The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-05-11

It's activities is as broad as the need
Of our poor humanity It's dominion
is among all peoples Men are not too
low to be beyond the reach Of its min
istrations It seeks to elevate, tenn
porarily and spiritually the great body
OF mankind.
The Methodist church is the sympa.
thetic and powerful friend Of the op-
pressed the world about. It Is the
fruitful mother OF countless schools
and charities. Its ministers, brave
and noble men, are consecrating them
selves, with a devout and sacrifciai
spirit to the uplifting Of their fellow
men which awakens our gratitude and
challenges our admiration. I have
thought always that the ministers of
the gospel were not appreciated by the
world at their true worth. What a
mighty ARMY Devoted sincerely to
the welfare Of humanity. Men who
preach the divine command, Love thy
neighbor as thyself;" Men who seek
to promote sobriety. to dethrone vice
and enthrone virtue in the heart of
humanity. II there are those who
more than others. are entitled to the
joys OF immortality, they are the min
isters who turn aside from the allure
ments Of wealth and earthly power.
for the advancement Of the Kingdom
Of Christ. Men whose sole endeavor
is to elevate the condition OF their fel-
lowmen are entitled to sit among the
btaefactors Of the world.
We rejoice in the growth OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church South; in
Its expansion In numbers, in power,
and in wholesome influence. Il was
meyer stronger than today and never
viewed the futuso with more conf
dent hope. You look back upon an
honorable past filled with innumerable
trophies Of service to God and to
humanity, and what can be said OF
your church may be said with oqual
truth OF the church ia whose name we
have come today We all appreciate
that we are one in purpose. We have
a common cause and are brought into
close contact and sympathy with each
other We are bound together by many
ties Of interest and affection. The
lines OF delimitation between us arc
rapidly fading awsy and trust that
the time is not remote when they will
disappear altogether. and there shall
become, in fact. one church Of Metho-
dism, with American and Foreign Mis-.
sions as her field, In which millions
shall labor for the regeneration of
mankind. There Is a strength in mum.
bers, there Is an impulse whose limits
we can not well measure. in multiplied
millions working for the same holy
purpose. Methodism. unified in Am
erica, IS the promise and fuIAllment
of greater and better things for our
country and our civilization.
cannot refrain from expressing
and emphasizing the hope which those
who have preceded me in this brother
ly mission have ventured to express
the two great branches Of Metholism
IN America may be consolidated into
one mighty church, not in sentiment
and in purpose alono. by in organiza-
ton as well. ! give utterance to this
wish upon my own responsibility
though II is shared by many of my
brethern With me It Is not a desire
born OF this kindly mission, but is one
! have long cherished; one which time
has but strengthened and which your
hearty welcome has but quickened.
The trend u events seems to me TO
lead to ultimats union The progress
may be slow but believe II to be GER
tain. The inexorable logic OF mutual
interests must lead us to a common
conclusion. Union will come through
the subtle yet powerful influence OF
the law OF grayitation, the grayltation
of mutual respect, OF common faith.
We have the same ecclesiastical poilty
and sing the praises Of the Master
from common hymn book Lines OF
latitude DO not AFFORD an insuperable
obstacle TO ultimate and permanent
union. Ancient difierences do not con
.stitute an insurmountable objection.
The church Inspires a feeling Of broth
erly love. II teaches forgiveness, and
II either church has erred in the past,
Il has long since been forgiven in the
supreme chancelIory where those who
misjudee for want Of light are for
given. Methodism is too broad 10 be
bounded by sectional lines 1t Is TOO
catholic IN its exalted purpose to be
restricted by limits less ample than.
those OF toe RepJbllc.
do not know how long the follow.
ers u John wesley will dwell apart IN
the United states. have faith 70 be-
lieye that the barriers which still
divide ~s SIC growing less formidable
with tine lapse OF time. and that they
win ultimately yield nd unioa viii be
established between the Methodist
Episcopal church and the Methodist
Episcopal Church South. thereby Gre
4. d.