Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1904-05-09
Talmage
Sermon
BY Rec.
Frank De cOfff
ToIm age. d. ID.


occasion of the assembling of the
Methodist general conference of 1901
the preacher welcomes the delegates
and points out the rise and growth of
Methodism and the secret Of its far
reaching influence upon the religious
world today. The text is Ezekiel xvi,
z. Il have caused thee to multiply as
the bud of the field"
Nearly twenty years ago 1 was with
my father in a hotel in London when
a deputation of Methodist ministers
and laymen waited on him. They said:
"Will you not preach for us at least
once before you return to America?
There are thousands and tens of thou
sands Of people in London who have
for years been readers Of your SER
mons, and they want to hear your
voice and touch your hand. They have
a right to make this demand. You are
part of them, and we cannot go until
you consent to preach at least once"
We were on our way to the continent
to meet my mother and sisters, who
had preceded us there some months
before. NO" answered my father.
Il cannot at the present time. l am
mentally and physically worn out. The
doctors have told me 1 must hold up.
i am going to the continent, where my
lips will be closed, because 1 do not
understand the French and the Ger
man languages. But If you wish,
will preach for you when l return"
where would you like to preach, doc
torT' With that my father turned
and said, "As l am to preach but once,
i have but one desire, and that is to
preach in John Wesley's pulpit
why do you want to preach in City
Road ctapelY' l asked, after the dele
CATION had departed. THAT church
holds only a few hundred. Why not
go to one of the great buildings, like
Joseph Parker's church or Exeter hall,
where you can have an audience Of
thousands of hearersF" Because"
was the reply, Il consider that City
Road chapel is in some respects the
most sacred spot in all Europe. That
is the place where John Wesley Is
buried. That is the pulpit from which
went forth a mighty power which is
felt In every land today. The infiu-
ence Of that pulpit is potent in every
Methodist church and meeting house
and Sunday school the world over, af-
fecting the lives of twenty-five millions
of the human race, who every Lords
day assemble under Methodist auspices
to worship God and study his word.
John Wesley built City Road chapel.
He spent the latter part of his station
airy ministry in City Road chapel, and
his presence is enshrined there"
Wesley Everywhere Respected.
Lord Macaulay, in one of his essays,
declares that John Wesley had a great
er natural genius for government than
had Richelieu. The great historian be-
lieved that in these words he was Civ
ing the eminent divine the highest
praise, but could see that my fathers
estimate far transcribed that of Ma
caulay and that he held Wesley in
higher honor than that of any states
man, living or dead. The whole Chris
tan world is in accord in that esti-
mate, and as it recognizes the achieve
ments of the church which John Yves
ley founded 1t thanks and praises God
for that beneficent life.
z The name of John Wesley is every
where respected by the good and the
true Therefore is it to be wondered
at that our people, no matter, to what
Protestant church they belonged, hail
ed with joyful acclaim the news that
the Methodist general conference Of
1904 zEas to assemble in the City of
the Angels? This conference opens
its session during the, coming week
We, as a people, look forward to its
sessions With interest and hope. We
believe that by close touch this
conference will bless all Protestant
churches, no matter to what denOmina-
ton they belong. 1t is appropriate on
this Sabbath day to bid the incoming
delegates welcome. 1t IS also appro-
pirate to state some of the reasons why
the little band of followers with which
John Wesley surrounded himself has
crowns irfz numbers until today it out
numbers in membership every other
individual Protestant church in Amer
lea and in the world.
First, her genesis. In order to study
Sine marvellous. multiplying power of
Methodism let US analyze the condi-
tons attendant upon her birth. We
must find upon what troublous waters
her cradle was rocked and search out
the place Of her infancy, even as the
Egyptian princess found the future
emancipator of the Hebrew race sleep
ing in a willow basket among the bull
rushes Of the river Nile. Every great
movement in history has been the prod
net of the condition of the time of its
birth. God in his providence has or
dained that the prevalence of upright
eousness in nation shall so stir the
souls of his people that they will gath
or in his name around the standard of
some leader whom he raises up to wit