Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-05-21
SPEAKS BEFORE METHODIST CON
FERENCE IN BIRMINGHAM.
SECTIONALISM MUST GO
Pleads for Ecclesiastical Union-Be-
Iieves the Barriers That Separate
the Northern and Southern Fol-
lowers CT John Wesley Since the
War Will Soon Be Removed.

birmingham, Aid, May 10
Vice President Fairbanks spoke
at the general conference of the Meth
odist Episcopal church south, in SEES
sion here. His remarks were general
in character, except when he dealt
with the delicate question of uniting
the two branches of the church. On
this he said:
Il cannot refrain from expressing
and emphasizing the hope which
those who have preceded me IN this
brotherly mission have ventured to
express. that the two great branches
of Methodism in America may be con-
solldated into one mighty church,
not in sentiment and in purpose
alone. but in organization as well.
give utterance to this wish upon my
own responsibility, though it is
shared by many of my brethren 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 of events seems to me to
lead to ultimate union. The prog
ress may be slow but l believe it to
be certain. The memorable logic Of
mutual interests must lead us to a
common conclusion. Union will come
through the subtle yet powerful in
fuence of the law of gravitation, the
gravitation of mutual respect, of com
mon faith. We have the same eccle-
siastical polity and sing the praises of
book. Lines of latitude do not af-
ford an insuperable obstacle to ulti-
mate and permanent union. Ancient
differences Go not constitute an in
surmountable objection. The church
inspires a feeling of brotherly love.
1t teaches forgiveness, and if either
church has erred in the past, it has
long since been forgiven in the SUI
preme chancellory where those who
misiudge for want of light are forgiv-
en-. Methodism is too broad to be
bounded by sectional lines. 1t is too
catholic in its exalted purpose to be
restricted by limits less ample than
those of the republic.
Il do not know how long the follow
ers of John Wesley will dwell apart
in the United States. I have faith
to believe that the barriers which
still divide us are growing less for
midable with the lapse of time, and
that they will ultimately yield and
union will be established between the
Methodist Episcopal church and the
Methodist Episcopal church south,
thereby creating one of the greatest
instruments for good in the entire
christian world.
1--WE each and all desire to see the
symmetrical development of our COM
mon country. We wish to see an in
tellectual, Industrious, patriotic and
religious people, firmly welded togeth-
er. We desire particularly to see
the lines Of divisions between sec
lions completely obhterated and for
gotten. I trust that Methodism may
not long be divided upon lines of
former political differences-differ-
ences which, thank God, are past and
gone forever and forever. May we
not hope to see the great bishops
whom you honor and whom we honor
in the north, presiding over confer
ences in every portion of the repub-
lie. May we not hope to see a unit
ed church, freely transferring its min
listers between the north and the
south, as we'll as between the west
and the east? Such interchange be-
tween the various portions of our
country will serve nightly to adj
vance a wholesome national purpose.
We all earnestly hope to see the
myriad influences making for good
among us. Consolidated Methodism
would tend in considerable degree
to promote the intellectual and moral
interests of the entire country. Ma
tional solidarity will be advanced i'll
some measure, in fact, as well as in
name, when Methodism comes into
comp1ete organic fellowship