The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-19

ing the future work
But l may be -pardoned for expressing
in a tentative way my own conviction
of the necessity for great caution con-
corning the terms of this proposed union
The japanese, as a race under the tute-
lage of western nations, and especially
under the power of the gospel which has
now been preached among them for half
hundred years, have had a marvellous
intellectual and spiritual awakening, AMI
still more marvellous awakening to ma
terial improvement and achievement; but
1t does not seem to me yet time for the
creation of a national Methodism in Japan,
entirely independent of the mother church.
| should fear that experiment would re-
suit as did the experiment of establish
ing a Hawaiian Christianity, wholly indie
pendent of the American Board. Let us
move with caution and proceed on lines
already suggested by our brethren in the
empire of China The idea of a national
church has. of course, much to commend
1t to a proud and progressive people, and
especially to a people newly awakened
and making such strides in national power
as Japan is now making. But there is
a greater thought than the national or
race Methodism and that is ecumenical
Methodism-Meth with a worldwide
plan; Methodsm with worldwide sweep
of power
and 1t is toward this idea that | be-
leve the two great branches of Episcopal
Methodism ought to look and plan and
labor and pray And, while | view with
the most profound respect the outworking
energies of other great communions, both
in our own and in other lands. and thank
God every day of my life that he has
other sheep which are not of this fold and
other workers who are not organically re-
lated TO us. but who are in love and SYM
pathy working alongside of us, or even in
advance of us, for the salvation of lost
and ruined world; yet believe that Epis
copal Methodism as represented In these
two branches of American Methodism, has
a great, wide. and Increasing mission
to help spread Scriptural holiness over all
the lands of the earth. Far be it from
us to boast of what we have done, but
let us never forget what God hath
wrought for us: let us never fail to re-
alize what God plans to do yet through
us; let us stir up the gift of God that
is within us, and grid ourselves for the
greater battle that is before us.
Adapted to Worldwide Campaign
Accordingly. it has seemed to me that
of all forms of Christianity yet organized,
Methodism is peculiarly adapted for a
sustained and worldwide campaign for
the salvation of men. | do not say that
Methodism is the only great missionary
church. I do not forget that there were
great missionary churches and great mis-
sionary movements before John Wesley
was born. | do not forget that Anglo
Saxon Christianity is itself the product
directly and indirectly of great mission
airy movements which had their inception
thousand years ago. | do not forget
the work of the other great Protestant
denominations in our own day, nor the
world wide plans of the Roman Catholic
church, which, with all its faults, has
done and is doing, a beneficent work in
spreading the gospel in many lands. What
l do say is this: that the church possess
ing the purest form of the gospel demo-
cratic in its organizations and plans yet
possessed of a great universal and CEN
tralized power, not autocratic nor forced
upon men by an outside authority against
their judgment and will, but originating
within and working out by the free and
loyal SURFACES of its subjects, and thus
capable not only of maintaining itself
intact where already established, but Of
charging it's borders and of pushing out
its arms of power to the remotest bounds
of humanity-I do say that a church thus
equipped, and thus organized. has within
itself peculiar powers and adaptabilities
for a worldwide campaign for human
salvation. If We have done little thus far
it is because we have not worked up to
our full providential possibilities and du-
ties. And to my thought. the vision of an
ecumenical Methodism operated from no
seat of autocratic power upon the Tiber
or the Thames. but organized and oper--
ated under free and flexible constitution
with an appointing power universal but
itinerant, and itself subject to authority,
with the rank and file instant and loyal
ever ready to go wherever sent with this
gospel of universal love-such vision of
such a church not only satisfies my in
tellect, but thrills my soul And such
system is Methodism; such her organiza-
ton such her history; such her mission.
May God keep her faithful to her ira
ditions and to the spirit of her organiza-
ton.
But for the living church the real and
vital union is not a union of creed or
governmental plan; 1t is union of eff
fort. For this let our two Methodsms
stand. United by a common purpose, ami
mated by a common spirit. let us to-
gether move at the great Commanders
call encouraging each other as Joab said
to his brother Abishai: If the Syrians
be too strong for me, then thou shalt
help me; but If the children of Ammon
be too strong for thee then l will come
and help thee. Be of good courage, and
let us play the men for our people, and
for the cities of our Cod and the Lord
do that which seemeth him good
When the. vice president had been intro
duced he spoke as follows:
Mr. Chairman and Brethren:
II am commissioned with my colleague
to bring you the fraternal greetings of
the Methodist Episcopal church. 1t Is with
great pleasure we have come to fulfil
this friendly office, for we realize that
while you and we owe allegiance to differ
ent 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 Methodism
everywhere Is moved by a common i'm
pulse. 1T 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
high 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 consecreated themselves
to their advancement, great in the work
they have accomplished, great in their
influence for good among men.
1.-The Methodist church in the United
States has kept pace with our tremen-
dous national development. In less than
one century and a half more than six
million communicates have been enrolled
in all branches of our church.
Never More Vital Factor.
"Methodsm was never more vital