The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-10-17
THE 2OTH CENTURY LEAGUE
4 DDRESS DELIVERED LAST SUS- DAY BY HENRY II. BENEDICT.

At Grace Methodist Episcopal Church
 in Aid of the Epworth League Move-
 mont Whose Object is to Free the New
 Haven Methodist Churches from Debt
 Following is the very able address in full delivered at Grace M. F.. church last Sunday morning by President Henry fl. Benedict of the Twentieth Century Epworth league of this city. The ob- iect of the league is, as is we'll known to raise sufficient funds to free from Gebt the Methodist churches of New Haven.
 At the conclusion of MT. Benedict s address at Grace M. F. church last Sun day morning thirty-seven Twentieth Century Wesleyan league enrolment cards were signed, making nearly two hundred for Grace church.
 When, presumably by December l., one thousand league members are se- cured canvass for subscriptions will commence.
 With membership of one thousand the league has secured $10,O0O towards the requisite S75,O0o.
 SIr. Benedict's address was largely extelnporaneous and considered the best Of his many excellent speeches. He spoke as follows:
 I presume I am expected to talk con- corning the Twentieth Century league it's aims, it's methods, its hopes. I fear it will be as difficult for me to confine my remarks to the subject as it was for the hunorist Artemas Ward who once delighted large audiences in England and America with his unique lecture entitled Babes in the Woods.'' The only direct allusion to the babes was his brief peroration, "They were good babes'
 But Ward talked of wax figures. I shall speak of real figures-the mini num- a ten-dollar bill, the membership fee of the Twentieth Century Wesleyan league; the maximum-twenty millions of dollars-the twentieth century thank offering of the Methodist Episcopal Church of America.
 Artemas spoke of John Smith; shall talk of John Wesley. Ward talked of a Mormon church Its mission was the propagation of lust and the degradation of its membership. I shall speak of a IdTSe DIdIlCI OI 1Ou CuuICu. US IlllS- sion was and ought to be to-day in a large degree the conversion of the mass es and the sanctification of it's men1- bership.
 The humorist spoke of love, the cen- ter of which was an unholy passion the circumference, the Mormons of Utah territory. I shall talk of a love, the center of which is God, the circum- ference, humanity.
 The speaker then spoke of the enthu- siasm and efforts of Messrs. Manson, Moody, Fullerton, Morehead, Welch and Savage, and continued as follows:
 Yes, I believe in the officers of our league and I believe in God, and so I may boldly say, God willing, before the dawn of the twentieth century every dollar of the indebtedness will be paid.
 And be it a mad dream or Gods very breath, the facts the same, beliefs fire, once in us makes of all else, mere stuff to show itself. We penetrate our life with such a glow as fire lends to wood and iron.
 He then alluded to the aggressive spirit of old Methodism, and, continu- ing, said:
 In many places, in sections, in some churches, Methodism to-day is aggres- sive and loyal to it's God-given purposes. In others worldliness exists. In still others the condition characterized by Ian MacLaren as the shadow in Amer ican life. Greed for gain and love of unhealthful excitement and sinful pleas ure, in a degree, prevails inside as well as outside the church.
 Dissatisfaction with cur social posi- tion dsturbs some of our members and occasions unrest. Ambition for worldly distinction and social prominence saps the religious life of others.
 I do not believe another Wesley will arise to found God-given church, for I am confident that in the very early days of the coming century, the Meth odst Episcopal church purified, having arisen from it's lethargy will with the energy and enthusiasm of this electrical age under the flashight of Gods Holy Spirit proclaim the old gospel and the appeal will be, as in other days, the old one, "Come to Jesus. Is there any substitute for the sun for light? Is there any for God? Is there any for Jesus-the light of the world? St. Johns words addressed to the I1phesian church seem applicable: 'Nevertheless, l have somewhat against theo because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen and repent and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy | ,candestick out of it's place except thou repent" Yes, if we do not repent and turn to | God another God-loved organization will | continue and perhaps complete our l God d-given work and with wondrous | power proclaim:
 "Hatred of sin.
 Holiness of purpose.
 Love for humanity. |
 And devotion to God.' The leagues president then remarked | that, in our solicitation for subscrip- | tions to our league, there must of course be the dominating factor of common sense.
 Marteens the Dutch novelist, well said "Notliing succeeds after all but | common sense, and that only because it's uncommon"
 But in addition to this immense fac tor the league worker, the worker for ,..,4 fI- H,%{ {n,lNc