The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-15
M0NTANAS ROBUST AND V|R|LE METHOD|SM
Its Devout and Earnest Preachers Are a Force in Bringing the Commonwealth to
Recognize and Respect High Ideals of Morality, Citizenship
and Individual Character

how the people shouted Great is Di-
ana of the Ephesians" for three NOR
tai hours while Paul was getting
ready for another sermon" At Ephe-
sus to-day all that remains of hat
magnifice tntemple are scattered frag-
ments. The bishop told of the destruc-
ton OF the idols of India that has fol-
lowed the Introduction of Christianity
there. No idol. no pieture, no saint
shall stand between God and the hu-
man SOU. The bishop wished to speak
kindly of the heather. He had seen
them cropping for God II happily they
might find Him, n his heart went out
to them.
Christianity was a destructive force
in relation to tyranny. We boast of the
freedom of the Anglo-Saxon race, but
the Saxon vas once a slave, with a
collar around his neck with the name
of his owner upon 1t. Christianity has
lifted the Saxon to where he is. 1t Is
because of the power of God working
in men that slavery was abolished.
Wendell Phillips. Garrison, Sumner, all
those free soil advocates had a hand
in the abolition ot slavery, but 1t was
the tears of the poor, crushed bonds
man hat kept falling until the earth
trembled and the pillars of humanity
quivered. and until in response AL
mighty God at length came forth to de-
SlIos Il 10 a itoN nm ~
live in this great free country with the
stars and stripes floating over you;
and Christianity has made this coun-
try what IL is. Christianity has done
1t.
The bishop at this point said he had
not intended to allude to the war, but
he felt impelled n compelled to do
so. There were cries of go on" from
all parts of the church, and the bishop
briefly described SPANS t~yrannical
abuse of power for 40 years. until at
last she filled up the measure of her
cup of iniquity. IF there ever was a
time when Almighty God came forth
and walked up and down on earth, 1t
has been during this war; Glory to
God for Dewey! Glory TO God for all
the men who have thrown themselves
into the battle for right and Justice
and freedom and God!'
But a cloud darker than midnight
hangs over the land, touching every
state and every community. One hun
dred thousand souls are yearly going
down into an eternity of despair, and
their ranks are being filled day by day.
And women, wives and mother and
sisters are ~clinging to these men with
breaking hearts, but with the grip of
love. And clinging to these women are
hundreds of thousands of little chill
dren, poor little ones afraid of their
fathers footsteps. But just as sure as
God is on his throne and the Bible
stands, the time is coming when his
cloud is going to vanish and the mil
lions il threatens be rescued from hell!
It's coming because Christianity is GO
ing to triumph. Christianity will prove
its invincible foe. Christianity is a
constructive force. 1t saves from sin.
The bishop drew a touching picture OF
a Christian family kneeling at family
prayers. If angels linger this side of
Eden 1t Is there.
The third great fact is that Christian
ity is an experience. The bishop told
OF his own conversion and how for
more thar so years God had been re-
vealing Himself to him, and" said the
bishop, Il never was so well satisfied
with Christ and Christianity as | am
this very hour. Christ has been with
me. a comfort to my soul day and
night" He related several death-bed
scenes that had fallen under his obser-
walton, particularly that of Gilbert Ha-
ven, who called him to his side and put
his arms around him and said: There
is no river here. Gods angels are
bearing me up to glory!" The bishops
remarks on death and the grave
and the heaven awaiting Christians,
were full of supreme beauty and path
He asked those who wished him
to pray for them to raise their hands
during the singing. Many hands were
raised and the bishop closed with a
feeling prayer.