Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-09-03
D R on WELCOME.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
DR.. Fl. K. Hinde spoke in part as
follows:
ut is my pleasant privilege to well
come you in the name of this church,
and the citizens of Mexico, to our
city and our homes. The cup of our
joy is full tonight. At other times In
the history Of this church it has been
the pleasure and privilege of the cit
liens Of Mexico to entertain the Mis-
souri, Conference, but never before
under such suspicious circumstances.
This is Methodist year throughout the
world. John Wesley and Methodism
is In the air everywhere. Pick up a
paper or magazine from any portion
of u own or foreign lands, and you
will see something about John Wesley,
the founder OF Methodism, and the
marvellous growth OF the organization
that had its birth In Lincoln College
in the old classic city Of Oxford, Eng
land. Eminent divines Of every de-
nomination, and men Of no church
relations; statesmen, historians, jour-
n~alists, and the literatti Of the CIV
ilized world are talking and writing
about this man, who two hundred
years ago, the 28th Of June, In an OBJ
scure hamlet Of Northern England
first saw the light Of this life. $50
In this bicentennial Of the birthN Of
our great founder we will be excused
II we indulge a little pride as we well
come such a body of his followers as
the Missouri Conference, which stands
among the first Of our connection In
America. We do not wonder, In view
Of results that eminent writer's and
speakers vie with each other In recog-
nizing the merits Of this colossal figure
of the 18th century, and that our
Episcopal brethren want to hold on to
him, and go SO far as to deny that he
was ever q Methodist. II
"And, my brethren, as a final word,
may | indicate just one evil and re-
sponsibility that overtops every other
in u land to-day, and beg you to
give 1T due consideration. You know,
in advance, that l mean the evil OF
incompetence. This is the one only
thing that mars our pleasure in well
coming you to this beautiful new
church and our otherwise beautiful
and prosperous city. How different
would be our feelings as we drive you
around our fine square with its mod
ern and first-class paved streets, il
we we're not compelled to show you In
this drive that three Of the most
prominent corners of this square are
occupied by large and prosperous
saloons. II l knew how to apologize
for this l would do SO; but | do not,
in view of the fact that they are there
by our permission, given through the
votes of the church members OF this
city. So you see, my brethren, you
have some missionary work to do
while In u midst. But,
thank God, day is breaking, and
through the morning CLEAN / can see
tokens Of victory in the sky. What
has God wrought for the cause OF
civic righteousness through the lead
ership of the brave and gifted young
Baptist attorney Of the city OF st.
Louis May He open the eyes Of this
brilliant young man who has accom-
plished such wonders against the
boodlers Of Missouri to the fact that
the nest Of these vipers is the saloon,
and that the quickest and most radical
way to exterminate the whole vile
brood is to tear up the nest, and make
it impossible for Ed. Butler and bis
Ubiquitous gang to build 1t again.
"And now, brethren, what do you
think Of our new church? Isn't 1t a
gem OF beauty and a model Of conve-
nience? While / have been talking
many Of you doubtless have been una
BILE to get your bearings, and realize
that you are in the Mexico church.
Your minds have been running back
to the days Of yore, and you have i'm
agined yourselves In the old upstairs
building where former conferences
were held, and from the pulpit Of
which you may have heard the vener-
able Monroe, the eloquent and sanity
Marvin, the unique and irresistible
Caples, the chivalrous Gooch, your
own John d. Vincil, whose bow still
abides in strength; and not to prolong
the list, or shock the modesty OF any
present, l will only mention the name
Of II. A. Bourland, the model pastor
and ~consecrated preacher whose min
|istry here was so rich in its ingather-
ing and so lasting In results, that the
Bourland meeting is the date from
which many Of our membership still
take their bearing. But per-
haps, the figure most familiar to you
all. and In the minds Of all to-day is
that OF John M. Marmaduke, our
|sainted Sunday School Superintend-
emit, whose term Of Office extended
over a period Of IS years, and whose
memory we perpetuate by a marble
slab and an excellent portrait In our
n
beautiful Sunday School room. With
these sacred memories so fondly
cherished in our hearts, and In this
beautiful new church building point
ing us TO the possibilities and respon-
sibilities of the future, let US preach
ers and laymen catch new inspiration
as we celebrate the bi-centennial Of
our great Founder, and dedicate our
selves anew to the work into which
providence has so wonderfully led US"
Bishop Charles b. Galloway respond
ed I'm a Of the most brilliant ad-
dresses heard In Mexico for many a
day. "This is a day Of anniversaries, :
and referred to the two hundredth
anniversary Of Wesley, anniversary OF
Supreme Court Of the United States,
of Louisiana Purchase, aud In his
~eulogy Of Wesley said; when God
wanted a great man he began TO pre-
pare for him several generations be-
FORE