The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24


pose of bringing Methodists closer together
and to give them a voice to lift up when
occasion demands. There has been here
always 10000 voices. but no voice. That
we will have now" Mr.. Carson urged every
one present to become member.
Senator Albert j. Beveridge.
Senator Beverage came last on the pro-
gramme. When he arose to speak there
was, for a religious gathering, remark
able demonstration of applause. 1t was sew
eral minutes before the senator could make
his voice heard. He was in excellent voice
and made characteristically powerful adj
dress. The senator spoke on The WORLDS
Debt to Methodism.'' He said:
Among the items of the worlds debt to
Methodism is that charity which vauntetn
not itself, is not pulled up, and cheerfully
comedies to all other Chrlstian churcnes
full credit for equally devoted work Tor
Christ. In speaking to the toast you assign
me, l voice no vainglory of sect or creed;
! for Methodism knows no egotism OF re-
| ligiouS cult, no narrowneSS of spiritual clan
! Methodism is as broad as charity, as toll
! Grant as the Masters love. Ii this is not
true the world owes us no debt, but we
owe the world an apology for our existence
I'VE come before mankind, then, merely
| as one of the workers in the vineyard and
not as the sole and only iaborer in the re-
work with pride, but with the pride OF
| Christians who will rejoice if any sister
church makes better showing. For. in hon.
or preferring one another is the chivalry
! of our religion, the beatitude Of our be-
| lief.
''This tolerance of others, this grace and
| poetry of our faith is part of the worlds
| Indebtedness to Methodism. For Methodism
| came in the hour OF mingled religious big
%as CHARGED WITH beinF jesuit on tSs
one hand, and, on the other hand with de-
| signing the revival of Puritan fanaticism.
! Rowland Hill declared that he could not tell
| from ~WesleyS sermons whether he was
| jew, papist, a pagan or a Turk-and
! this because of the breadth of his view in
an age of coffin-hke narrowness. For
against the bigotry of nonessentiais Meth
! odism opposed simple faith in the Savior:
against the doctrine of unavoidable dam
nation Methodism asserted free salvation
| to all who ask it. 1t was Charles Wesley
! who wrote The Hymn of Universal Re
demption.' And Methodism insisted that
faith should bear the fruit of righteous
deeds.
SPIRITUALLY DECEASED.
when Methodism came. England was
spiritually debased, religiously sodden
Greene's History of the English People
tells us that of the prominent statesmen
of the time the greater part were unbe-
! levers in any form of Christianity, and
distinguished for the grossness and i'm
morality of their lives. AT the other end
of the social scale, the masses of the poor
! were ignorant and brutal to degree hard
to conceive MontesquieD said that In
| England every one laughs If one talks of
religion Macaulay described moral con-
! ditions In unsparing words. Catholicism
was suppressed Puritanism sleeping, the
| Church OF England in a drunken coma.
England was in the dark ages OF morals
| and religion. And England was the heart
OF the modern world. At this hour came
| Methodism and revived the souls Of men.
And Methodism's fervor was not fitful fire,
extinguished in the hour of its blazing 1t
was a steady and increasing light. What
and permanence in its work. AS Lydia or
ganized for Catholicism, Wesley organized
for Professionalism. Prothero. Stead-a
score of admiring critics-call Wesley the
Lydia of Englands religious awakening.
| Methodism was the renaissance of religion
and morals; and the historians of the
Church of England to-day admit that
organization the spirit its clergy had
smothered even in their own hearts. Lecky
says that that splendid institution which all
life to Methodiism. And so it is that the
evangelization of Protestant people is the
worlds first debt to our church. That vast
revival which Methodism worked in the
masses spread to every English cathedral
TO every Protestant house of worship and
gathering force and increase with the
years. it has rolled on like the stone cut by
hands unseen from the mountain side till
the twentieth century is filled with the
Equilibrium of enthusiasm and form Is
the. condition of conservative progress
And progress that is not conservative is
merely impulse Enthusiasm creates: form
preserves. Methodism was the realization
of this necessary balance. Their orderli-
ness was the origin of their name; their
fervor quickened a failing faith Zeal for
human rescue, systematized for practical
ends, is a debt the world owes to Method.
ism-though the debt is forgotten in the
universal adoption long ago of the spirit OF
Wesley's method by every Protestan,
creed. Let no man undervalue authority
order and form. Without it liberty is mere
caprice, religion spasmodic and fruitless
emotion. Even ocean waves are rhythmic
Dinused electricity lights no lamps drives
no wheels, cures no ills. Early Methodisn
insisted that ii was OF the Church of Eng.
land, only vitalized and made potential by
the Spirits visitation-so great was Meth.
odisms appreciation of custom, law and
FORM. Wesley speaks of the exquisite de-
cency' of the Episcopal service.
LOYALTY 4 PRINCIPLE.
This love of law. this reverence for gov.
eminent, made loyalty secular principle
of Methodism. The storms of wrath against
ancient wrongs which the French revolu
ton loosed, seemed like to overthrow al
human institutions, good and bad. Coo
was dethroned in France and a spuriou:
reason crowned. Hurricanes of chaos
swept out of this center of chaos to Other
lands and calmer peoples. Had they dew
astated, also, the Anglo-Saxon world, ne
mind can measure the effect on civilization
and the destiny of man. History tells u:
that Methodism stilled this tempest amonf
English-speaking peoples. Burke fulminat
ed-but the masses never knew. Words
worth, Coleridge, Southey sang-but tn,
millions heard them not. But in street.
ana iane, In shop and field and mine
Mel lodism spoke and the people needed
And so IL is that the myriads of the tongue
OF Shakespeare remained and still remain tn,
hosts OF law-regulated liberty, sane. calm
belieying-their history defaced by no ex
cess, the flags of their nations unstaineC
by frenzy-shed blood. Is that no benefac
tion TO mankind? If 1t is, profane history
coldly writing, says that mankdnds deb
for that is due to Methodism.
'Methodism and loyaltyi In 1850 ou
bishops formally on behalf OF our church
addressed George Washington in words O.
loyal devotion TO the new Constitution anC
the infant government, which, in that hour
needed every friend. And here is the an
swer OF the father of his country 10 As
bury and Coke-Asbury, the father o.
American Methodism:
To the bishops of the Methodist Church
in the United States of America:
'Gentlemen--l return TO you Individually
lively in the United States my thanks fo
the demonstration OF affection and the ex
pressions Of JOY offered in their behalf OIL
my late appointment. II shall be my en-
deavor to manifest the purity of my in
, clinattonS for promoting the happiness o
mankind as well as the sincerity of m,
desires 10 contribute whatever may be II
, my power toward the civil and religious
liberties OF the American people. In per