Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-11
SPOKE TO METHOD|STS
An Address by Vice President
Fairbanks.
AT BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Before General Conference of N. E.
Church South.
TRIBUTE TO CHURCH INFLUENCE
Socialism Declared the Enemy of
Christianity and at War With
Our Cherished Traditions.
TRIBUTE TO CHURCH INFLUENCE

BIRMINGHAM May 1.-THE following Is
the address delivered by Vice President
Fairbanks at the general conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South In
birmingham. Ala.
Mr.. Chairman and Brethren: I am com
missioned with my colleague TO bring you
tho fraternal greetings of the Methodist
Episcopal Church 1t is with great pleasure
We have come to fulfill this friendly office
for we realize that while you and we owe
allegiance to different organizations. our
churches have an affinity for each other
which time and events serve greatly to
strengthen. We feel pride in each others
achievements. We regard your victories as
ours and ours as yours. The heart of Meth
odism everywhere is moved by a common
impulse. II Is inspired by the same high
hopes and the same exalted aspirations
We come in no perfunctory spirit We
come with hearty good will, bearing the
nigh commission of your brethren In the
church which derives Its life from the same
source which gives vitality to yours Our
churches are well called great-great in
Numbers. great in the noble men who have
thoroughly consecrated themselves to their
advancement, great in the work they have
accomplished, great in their influence for
good among men.
The Methodist Church in the United States
has kept pace with our tremendous national
development. In less than one century and
a half more than six million communicates
have been enrolled in all It's branches
Aethodism was never more Vital factor
than now, and there never more need
fot Its discipline and genuine apostolic
spirit In the upbuildng of great religious
'cemmunity than there IS in this hour 1t
Is a positive. conservative force, aggressive
n 70 Inf lit,
tty and the world better. From the time of
the immortal John Wesley until now it has
been militant church 1t has stood upon
the frontier battling for justice and right
eousness. 1t has pushed forward against
the powers OF darkness and evil and planted
Its banners In the remotest parts of the
earth. Wherever 1t goes 1t carries the torch
of higher civilization
A Democratic Church.
1t Is in the best sense a democratic church,
working among the great masses of the
people lifting the Iowly to better conditions
Its hospitable doors must always open to
those IN lowly places as we'll as To those
who are in higher spheres. The field of its
activities Is as broad as the need of our
lpoor humanity Its dominion is among all
peoples. Men are not too low to be beyond
the reach Of Its ministrations. 1t seeks to
elevate, temporarily and spiritually, the
great body of mankind.
The Methodist Church Is the sympathetic
AMI powerful friend of the oppressed the
world about. 1t is the fruitful mother of
countless schools and charities. Its minis
tiers, brave and noble men, are consecrating
themselves with a devout and sacrifcial
spirit to the uplifting of their fellow men
which awakens our gratitude and challenges
our admiration. / have thought always that
the ministers OF the gospel were not appre-
ciated by the world at their true worth.
a Devoted Iv To
the welfare of humanity Men who preach
lthe divine command Love thy neighbor
as myself" men who seek to promote So
briefly, 10 dethrOne vice and enthrone virtue
In the heart of humanity. If there are those
who more than others are entitled to the
Joys of Immortality they are the ministers
who turn aside from the allurements of
wealth and earthly power for the advance
meut of the kingdom of Christ Men whose
sole endeavor is to elevate the condition of
their fellowmen are entitled to sit among
the beDafaCtOrs of the world
We rejoice in the growth of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South; I'm It's ex-
pansion In numbers. In power and in whole
some influence. It was never stronger than
today and never viewed the future with
more confident hope You look back upon
an honorable past filled with innumerable
trophies Of service to God and to human
lily. and what can be said OF your church
may be said with equal truth OF the church
In whose name we have come today. We
all appreciate that we are one in purpose.
We have s common cause and are brought
Into close contact and sympathy with each
other. We bound together by many
ties OF interest and affection.
The lines OF delimitation between us are
rapidly fading away, and | trust that the
time Is not remote when they will disap-
pear altogether, and there shall become in
fact. church OF Methodism. with Amer
lean and foreign missions as her field, in
which millions shall labor for the regener-
alton of mankind. There IS a strength in
numbers. there IS an impulse whose limits
we cannot well measure In multiplied
millions working for the same holy pur-
pose Methodism. unified in America. is the
promise and fulhllment Of greater and bet
ter things for our country and our civlll-
ration.
For Development of Country.
We each and all desire to see the SYM
metrical development of our common coun
try. We wish to see intellectual. indus
trious, patriotic and religious people firmly
welded together. We desire particularly To
see the lines OF divisions between sections
completely obliterated and forgotten.
trust that Methodism may not long be d.
vided upon lines OF former political differ
enees-diferences which, thank God are
past and gone forever and forever Nav
we not hope to see the great bishops whom
you honor and whom we honor In the north
presiding over conferences In every portion
OF the republic.
May we not hope TO see united church.
freely transferring it's ministers between
fhe north and the south. we'll as between
the west and the east Such interchange
between the various portions OF our coun-
sry will serve nightly to advance a whole
some national purpose. We all earnestly
hope TO see the myriad influences making
for good among Us. threading from north
10 south and from east to west weaving
the people OF all sections into homo
geneous whole Consolidated Methodism
would tend IN a considerable degree to pro-
mote the intellectual and moral interests OF
the entire country. National solidarity will
be advanced In some measure, in fact as
well as In name. when Methodism comes
into complete organic fellowship.
While with us the church and state are
separate and should so continue the Chris
ton Church Is nevertheless q powerful
agency In the support OF a free state. II
presided at the birth of the republic and
has been Its faithful guardian angel from
that hour until now. It incuicates among
the great body Of the people that whole
some respect for the rights OF men, that
regard for law and order. without which
the state cannot long survive. The United
States" said DeToequeville, must be re-
ngtous 10 be free. Furthermore" said he.
despotfsm may govern without religious
faith. but liberty cannot"