Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-08-29
METHODIST CONFERENCE,
Bishop waldens Address to Can
didates.

70 one Of tue most impressive service
/, Ia our ministerial career. You wi
,, never approach a more importan
o epoch In your work rs ministers
i At such time we need specia
= baptism Of the holy spirit. Let u
:. took for this baptism this hour
, This work and this epoch call ur
B supreme scenes In the lives of thes,
4 ministers in the years gone by
I You all remember when some one
Z who stood where stand today ad
dressed you on your work. Year,
nave fled. The memories remain
Let Us renew the impressivenDs o
those hours today. There is one
hymn that 1t always seems to me
should be suug in the spirit at such
time. Let us as conference join
in singing this hymn at this point
IN the services: A charge to keep
have etc.
Brethren, the questions / am
about to pr ,pound to you are ques.
lions that pertain to the work Of a
Methodist minister. You have
read these questions, and, doubtless,
understood them. These questions
re propo ,Ided To these our breth-
ren In view of their proposing to
,ecome Methodist preachers. You
will notice that much is made with
respect to your attitude To the doc
trines of uur church. You are to
uotify your ministerial brethren
that you sIInd right. IL Is essential
that Metho list ministers should be
u harmony IN matters of doctrine
| We hold in com II )n with all eyau-
geiicil mi listers certain vital doc.
trines. Yet we emphasize that a
sinner may be saved now; also thit
4 sinner may be fully saved. We be-
ieve that the blood of Jcsu. Christ
cleanseth from all sin. Be sanctfied
- btht wv hos IL 10 III
= experim sntAl doctrines of Christ
nifty that we place large emphasis.
These doctrines are experiences from
he soul and fill ii with inspiration
for its work. We do not require
anyone to come into the Methods
ministry. We simply throw open
the door. We recognize the divine
call. This call comes to different
persons In different ways. No one
can tell bow this inward conviction
comes to different persons. There
is call of the church. The call we
are considering Is to the itinerant
ministry. 1t is important for you
to have a deep conviction that you
can do more good by preaching
vital doctrines In the Methodist way
If you would be successful Metho-
dist ministers. If not with us there
is large field beyond our church.
You are living in a great live,
searching age. The world Of
thought and religious criticism is
alive. You look along the Metho-
dist line with its $4,000 ministers.
aud what do you see? A spirit of
satisfaction as to its doctrines along
the whole length of the line. We
must have harmony. When you
do agree with us, then you go else
where, and God go with you. The
pulpit OF Methodism is a sacred |
trust. IL is established to present |
vital truths In harmony with Meth
odist teaching. These pulpits must
be soundly maintained to vitsl
truth as we Zee IT,. now approach
another important question. 1t
touches our church poliLy. This has
stood the test of years. Let us
patiently wait for all desired changes
Let US be patient and legal. Let all
changes be made in constitutional
aud regular way.
1t is the natural right of every
preacher to select his own congrega-
tion. IL Is the natural right Of any
to select its own
preacher. When / came into the
Methodist church and ministry |
some natural rights In
view of the higher blessings which
| desired. When you come into the
Methodist ministry you surrender
selection of place of work To n third
power. The church has also sur
its right to the selection of
Is own ministers. The appointing
power of the bishop with the presid-
ng elders, belongs To the membership
rs well as to the ministry. Others
rs well MS yourselves are to be con-
'ldered. Many have the same claim
With yourselves. All things aud
persons are to be considered. You
nay feel yourselves aggrieved.
There is on the other hand a great
IN the selections of your
'wn field of labor. Most pastors
lave rel weed that their work Is ST.
ected by another power, Thus /
'ower leve's up well. There may 8
70 at times oppression aud mistakes.
his Is inevitable, for the system is !
uman. We will he happier and
lore efficient preachers, however, II :
'e learn 10 settle down on the plat 4
'rm of having faith In God and
III n Ia our fellow churches. There i
as been less friction, a hundred
I'D, Ia supplying our work than