The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-20

hunanltarianism that shall solva ~.
problem or the cities slums the saloon
prison reform, the broad question %
Cnf1stlan citizenship. the intricacies in
volyeo IN the relief of the poor, and ali
the other burning issues Of orr intar'sas
civilization Intense
Again, the last commission of the mas
ter was, Go We into all the world atc
me Methodist church has been a mis-
sionary church from the beginning. We
nave recognized the true basis of mis-
| slonary work, viz, that all religions are
pased upon fundamental truth So our
work has been constructive We accent
what we find good In all faiths and build
upon It, Wesley's motto was The world
Is my parish, and today our missionaries
are Slru1ng the globe. This Is conform
Ing to the primitive model
l am Methodist because of the broad
Gdehoiicity or Methodfsm. We have never
~ iiau ',lhe 10 De narrow or bigoted Some
one mas said that Observation-Disclosures
Wherever it exists is a curse and In
rehg1on 1t dwindles to a dogma a serv-
Ice or custom. The catholic snirit al
ways endeaFors to find out the relative
truth OF things, and to measure the com
parative worth of things, and always be-
lieves for the best The catholic mind
makes truth and not error, the object of
Its search. This spirit will not pass nm
measured condemnation on an opposite
1alth before 1t has studied its history
and work.
LIBERAL IN ALL
II am Methodist; but If a Baptist bas
modicum of truth for NE, l will gladly
make 1T mine. and thank him for it. 1 am
a Protestant Catholic; but If a Roman.
Catnolc VIII open my eyes to some VI
sion OF moral beauty, l will repay him
with my praise. 1 am a Methodist Epis-
copalian; but IL a Protestant Episcopalian
VIII open the door to some temple where
noiy anthems rise and sacred lessons
are taught. 1 will join in the song and
reVerently learn the lesson.
"A great many able men have gone
out from our communion. Some people
thlnK 1t shows weakness in our sys-
lem. 1t Is just the reverse. 1t is one of
the glocies of Methodism that so many
nave been converted at her affairs, train
ed in her schools and fitted for success
1ul work in other folds. When they go
from US we do not follow them with
anathemas, but with our God bless
yous. Some Of the disciples came to
the Master and complained that certain
people were casting out devils, but not
In His name. He replied: Let them
alone. This is the spirit of Methodism
If men are casting out devils-the devils
OF superstition, avarice, sensuality, vice
and oppression. we say Amen, God bless
YOU; go on Every Sunday morning In
every land under the sun, except Persia.
the voice of Methodism is heard repeat
ing In every language: believe in the
molly catholic church., that is, the one
universal church of Christ
Some one has said: When love Is born
bigotry dies Love was the mainsprfne-
or the Wesleyan movement. Then II is
not toSbe wondered at that Methodism
stands today as the synonym of the
broadest charity.
DOCTRINES CLEAR AND DEFINITE.
Il am a Methodist because the doc
trines of Methodism are simple, clear.
comprehensive and definite.
"Methodism has never had to change her
creed. The twenty-five articles of relf-
gion are for the most part statements of
fact rather than theories, and have COM
mended themselves as worthy of accept
ance to the most thoughtful Further
more. the influence of Methodism has
been marvellous factor in working the
changes that have been made in the
creeds Of our sister churches. People
who pass advanced thinkers and new
theologists are surprised when we tell
them that there Is hardly truth or a
half truth advanced in the new theology.
but was found, defined located and ad-
Justed by Fletcher and Wesley a hundred
years ago. Nevertheless, it is true. The
revised version of the New Testament is
practically the same as that given bv
John Wesley. The committee might have
saved the expense of the new revision by
adopting Wesley's testament. Our Con-
gregational brethren fought their battle
regarding new theodicy, which was
wholly unnecessary If they had only rec
ognized, as one of our bishops has said
that Methodism has always avoided the
necessity Of second probation and a
new theodicy by teaching that it is i'm
possible for God to permit a man to
suHer hereafter for an inadequate or un-
just probation. Beginning with the prem
1se that the Judge Of all the earth must
do right-that the only limitations of the
Holy One are in the necessities of His
own perfection Of love and justice-Meth-
odism has believed, sung and preached
the gospel to all men as the gift of the
Father of all men, and in the faith that
when the Holy Spirit, given to all men
enabled souls to apprehend the essential
Christ, the Just One would not condemn
them for providential ignorance of the
historical Messiah. DR.. Berry has said:
AT time of widespread laxity, Meth
odism laid hold of the crucial truths of
Christianity, and uttered them with fer
vid JUNCTION in the ears of the world To
those who taught a limited redemption.
Methodism affirmed it's universally. To
those who held the doctrine of an en-
slaved will. Methodism declared it's free
dom. To those who were cropping amid
the mists Of uncertainty Methodism pro-
claimed assurance. And to those who in
sisted that 1t was unreasonable to SUD-
pose that sinner can know his sins for
given. Methodism joyfully confessed that
The Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God
CHRISTIANITY IN EARNEST.
Because of these doctrines and the
earnestness with which they were preach
ed, Methodism was called Christianity in
earnest. They proved to be the power of
God unto salvation. Men and women were
saved from sin. The external Internal
and collateral evidences of this truth
were so conclusive that the intelligent
and candid mind could not resist them
When men face their fellows and de-
clare by all that is solemn and sacred,
by all that is virtuous and pure, by all
that Is rational and Ineligible. that they
have experienced a power within remov-
ing the sense of guilt and the disposition
to sin, changing all their motives and as
pirations that were before un-
holy. and giving them an inward
peace, holy quiet. an approx
ing conscience, and a foretaste
of heaven. and that they have the abid-
ing witness in themselves that these
things are from God and of Cod their
testimony is invincible.
'Methodism has stood for Just this kind
of an experience. 1t is just as applicable
today as 1t was in the early church, or
in Wesley's time. The needs of the soul
are just the same as they were when
Peter preached at Pentecost, or as when
John Wesley rescued these doctrines from