered him
Saturday evening at the residence of DIR.
and Mrs. Oliver Gard.
This morning at 1890 O'Clock he preached
to fully a thousand people. The text was
from Mark i. 10-15.
HE saw the heavens opened"
After detailing the circumstances of the
baptism of Jesus by John In the Jordan the
preacher inquired into the object of the
ordinance. since it seemed curious to find
Jesus caring enough for q ceremonial to
give any attention TO IL. S6lQ ne.
Jesus perpetually entered protest
against devotion to modes days. seasons.
places. His whole life and doctrine illumi-
mated His own statement that Neither on
this ounta nor yet at Jerusalem shall
We worship the Father. True
wOrshipers shall worship the Father in
spirit and In truth The baptism OF Jesus
was not a baptism unto repentance, nor re-
generation. nor remission nor resurrection,
but a Christian fulfllment of the prophecy
and a simple outward sign of the new pow
ers and teachings of the new heavenly dis
pensatiOn which he came to inaugurate
The only outward institutions which be
established were baptism, the Lords sup
per and the Christian ministry. He said
nothing and evidently cared nothing about
the mode of either.
1.-The scene of His baptism is full of sig
nificance. 1t presents the true ministry Of
the church, the ministry of the pulpit and
the pew. the sanctuary and the home. the
clergy and the laity. The true end of the
church is to fulfill and make real in this
world.
Il. The ministry of the opened, heavens
the bringing to man the blessed reality of
the spiritual world. As the vail between the
holy place and the Holy of Holes was rent
ct the cruclfixiOn, SO now the two worlds
throne of Gods glory and the lowliest places
of human service, and of human suffering,
are made one. Heaven is not far from every
one of us. We are come In this dispensation
VI grace uuUO MOuut Zion anu unto the CITY
of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.
and TO innumerable hosts of angels, to the
general assembly and church of the first
born who are enrolled in heaven and to
God. the Judge of all, and to the spirits of
just men made perfect. and to Jesus, the
mediator of the new covenant The true
Christian ministry is a ministry of the
opened heavens.
"2. 1t is the ministry of the descending
dove. Our strength is not an evolution
from earth toward heaven, but q descent
of grace from heaven toward earth. 1t
is not in the ritualistic and esthetlc splen-
doris of the bird of paradise, nor in the in
tellectual vigor of the keen-eyed eagle, but
in the grace and gentleness. the love and
peace of the dove. symbol of purity and
good will. Christianity is to conquer by
the power of which the angels sang when
Christ was born-'peace on earth. goodwill
to men,
"3. 1t is the ministry of the Fathers
witness: This is my beloved Son. AS
many as received Him. to them gave He
power to be called the Sons of GOd.' To
them He sends the spirit of adoption,
whereby We cry, Abba. Father Chris
tianity is q system of personal, spiritual
divine consciousness
1T is the ministry of the divine ideal.
In thee l am well pleased The Christ re-
veals the divine standard of q perfect man.
hood. 1t is the ministry of conflict. The
end of the Christian life is not personal Joy,
but personal strength. The spirit hat de-
SCeuuctu IEom ucaVeu OIlVeU0 hin l0IO the
wilderness. Out of struggle cometh
strength. We are not in this world to have
a good time, but to be brave warriors-con-
tending. resisting. overcoming. The secret
of spiritual success lies in temptation. The
voice. This is my beloved Son. is q prepa-
ration for conflict against all powers of
darkness. 1t Is q ministry of victory, of
spiritual alliance and fellowship. The
devil leaveth Him. and behold angels
came and ministered INTO Him.
When we resist tho powers of dark
ness we open a way for the
eager inrushing of the powers of light. We
are In league with the principalities anC
powers in heavenly places. 1t il, finally. .
ministry of service for others. Jesus. on
dowed by the spirit and prepared by temp
~tation. went forth proclaiming the king
dom OF God. and pleading with men torepent.
This is the true end of all church life-a
social science n q social reform which
shall be framed and founded on the king
dom of God. and under which every indi-
vidual will turn from self to God, from sin