Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-05-07
Talma8e

By Rev.
Frank Dc oOiff
Tain age. d. ID.

MeinoulSt general conference oI l:Wt
the preacher welcomes the delegates
and points out the rise AMI growth of
reaching influence upon the religious
world to-day. The text is Ezekiel xvi,
:. Il have caused thee 10 multiply as
the bud of the field
Nearly twenty years ago | WIS with
my father in Il hotel in London when
n dcputation of Methodist ministers
snd laymen waited on him. They said:
"Will you not preach for us nj least
once before you return 10 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 10 hear your
voice and touch your hand. They have
n right Ia make this demand. You are
part of them. and we cannot go until
you consent 10 preach al least once"
We were on our way 10 the continent
io 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 must hold up.
I am going 10 the continent. where my
lips will he closed. because do not
understand the French and the Ger
man languages. But if you wish. |
will preach for you when | return.
where would You like Ia preach. doc
tori" With that my father turned
and said. AS | am 10 preach but once,
have but one desire. and that is TO
preach in John Wesley's pulpit
why do You want to preach in City
Road e. apel:" asked. after the dele
CATION had departed. That church
holds only few hundred Why not
60 To one of the great buildings. like
Joseph Parker's church or Exeter hall.
where you can nave an audience OF
thousands of hearers Because"
was the reply, II consider that City
Road chapel is in some respects the
most sacred spot in all Europe. That
is the place where John Wesley Is
went forth a mighty power which is
felt in every land today. The infiu-
encc of that pulpit is potent in every
Methodist church and meeting house
and Sunday school the world over. af
fpciinG 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 his essays,
declares that John Wesley had great
or natural genius for government than
had Rchelieu. The great historian be-
lieved that in these words lie WAS Civ
ing the eminent divine the highest
praise. but | could see that my fathers
estimate far transcendcd that of Ma
caulay. and that he held Wesley in
higher honor than that of any states
man. living or dead. The whole Chris
tiap world is in accord in that esti-
mate. aud as il recognizes the achieve
ments of the church which John IVES
ley founded it thanks and praises God
for that bencticent life.
The name of John Wesley is every
where respected 10y the good and the
true Therefore is il to he wondered
nj that our people. no matter 10 what
Protestant church they belonged. hail
ed with joyful acclaim the news that
the Methodist general conference OF
1894 WAS To- assemble in the City Of
the Angels: This conference opens
its session during the coming week.
We. ms Il people. look forward TO its
sessions with interest and hope. We
believe that 10y close touch tais
churches. no matter 10 what denomina-
ton they belong. II is appropriate on
this Sabbath: day 10 bid the incoming
delegates welcome. Ii is also appro-
pirate tn state some of the reasons why
the little band of followers with which
John Wesley surrounded himself has
grown in numbers until today il out
numbers in membership every other
individual Protestant church in Amer
lea and in the world.
First. her genesis. In order Ia study
the marvellous muliiplyir. power of
MethodiSm let us analyZc the condi-
tions 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
emancipation of the Hebrew race sleep
ing in Il willow basket among the bull
PUSHES 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
dainrd that the prevalence of upright
cousness in nation shall 50 stir the
souls of his people that they will gath
or in his name around the standard Of
some leader whom he raises up 10 wit
ness for him.
birth eff Methodism.
What were the conditions of the ma
fion ut the time of the birth of the
Methodist church: bid she come into
the world rs protest 10 the sins Of