The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-30
WHY IAN A METHODIST.
The Reasons Given by Rev. a. VI.
Williams of Wesley Church.


Rev. A. ". Williams preached at Wesley
Monumental church last night on the sub
ject. why I Am a Methodist" He took
his text from Corinthians XIV, u: Even
so ye. for as much as We are jealous OF
spiritual gifts. seek that ye excel 10 the
edifying Of the church" At the outset
Rev. Mr.. Williams said:
Il speak on this subject to help some OF
my friends. God forbid that l should be
either egotistic or bigoted. In the fullest
way / would acknowledge the Christian
lty and cnurchianity of every sincere per
SON can serve God best as a Metho-
dist he can serve him best in his chosen
and loved church. / despise prOselytism. Do
He said he would give six reasons for
being Methodist Other churches, he
said, shared in some Of the advantages
he would mention, but he had found
no other in which all Of them are COM
bined. He was a Methodist first. he said,
because his church is clearly prOvidentiai
in its origin. In this respect he saiG,
he was in touch with all the other great
churches, and he did not believe they
could prosper as they have done unless
God was with them. John Wesley, he
said, gave way 10 providence, finding that
he must organize IL or be unfaithful TO
the work God called him to do. The
millions Of MethOdists living for God
service and those who have died well,
are an indication that God has been with
the church.
In the next place he said: Methodism
means something. "Our church stands
clearly IN its discipline literature, preach
ing, conference action for separa ton from
the world. 1t declares in every mode Of
expression friendship Of the world is
enmity with God" III any man abuses
church for standing for morality and
strict religion il is apt to he the Methodist
church. The barkeeper curses its minis
try; the ball room devotee sneers at its
rules. II person in another church gets
In nfr,aa F,a al
ness he is called a regular Methodist
a friend told me IL was the last church
he would join, because 1t forbade so many
ndulgenceS. ! said that is the very rea-
son / Ike it, l want my religion to stand
Tor something. / want 20 feel like there
Is a distinction between the church and
the world"
The third reason was Methodism en-
phasizes spiritual religion. II uses the
sacraments, but only as helps to spiritu-
alty. The Methodist has really nothing to
rely on but his spiritual religion. Others
nave thelr apos tOlic succession, their ritu-
ais, their baptsms, their election If a
Methodist loses his religion he is gone
Enough people have left the Methodist
church in the past 10 make very large
denomination. They are generally those
VINO have lost their religion and have been
seeking some external thing on which they
As the fourth reason, he said Methodism
occupies sensible and literal position as
70 the sacraments. 1t recognizes them
mere literal Interpretation 1t regards mode
IN baptism as an accident, not an essential
feature or that ordinance. 1t believes that
AZ those VINO IN heart receive baptism in
the right spirit are baptized whether i'm
mersed or abused They can see reason
TO believe that both modes We're practiced
by The, primitive church and feel that if
controlling Importance was TO he attached
10 the mode Of baptism God would in some
way designate his faVorite followers AS
they see him our Moody, Pearson. Sam
Jones, along with Spurgeon, Gordon, Con-
well, they cannot think il makes much dif
terence with God how a man is baDtized
IL therefore gives each man his choice
ne Methodist church without qualffi-
cation recognizes all other churches
IhOse that come to il from other com
munions from convenience are not required
70 renounce their baptism or to declare
tney nave never been members Of the
S SluI1 neIore; Ihey are received on their
declaration without form or ceremony"
In the next place. he said Methodism
pfdches without reservation or qualifying
feature the freeness of redemption. She
invites without mental hesitation or lin
lting theory "all' 1.-The world whose
ever TO come to Christ for pardon and
regeneration. They construe election nm
uer tne hght or whatsoever wiz instead
OF constituting "WhOSOever will'' under the
thought of election They make saliva
ton as broad, as human sin and need
conditioned alone on the personal ac-
ccteptance OF Christ. Everybody breaches
this gospel now, but they owe this boon
10 Methodism, and we have not had to
reconstruct our catechism or articles of
faith to get 1t IN. g.
In the sixth place, he said Methodism
IS organized to spread the gospel through
the world. 1t is made for the poor the
new place and the sparsely settled terri
tory, as well as the big city 1t has
more colleges, schools and orphanages
than any Protestant church in the south
1t IS church of the people and for the
people.