The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-05-19
V|CE-PRES|DtNT
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into close contact aud sympathy will
each othe.. We are bound together
by many ties Of interest and affection
The lines of delimitation between rs
are rapidly fading away and ! trust
that the time Is moi remote when they
will disappear altogether, and there
shall become, In fact one church OF
Methodism, with American and For
eign Missions as he field. in which
millions shall labor for the regenara-
ton Of mankind There is etrength
in numbers, there Is an impulse whose
limits we cannot well measure, in
multiplied millions working for the
same holy purpose Methoaism, uni
tied in America, Is the promi G and
tulfilment of create. and better things
for our country and our civilization.
For Uniting the Church.
cannot refrain from express ing
and emphasizing the hope which those
who have preceded me in this bro her
ly mission have ventured to express,
that the two great branches of Meth
odism in America may be CONSOLE
dated into one mighty church, not in
sentiment and in purpose alone, but
in organization as well. | give utter
anee 10 this wish upon my own ra-
sponsiblity, though II Is shared by
many of my brethren. With me 1t Is
not de Ire born Of this kindly mis-
sion, hnt is one have long cherished;
one VIII h time has but strengthened
and which your henry welcome has
but quickened. The trend Of events
seems TO me 10 lead to ultimate union.
The progress may be sloW bur | be
lieve II to be certain. The ineXo~ able
logic of mutual interests must lead us
To a common conclusion. Union viii
come through the subtle yet powerful !
influence of the law of gravitatiOn. !
tho grayltarion Of mItual repeet, Of |
common ia III. We have the same &c
cesiastical policy and sing the praises
Of the Master from a common hymn
book Lines Of latitude do not afford |
an insuperable obs acle TO ultimate
and permanent union. Ancient differ
ences do NOT constitute an insurmount
able objection. The church inspires
n feeling of brotherly love. 1t teacne
forgiveness, and If either church ha
erred in the past, II has long since
been forgiven in the supreme chancel-
ICry where those who misiudge for
want of light are forgiven. Metho
iism, Is too broad to be bounded by
:ectional lines Ii Is too catholic in
ia exalted purpose TO be restricted by
limits less ample than those of the
'epublic.
do moi know how long the fol.
overs OF John Wesley will dwell ,
part in the United States. | have ,
aith 10 believe that the barriers which T.
till divide us are growing less for
nidable with the lapse of time, and
hat they will ultimately yield and !,
Mon will Ire established between the
lethodist Episcopal Church and the :
fethodist; Episcopal Church South,
hereby creating one of the greatese !
for good in The entire
world. :
We each and all desire to see the !,
numerical development of our com -
ION country. We wish to see an in ;,
ellactual, industrious. patriot and =
aligious people, firmly welded t. !,
ether. We desire particularly to :
ae the lines of division. between sec ,
ons completely obliterateJ and for.
often | trust that Methodism may
II long be divided upon lines Of fo"' =,
Ter political dilleTences-dii -.
hch. thank God, a.e past and gone
lne forever and forever. May We not
pc TO see the great bishops whom -
M honor and whom we honor in the |
Jrth, presiding over conferences in
rery portion of the Republic May :
2 not hope TO see an united church, -
eely transferring Its minis ters BE- :
'een the North and the South, as !,
ell as between the West and the -
lst. Such interchange between the %
rioug portions OF our country will =,
rye nightly 10 advance a wholesom ~
tioal purpose. We all earnestly hop -;
see the myriad Influences making :;
r good among us. threading from -,
,rth to South and from East to West.
,aving the people of all sections in -,
an homogeneous whole. Consolidated !,
would tend In consider 80,
lie degree TO promote The intellectual
d moral interests Of the entire coun- -,
:. National solidarity will he adj
need in some measure. in fact. as 80
II as in name, w:en Methods. m =
mes into complete organic fellow "a,
p. "a.
While with MS the church and state .aa
separated and should 80 continue hto
Christian church Is nevertheless 80,
powerful agency in the support of a.;
rec state. II presided at the birth of =
Republic and has been its faithful II
,rdian angel from ihat hour until u,i,
v. II incnlcates among The great sbc
~ Of the people that wholesome Tn,
pect for the r.ghts OF men that re- evs
a for law and order. without which oh
state cannot long survive. THE the