The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-30
HOPE, THEKEY NOTE
OF Human Salvation. Said Rev. ].
Wesley Hill, D. d.
A SPLENDID ADDRESS MADE
At the y. NJ. c. A. Mems Meeting Sun.
day Aftcrnoon-Thc Pcssimism of
the age Observation-Disclosures is
Religion of Hope aud the Perfect
man Must be Christian-!irsu;ncnt
for Christian Unity.

One of the best talks ever delivered
at the Young Mems Christian Assocla-
ton mems meetings was that made yes
terday afternoon og Rev. J. Wesley Hill
D. d., OF Fostora, o.. and who is now
on tour OF the principal cities In the
interests of the American university, o!
Washington, D. c. His chief thought
was Hope" and his remarks were or
iginal and particularly eloquent. His
talk as a whole was refreshing, being
SO much from the beaten path. In ap-
pearance DR.. Hill resembles Colonel
Robert Ingcrsoll. the great agnostic.
DR.. HIS opening was in happy
vein. and he told two amusing anec-
dotes as q starter. He said that he had
been converted In the Y. NJ. C. a. when
but boy. He left his fathers house,
just as the prod!sal son, with the ex-
ceptlon that he was broke when he left
home and the prodigal wasn't. The
speaker paid the Y. NJ. c.. \. n glowing
tribute for its work among young men.
Humanity. he said. is to be saved
through gospel agencies aud through
none other. The gospel of Christ was
hopeful, the golden thread of hope per-
meated It, and it pointed in the future
to I finer stage OF perfection. Carlyle
had declared Christianity was relig-
ion ofNtears. The speaker disagreed
with the famous dyspcptic; II was q
religion OF hope. Salvation by hope was
the magnet that attracted and checred.
The speaker considered the greatest
benefactor was he who brought hope,
who scattered the pcssimisms OF the
ngc and lifted mans ideals higher and
higher. Christ was the great benefac-
tor and Ee sent human hopes beyond
the stars.
Dr. Hill said the world was growing
better and advancing forward rapidly.
Man came from lofty origin, he said.
and not from monkeys. The speaker
believed in the Garden OF Eden and the
Bible rather than primitive geological
garden. And mans greatest advance
ments began after Christ came into the
world; then civilization started and 50
to-day the human race stands on a pin
nacle never before attained, and the
world is happier, brighter and better
and the glorious millennium dawn seems
nearer. The speaker was no pessim!st.
He regretted that so much of the poorer
and Grosser human nature was given
to the light. For instance, the news
papers gave too much space 10 the
crimes OF the dag. And again there
were people who went frantic because
they failed to get municipal reform, pro-
hihitiOr nd GitDtIpr -l
people when they failed sank deep into
the glooms OF pessimisnl. They failed to
resort to the Book and It's teachings of
hope.
The first effort to giorify humanity
was on the physical side. The idea OF
manhood prevails still among the prize
fighters. Away back in the ages the
Roman gladiators were considered the
perfection OF men. But nothing was
done for humanity. as the story OF the
bloody Caesars will attest. The next
effort to glorify humanity was culture.
Athens, that classic and magnificent
city, became the Mecca for the leaders
OF thought. There IS the modern A,h-
ems, Boston. but her philosophers will
be as faint rags to the permanent sun
light of Socrates, Diogcues and Plato.
Everything to strengthen the mind and
mold character was done in Athens. and
the object was to make perfect man.
But the true way to g!orify humanity
came when there dawned on the world
the Star of the East
II isn't enough for man to get in
n church: to be baptized. have his name
within the church's register and con-
tribute to It's support. There must be
the vitalizing work Of the Holy Spirit
and not the ethical tinkering with dog
mas or extensive theological discussions
There must be n regeneration of char
ac,er. to follow In the paths outlined by
Christ. In speaking along this line DR.
Hill witt!ly scored what he termed the
little pig-headed preachers" and who
he said. got up before large meeting
md read brief symposium OF how
ITO reach the masses" These men, he
said, wouldn't know the masses if they
saw them.
There must be newness OF life
Christian union could be brought abou,
by love. There was no difference a'aoaf
politicians as TO patriotism: they talked
OK the country's institutions and dIf-
fered on platforms. but let a foreign foe
threaten our shores and both parties
would rally as one people to that in
sigma OF liberty, the grand old Stars
ana Stripes.
At this point the speakers cIoquencc
aroused his hearers to applause, an I'M
usual occurrence at the meetings
DR.. Hill continued TO discount bitter
ness as felt by creed to creed: and said
they could unite at the Cross. He saw
hope in the future. The glad day was
dawning when differences In civil, polit-
ical and rtlGious life w1uld cease and
all would become one in the kingdom
OF Christ. The doctors peroration was
particularly effective and eloquent