The Portland daily press., 1895-04-08

Methodist Episcopal Church a Working
Church, and Workers Made Welcome to
It-An Interesting Statement of What the
Church Will Expect of Its New Members.
There was very large audience present
yesterday morning at the Chestnut sstreet
church, when Rev Matt S. Hughes, the pas
tor received into the church one hundred
and nineteen persons. Rev. l. Luce. off
cred prayer, and the congregation sang
'sBiest Be The Tie That Binds.' In his
prayer Mr.. Luce invoked special blessing
ON those who were about TO enter into the
visible church of Christ.
ar. Hughes then took his place inside the
communion rail and deliyerd a very able
and impressive address. He said the church
of Christ is unique institution. 1t is
peculiar in those W ho constitute it and in
what it aims to do. The mission of the
church of Christ is 10 help men to be good.
and it is commissioned TO go out into the
world seeking those who do not know
Christ. and who do not accept him as their
Mast er.
It is an institution for helpfulness. God
line of his work The master said of the Sail
| bath that it was made for man, and not
man for the Sabbath, and SO we can say of
is church, that it was made for man, and
not man for the church. The church is uni
que in its foundation. 1t is built ON Christ
he rock. and even the gates of hell shall
not prevail against IT. The church is uni
que in what it cost. Christ SO loved the
Ial H. l.; 1o1f -
is and there can be tno.other institution for
which such a matchless treasure was paid.
and it is this church of Christ, this church
that has come down through the centuries
that today throws wide it's doors and bids
you welcome.
The Methodist Episcopal church has a
work of it's own. 1t has it own methods. 1t
is open ON probation to all who desire to be
| save from their sins and to fee from the
wrath tome. word on our Probationary
system. From the first we have been re-
yival church. appeal to history when |
| say that the Methodist Episcopal church has
never built itself up at the expense of 9TH
ers. We have reared no temples by pulling
down the walls of other temples in order to
get material with which to build. but from
| the quarries of those who .are sinful We
nave hewn ont the living stone for the
| temple of our God.
! And at all times in our history, in the
days of our fathers and even in our times
men and women have scome to us by scores
and by hundreds saying: ''Men and bretL-
rem what shall we do to be saved?"
and we have welcomed oil to our church
and to the table of our Lord. All other
churches have this system. but in another
form. The application for membership is
received. the candidate is examined and
voted on, the only difference between our
system and theirs lies in this. Those who
| come to US are left under the wise leader
ship of proper guides and leaders for six
months. and we hold that man who has
| been found to have led a blameiessC Christian
| life for six months has show wn that he is an
| yious to go in that life, and that he is likely
| to be good worker.
: If a lDan comes to me no matter where.
and says Brother Hughes, ] desire to be
| a Christian and to sunte myself with the
| church. take him by the hand and say,
Brother the doors of the church are wide
open; come in
| ! want you all who are about to come ttu
US to understand that this is working
church. We try to be faithful to the CON-
mission Christ has given to us to go out iLto
| the world and to preach the gospel. / am
proud of the Methodist Episcopal church.
am proud not of its history SO much, or
of its wealth, or of its culture. but rather
that of this church it can be said as was
said to the Master. and it was one proof of
his mission, that the common people heard
gladly. that they have heard us gladly.
| fbo tn . ba
and to the despised. and God forbid that in
or out cf the pulpit the servant should be
above his master. am proud that this can
be said of the Methodist Epicopal churc h
| that the oppressed and the downtrodden
have ne yer felt the need of a friend with
| out finding this church Of Christ by their
side. We never made a distinction because
of color. For twenty years before freedom
| was granted to the slave. and at time
when there seemed to be no hope for those
in bondage, the Methodist Episcopal church
| took her place with the brother in black
and parted with millions of dollars and
many thousands of her membership rather
than deny that in Jesus Christ, all men are
equal. And while no church rejofced more
than the Methodist Episcopal church fwhen
the ST orIu cloud of war rolled by no church
was more faithful to those who had been
In bondage and at our altars there has
| been no distinction of race or color. ] am
| not sure that any church is doing its full
duty, unles it numbers among is member
ship some of these brothers of dark skin.
| And into this church with its glorious his
| tory, this church of which it can be said
as was once said of the British Empire,
| that it circles the werd. this church that
out numbers so many other churches, this
church that has gone up into the world to
conquerit fo- Christ, we welcome you.
| We welcome you to a church that has been
| faithful in we'll doing. We Lave had many
| bishops, and not one has proved un worthy
Of his great office. The old heroic days of
the fathers have not past. We have in the
United States 10000 ministers, half the
army of this county. and half of them ev-
cry year at the end of the annual confer
enee listen to what may .mean to them Bit
ter disappointment. the sweeping away of
what seemed. perhaps. to be we'll ground
ed hopes. out they go each Eto. his apr ointed
work in the old timc spirit. Into this
church we bid you welcome that you ihay
| s4I IL g.. lsr L..