The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1903-08-06

This is the idea of service upon which
alone rests the power of Christ, Friend OF
Sinners, and of whom always the common
people hear gladly when He is truly. told.
The indifference and the contempt of men
at large for the church is at any given time
the reflection of the indifference and con-
tempt of the church for men at large. The
sign of the apostle is the sign of the sickle,
And the other power was over and
through the intensity with which they
bore it, the clearness and directness OF the
message itself. 1t uttered the two funda-
mental words, repent" and "believe,"
with an accent of imperativeness that
smote the frivolity and inhuman superb
ciality of the age. Again it TRANSPORTED
said what many only thought and dared
what many only wished. It's business was
to convince England that every man had
soul and that life was an immortal stair
way, up or down! 1t taught of living
God and the powers of an endless life. 1t
ormation, Justification by faith" 1t car
ried the truth afield and again it lifted the
cotters' roof till it touched the stars. 1t
trod the bottom of human longing, and
while it arraigned sin in fearful terms, it
brought the news of hope and joy. No
wonder that gusto came with the rain upon
the barren land. No wonder that turbid
Many things always are rent when Satan
is cast out. Always such upheavals AIRY
stubble upon their currents such tides
swing loose unanchored spirits. But par
ody is a counting proof of power, and the
forces of eternity were shaking people to
it's centre. Much was unwelcome when all
was unready.
What real prophets have not met oppos-
ton? These men were "shut out of the
synagogues" of the establishment They
faced frowning world" They knew all
indignities. Mobs led by squires and clergy
men dragged them through horse ponds and
howled against their lives Nothing was
too foul to fling at them with hand and
tongue. Not man of all the bishops save
Samuel Butler took their part. But despis-
ing hardships and dangers, they grew, and
upon the church that disowned them they
put an indellible mark. Being DETAINED,
they .entreated, and they lived to see opin-
ion change.
What diocese waited this apostolic man
John Wesley! He touched two hemis.
pheres. Nay, all the ends of the earth.
and his hand is stretched out still. In l766
Methodism began in America. Wesley at
his death declared, ''The best of all, God
is with u.s." There were then 3l3 of his
preachers in England: in the United States,
1873. Now in Great Britain there are 700,-
600 communicates. in Canada 300, 900, in the
United States 100000, who recur to that
new Pentecost. At length in 1876 Dean
Stanley unveiled in Westminster Abbey a
tablet with the shining profles of John
Wesley and Charles. Tardily but at last
did state church-which in their day
knew not the time of its visitation" at
test the reflex influence of it's prophets and
| own work so grandly dene
In John Wesley tremendous toll and a
rare gift for organization and order and
the loftiest spiritual enthusiasm and SIM
pie purpose to do one thing were united in
the proportion of genius. Great he was by
any test. Time is a stern criterion and by
that estimate Wesley survives as Paul does
and Luther and Lovola. He is of the few
who make eras. He had large sense and
system. He wrought with mighty industry
for half century. No moment was
wasted. With a giant energy he preached
500 times year for fifty years. And yet
with this passion for work he had pure
sweet tempered, considerable. he had the
scholars vision and a sanity heart. "In
seventy years" be said, II have not lost a
nights sleep" "I save all I can and give
all / get" Make all you can by industry,
save all YOU can by economy, give all you
can by iberality;.' Thus, he was rich to-
ward God. Peculiarities he had; let small
souls count them. Strifes there were, but
who cares for the logical differences be-
tween Wesley and Whitfield, since both
preached the evangel of holy and imme-
date decision. Thank God for that good
home al Epvorth and for that Susannah's
sons!
Let us all see that religion is not in ru-
bric and rite. but in devoted hearts and
lives, unsophisticated by the hribes of Gus
tom, undaunted by the oppostions of hol-
low tradition. instant to serve tireless to
effect results, believing God For one may
have all the apparatus of regularity and die
a starveiing. Power is granted only to
those who will pay its whole price! Love
is catholic when it is apostolic and can ut
ter.Wesley's "All the world is my parish
The methodical in Gods service are the
conquerors.
Oh, let me say to you Wesley's great
text. "Seek We the Lord while He may be
found; call We upon Him while He is near!"
Emulate such man! And considering
the issue of totally surrendered life, imi-
tate its faith. 1t is success. 1T is triumph
It is attainable. Let me quote Wesley's
hymn:
''Give to the winds thy fears
Hope and be undismayed;
God hears thy signs and counts thy tears
God shall lift up thy head"