The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-12-05

specifically, till individuals and COM
munities would be awakened and put
away the evil. Second, Offering a free
gospel to all classes. high and low
alike, making but one conditio for
salvation, repentance toward God ana
faith In our Lord Jesus Christ Thite
was the first article of their creed and
continues SO among the Methodists of
today. Cody sorrow is the condition
precedent to saving faith.
"The second doctrine upon which
they laid especial emphasis related to-
the development Of persona. character
into the fullness of the stature o;
manhood In Christ They taught that
every consecrated soul might be sane
titled through the spirit. This meant
a clean and noble life of separation
from sin for every follower OF Jesus.
Into this state Of grace they per-
sistently urged their converts, this
made necessary pure condition Of so
ciety. Sabbath desecratlon, drunk
enness, gambling and impurity came
under the hammer of their preaching
I sometimes wonder what effect o
generation of such heroic, stalwart.
robust thinkers and speakers would
produce on present day conditions.
How would worldly, pleasure loving
society divided church, a gambling.
dancing, tipplipg Sabbath desecratins
community receive them? I wouli
like to see the experiment tried. They
tlso stood for
CIVIC RIGHTEOUSNESS,
honest elections and faithful admins
tratien of government. They were
royal advocates of obedience to law
and demanded that violators be pun
shed. They we're real guardians OF
the public zeal and peace. Their su-
preme loyalty to their calling made
them devoted to the public good.
THE Methodist church still stands
for free gospel for all mankind, sal
walton for every repentant sinner on
The simple condition of faith, sancti-
flcation by the spirit pure and per-
rected manhood, regenerated society.
We hardly believe the gospel ade.
quate to produce these results. We
have a better educated ministry, bul
not so courageous: more polished but
not so robust; more scientific but not
20 orthodox; larger salaries but lees
influence. Our people are more aristo
cratic, our churches finer but not SO
attractive to the common people. VIC
have more rich folks but fewer poor.
In, .nl h,.f An IAcs
personal work. Orr forums are more
elegant our spirit less fervent. We
send more missionaries to the hea.
then but have fewer conversions at
home. Our COLLEGES have multiplied
hut our faith has waped.
OUR MISSION.
Jegan among the lowly and today We
ought to be the church OF the work
ng people. II loyal to our history and
traditions every workingman would
recognize that In his struggle for him
self and family upward, he has
friend and advocate in ,Methodism.
md despotisIn, commercial or civic,
you'd know this church as its 'feaent-
less foe.
The presence of Methodist churcn
in a community should be living,
aggressive protest against all injustice.
nnrighteousness and impurity. The
very building ought to proclaim the
acceptable fear of the Lord. Preach
good tidings to the poor, release to the
captiyes, sight for the 5lind and lib
avt,, to hot Thta ic
the high calling of Methodism. and
can only be fulfilled by the amounting
of the spirit on preachers and people
What would be the effect in Can.
on If in every Methodist home family
prayer was daily observed, every Metl..
odist enjoyed the highest standard of
New Testfmanct, experience, lived
IN uneelfisb, simple. noble clear.
life, eschowed card playing and
dancing, theatre going, kept the Sab
bath as a holy day, stood for the
highest type OF business integrity,
took an active interest in civic affairs
and courageously insisted that law
should be respected? One can fairly
feel the thrill of power such church
would have.
This is the kind Of n church tina,
win hold and control men. $ np
religious institution has no drawing
oower for intelligent, struggling pen-
ple. Manly mel demand more Of pur
ity from the church than they find
il the world. Loose living. powerless
discipline, conservative preaching Of
apologizing theology. even though ac
companied by gorgeous service has NJ
power to eyangelize men.
MY Methodist brothers let us
awake to see the day Of our privilege
and opportunity. grid ourselves like
men and go. forth to our high calling
moved by the lofty purpose TO honor
Jesus Christ and help save the world
from the desolating power of sin.
In living fellowship with the lex,
80 IL