The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-09-30

bruises of this sin-burdened world
are to be healed, and what balm
will molify it's wounds. but the be-
lever in Jesus Christ can never be
a pessimist. From the heighth to
which I have climbed, as I survey
the Kingdom of God, I call to those
who are below and who are looking
upward. The way is rugged and
steep, but victory is engraven on
our banners, laundering in our
drum-beats, rumbling in the tread
of an ever-increasing army, blazoned
on the sky, guaranteed by Almighty
God, and secured by the blood of
His Incarnate Son.
HE is wherever two or three are
are met in His Name. He smiles
upon every cradle where innocent
loneliness is rocked to slumber, and
says, "Let little children come unto
me-"
Few ministers have the privi-
lege of preaching semi-centennial
sermon. Before they reach this
period of service they are called up
higher, but I must not weary you
with personal matters. I desire to
notice some of the great events
which have occurred during my
fifty years OF service. I cannot dis
cuss them fully, for want of time,
but / can show the direction in
which the discussion lies. First, I
mention the anti-slavery contro-
versy, which shook both church
and nation, and finally rent both
asunder. Our church was divided
by this controversy in 1845, but the
Methodists of Maryland, Delaware,
and some in Virginia, Kentucky
and Missouri adhered to the mother
church. Many of these were hold
ers of slaves which kept the ques-
ton alive in the church. Our
church always bore a consistent
testimony as to the wrong of slave
holding. But these Methodists had
rights in the church. The radicals
sought to change the law to exclude
all shareholders. But better coun-
sells prevailed.
sit was the influence of the
Methodist Episcopal church largely
that held Maryland to the union
But the heat of that old debate
new generation cannot conceive.
Another important event was
the great religious awakening in
1883 and 1859. 1t has meyer had
adequate treatment, and it's i'm
portance is Misunderstood. 1t was
not one church that promoted it.
It was larger than any or all
churches. 1t was a nation awak-
ening to the fact that it must reckon
with God. There had been no
special preparation for it-that is,
human eparation-it came as
showers that water the earth. All
human agencies were discounted.
It's great benefit was that it pre-
pared the nation for the coming
struggle which succeeded the cleo
ton of Lincoln, and but for it the
nation would have failed under the
stress of that four years of war. 1t
was preceded by period of specu-
lation, followed by financial re-
verse, the like of which none OF
you have ever seen. The old politi-
cal order was broken up and the
losing campaign under Fremont had
been fought. We can never be
grateful enough for that defeat.
The man for the hour had not We,
appeared. He came upon the eve
of the great revival. 1t was God {
hour and His hand had guided
where men 'had CROPPED in the dark
81 have witnessed changes instht
church s economy. The introduc
ton Of lay represention in oul
} general conference changed oul
form of government from govern
J ment by the clergy to one by botE
! orders, and from. an oligarchy to