The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-05-08
THE BULLETINS SUNDAY SERMON
BY REV. FRANK DE WITT TALMAeE, D. D,

LES Angeles, Cal, May Son Che
occasion CT the assembling OF the
Methodist general conference Of 1904
the preacher welcomes the delegates
ana points out the rise and growth of
Mcthodism 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 | was with
my father in a hotel in London when
dcputation of Methodist ministers
and laymen waited on him. They said:
VIII you not preach for us at least
once before you return to American
There are thousands and teEs 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
right to make this demand. You are
part of them, and we cannot go until
you consent to preach ut 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.
4 cannot AZ the present time am
mentally and physically worn out. The
doctors have told me ! must hold up,
am going to the continent, where my
lips will be closed, because | do not
understand the French and the Gef-
man languages. But if you wish, |
will preach for you when | return. y
Where would you like to preach doc
tor?' With that my father turned
and said AS am to preach but once,
| have but one desire, and that is TO
preach IN John Wesey's pulpit
"Why do you want to preach in City
Road clapelf' l asked, after the dele
CATION had departed. THAT church
holds only d 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 hearersT' 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 inilu
ence of that pulpit is potent in every
Methodist church and meeting house
and Sunday school the world over ai-
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
lie 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 lis essays.
declares that John Wesley had great
or natural genius for government tiian
had lilchelieu. The great historian be
lloyed that in these words lie was civ
ing the eminent divine the highest
praise but could see THAT my fathers
estimate far transcribed that OF Ma
caulay, and that lie held Wesley in
higher honor than that Of any states
man living or dead. The whole Chris
tlan world is in accord in that eSti-
mate. ana as II recognizes the achieve
ments of the church which john Yves
ley founded it thanks and praises Cod
for that benefcent life.
The name Of John Wesley is every
where respected by the good and tbs
true. Therefore is it to be wondered
mt 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 was to assemble in the City OF
the Angels? This conference opens
its session during the coming week.
We, as Il people, look forward to It's
sessions with interest and hope. We
believe that by close touch this
conference will bless all Protestant
churches, no matter to what dcnom!na-
ton they belong. II is appropriate on
this Sabbath day to bid the incoming
delegates welcome, Ii is also appro-
pirate to state some Of the reasons why
the little band of followers with which
John Wesley surrounded himself has
grown in numbers until today it out
numbers in membership every other
individual Protestant church in Amer
len and in the world.
First. her genesis In order to study
the marvellous multiplying power OF
Mcthodism let us unalyze the condi-
tions attendant upon her birth. We
must find upon what troublous waters
her cradle was rocked aud search out
the place of her infancy. even as the
Egyptian princess found tho future
cmancipator Of the Hebrew race sleep
ing in a willow basket among Che bul-
rushcs Of the river Nile. Every great
movement m history Las been the prod
net OF the condition Of the time Of Us
birth. God in hs providence has or
dained that the prevalence of unrieht-
cousness in Il nation shall 50 stir the
sonls II his people thatathcy will gath
or in his name around the standard OF
some leader whom he raises up to wit
ness for him.
Birth of MethodiSm.
What were the conditions If tie na-
a.