The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-29
1.-THE BOND OF UNITY. :"
THANKSGIVING SERMON AT
 UNITED SERVICES

s Trinity M. E. Church Yesterday AIorn-
 ing by Rev. F. WlnsIow Adams of
 Epworth Church.
 The united services of the Methodist
 churches was held yesterday forenoon
 at il o'clock at Trinity M. F. church, x and were we'll attended. The sermon
 was delivered by Rev. F. Winslow
 Adams of Epworth church The other
 clergymen present were Rev. Dr. Eld- \ ridge of the First M. E. church, Rev. < Dr. Rall of Trinity. Rev. J. Howard
 Hand of summerfeld.
 Mrs. F. w. Adams sang an offertory solo,
 The topic of Rev. MT. Adams sermon ES was The Bond of Unity" The ser < vice follows in full;
 THE BOND OF UNITY. x That they may be one, even as we
 are one."-Jofn 17, P.
 N The Presidents Thanksgiving procla-
 nation found its keynote in the martyr { dom of "the great and good president"
 William Mckinley. The man, the place,
 sthe hour, the circumstances, all go to s mark a fulfllment of the prayer of
 Jesue, That they may be one. even as <SWe are one" For it was William Me % Kthley who woed again to peace and < prosperity the sectional elements so
 1ong embittered by discord and strife, V and what he had done for his own x country his last public act was seeking fo accomplish for others, as he stood at the Pan- American Exposition, and let
 fall these words which mark the close
 dk notable series of public utterances. 4 rOur earnest prayer is that God will
 vouchsafe prosperity, happiness and Y peace to all neighbors, and like bless S1tiixs to all peoples and powers of the
 eartii." How like this to the prayer of X Jesus, That they may be one, even as \ aMe are one.' Bishop Warren says
 ssthat speech at Buffalo reads for the
 fndustrial world as the speeches of the
 old prophets read for morals and relig- 2ton's and that "the laboring man has kf6Bt no such friend since the Lord Of Xlory died on the crOss." Certain it Is ! Tint in no small way William McKin- '1ey helped to fulfill the longing of his
 Lord and Master, That they may be x one, even as we are one"
 The chosen mission of Jesus Christ 2 NH to make mankind one. His birth
 Wae heralded by the angel song, Peace
 LII earth, good will to men," In X sSf6phecying his death he declared, lS838ss.And I, if be lifted up will draw all sij.en unto me" His parting council to l1jlS disciples was. Love one another as sI have loved you," and then he prays,
 Ehat they may be one, even as we are
 8He,' TO this mission was Jesus Christ
 horn, for it's accomplishment he gave 'his life, the Brotherhood of man. In R{i1e Personality of Jesus Christ is that band of unity through which mankind 7fs to become one. His prayer that they
 may be one, certainly refers to a life
 af Holiness, deeper life, a higher life,
 A baptised life, and yet I would put no
 theological limit on these words. This
 js the most all inclusive prayer that xIesjis ever offered. Certainly it reaches
 6se highest and broadest and sweetest sSi1eal that we can reach of a Christian sjife. It is a coming into the very holy z 0f holies, a standing, not only face to $fate with God, but a working together &Wjfh God, a spiritual indwelling in the
 Human heart of Jesus Christ, the bond N1f unity uniting man to the Father. @ But this oneness of which Jesus iSDeaks is not sameness, not identity. but a spiritual union. We are not to be ASft1erped into Deity, we are not to lose our Individuality as brethren together, not necessarily to be the same in name, {, 53titward or formal unity, but while diff 4<Sftitg from each other in appearance, E{0rm and method, we are, as the follow sGfs of Christ to be one in spirit Of 4I0ve, charity and service so pronounced | 4sfd distinctive that the world will see &fiat we have been with Jesus and MleArned of Him, that they will be i forced to admit that "One Is your Mas xlsr even Christ and all ye are brethren THIS was the Masters prayer, That | Xhey may be one even as we are one, l Tn them and thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the ! world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me"
 The first point I make is that Jesus Christ Is the bond of personal unity. No real unity can come about among be- 1ievers until we first come into union with Jesus as individuals Not union lbaged on theology doctrine or form, but rather a union based on obedience and '3ervfce to Jesus Christ. This is the real lteat of discipleship. It Is only by such N life that man can ever reach his best |and purest and noblest. One of the most beautiful signs of conversion re- terded in the New Testament is this: IssWe know that we have passed from deatf unto life because we love the Brethren. once knew man whose &hief sorrow was his children. They lid not drink or swear or steal. They were respected in business, and met their financial obligations, but there Vas constant quarreling among them- selves, and the family was in con- tinual wrangle in spite of all the father could do. When he died friend of mine who knew him said, that on his eaintly face was pictured the anxiety, the anguish, which his childrens wran- rIes had caused him even to the last sad hours of life What right have you to put your hand to your neighbours throat and say, Pay me that thou owest!' Are we not all children of one Father, and has not Jesus prayed for