Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-05-06
Ta1mage
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De oOiff
Tofn age. ID. ID.

Methodist general conference of 1904
the preacher welcomes the delegates
and points out the rise and growth OF
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 hotel in London when
n 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
for years been readers of your SER
mons, and they want TO hear your
voice and touch your hand. They have
a right 10 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. 1 am
mentally and physically worn out. The
doctors have told me 1 must hold up.
L am going to the continent, where my
lips will be closed. because i do not
understand the French and the Ger
man languages. But IL you wish, L
will preach for you when L return"
Where would you like to preach, doc
torr' With that my father turned
and said, "As L am TO preach but once.
1 have but one desire, and that is to
preach in John Wesley's pulpit"
why do you want to preach in City
Road, chapeli" 1 asked, after the dele
CATION had departed. THAT church
holds only 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 bearersr' 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
buried. That In the pulpit from which
went forth 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 hs station
AIRY ministry in City Road chapel, and
his presence is enshrined there"
Wesley Everywhere Respected.
Lord Macnulay. i'm one OF his essays,
declares that John Wesley had 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
tian world is I'm accord in that esti-
mate, and as ii recognizes the achieve
ments or the church which John Wes-
ley founded IL thanks and praises God
for that beneficent life.
The name OF John Wesley is every
where respected by the good and the
true. Therefore is it TO he 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 was TO assemble in the City OF
the Angclsy This conference opens
Its session during the coming week.
We. as 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 10 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
grown ia numbers until today IL out
numbers In membership every other
individual Protestant church in Amer
lea and I'm the world.
First, her genesis. In order TO study
the marvellous multiplying power of
Methodism let us aualyze the condi-
~o@4S ottNhAoht upon 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 81 willow basket among the bull
rushes of the river Nile. Every great
movement In history has been the prod
uct OF the condition OF the time OF its
birth. God in his providence has or
dained that the prevalence OF unright-
eousness in a nation shall so stir the
souls OF his people that they will gath
er In his name around the standard of
some leader whom he raises up to wit
ness for him
.-4 Dfrth OF Methodism.
What We're the conditions OF the ma
ton at the time OF the birth of the
Methodist church? Did she come into
the world as a protest to the sins of
n corrupt English court? oh, yes. In
NC time OF English history have brib-
cry and debauchery run more riot
than during Robert Walpole's occupan-
cy or the English premiership. He was
the author or the famous and hateful
sentence IN reference TO the mouse or
commons, "All these men have their
price" What Robert Walpole in state
craft could not win by fair means he
won by foul. But Methodism came
into the world to do a greater work
than merely to protest against govern
mental depravity. 1t came, as Josiah
Strong has said, as protest against
IN Established church, which believed
ut that time more in outward ceremo-
MES than in spiritual truths. Isaac
so records the author of 1.-THE
Next Great Awakening" calls the
church of this period a fair carcass"
and Blackstone says that he went to
hear every preacher OF note In London
and that there was not one whose dis
course indicated whether he was a fol-
lower OF Confucius or Mohammed or
OF Christ. The Established church of |
that time believed in carrying the ply |
iacteries upon the forehead, but not |
IN practicing Christ's spirituaI lessons |