The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-01-12
Extracts of an Eloquent Address Dollv-
cred by E. ]. Bowman Before the Ep-
worth Leagues of 0rangeville and
Asbury.

hspuiy'
Epworth was the name of the home
of the Wesleys in England, not far
from the home Of Shakespeare.
This was a talented family. John
and Charles were the authors of a
great many hymns sung in the church.
eS.
The Epworth League is At institu-
tion of comparatively recei origin. 1t
has for its object the co ersion of
souls and the ameliorauon of hu-
manity through the atonement of
Christ. 1t is confined to no church
especially. 1t is cosmopolitan and
belongs to no established faith, creed,
or class. The world is its parish,
wherever humanity exists from the rs-
ing to the setting of the sun it desires
to perform its labors. Its achieve.
ments have thus far been glorious.
1t discusses no points Of doctrine. 1t
goes hand in hand with Christian En-
deavor, the missionary cause and other
auxiliaries FOR the redemption of man
kind.
1t matters not our station, condi.
ton, or nationality. 1t is sufficiently
comprehensive to embrace all human
ity Christ upon the Cross of Calvary
died with arms outstretched embracing
the world. His bosom was laid bare
that all humanity could lean against
it and feel the pulsations of its love.
The Epworth League follows after
Christ. Love for God, love for Christ
and love for our fellow man is the liv-
ing embodiment and the actuating
principle Of the Epworth League. 1t
numbers its hundreds of thousands
within the short space of few years.
Love is the inspiration of the Epworth
League, love for God, love for mao.
Love dwelt in the bosom of God long
before the morning stars sang together
and the sons of God shouted for Joy.
Love had its habitations in all the
plans and purposes of God before he
proclaimed "let there be light, and
lit the stars with fire. Love permeates
the workmanship Of God from the
smallest flower of the sequestered glen,
the glow worm, the tiniest blade of
grass to the brightest planet that burns
around the midnight Throne. The
mountains, the valleys, the seas, the
rivers, the stars, the trees and verdure
and man himself, fashioned in the
likeness and image of his Creator have
been brought forth through love.
Trees perish at their half growth,
seeds that never germinate, flowers
wither and die in a night, blossoms
that give no signs of fruit, and fruit
decays before its maturity--all of
which can not be compared with the
waste of human life, the waste of in
tellect and morals, and the neglect of
opportunities and the disregard of du.
ties and of Obligations. Our respon-
sibilltles rise before us as the Alps
covered with eternal snow or the pyr-
amids along the sluggish Nile.
''Come over and help us" is the cry
of Macedonia and Macedonia is every
where. Wherever oxygen corrodes or
gives life help is wanted. Amidst the
desolation of intellect and of morals
we hear voice like the roar of ocean,
to be up and doing while it is called
to day. John Wesley said "the world
is my parish.
The Epworth League takes up this
idea of Wesley. God accompishes
through agencies we are the agents
How often we look far away for duty
when it lies at our feet, and we look
for something vast and difficult when
it is SO easy.
God gives us life, faculties, powers
and opportunities to help our fellow
men. We are simply stewards of them
they do not belong to us, and we must
give an account of our stewardship.
Friends may die or turn against us
hopes fail, property flee and health de-
cay, but there are always two things
left us-our opportunities TO glorify
God and love for him will never be
rejected.
Anything lovely and abiding always
calls forth our admiration. We may
look upon some great mountain, bath
ing in the b ue of heaven and that
seems to run from time into eternity.
We may look upon the ocean in calm
OF storm and End sublimity there, and
so it is with Christ. He was "the One
altogether lovely and the One alto
gether strong for He is called the
Rock of Ages. He will abide till the
kingdoms Of this world will become
the kingdoms of our God. A light
streams from the Cross of Calvary that
will disspate the darkness of the
world. The nations will gather around
it, and it will lift them up to bright
and glorious Immortality.
The evangelization of the world is a
/ =.