The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-06-26
ADDRESS OF DIR. Lewis
IN The SUBJECT OF A REUNION OF
THE NJ. E. and N. P. CHURCHES.
npIiyeFed Before General Conference
Of NJ. E. Church in Baltimore
AFR President. Fathers and Breth-

..ur. President, Fathers and Breth-
rem: CLh
eldest daughter of the great Metho-
dist family of the United States, SENDS
-. 70 bear her affectionate greetings
m the mother of us all.
We set up for ourselves after we'd
ding a certain honorable reform, not
a1+0getner to our mothers liking; ana
bsrause of this we went out ins haste,
oatinq unleavened cakes with bitter
bl,hs We went out, not that, we
Iorad Nethodism less, but because we
+Touoht our dear and chosen reform
shouId ne honorably received into the
family, and because we believed that
tha lovely and free spirit of Meth
odism deserved a setting of govern
mental freedom, and that govern
mental freedom involved the repre-
sentation of the governed. : You have
a.Eed us to come back and find in
.tsIl4d in the old home what we went
out 10 seek. There never was any
reason for bitterness, and you are
ante right in saying that there is no
longer reason for controversy over
the matters that resulted in our sepa-
ration. The wise thing to. do is to
recognize that God overruled the sep
ararion for the eXaltation of another
tvne of Methodism for which he had
mission. 1t was as natural that
two principles in government should
arise, and contend for supremacy in
Nethodism as in the national govern
ment which was taking shape at the
same time. Francis Asbury and Mich
olas Snethen were companions in lab
or and dear friends in council, but
they represented two principles OF
government radically different. As
burv was a pragmatist; Snethen an
idealist: Asbury believed in absolut-
ism tempered by religion, Snethen
that they might be developed to rule
themselves; Asbury's ideal of govern
nynt was that of a compact, mobile
mass. where the individual should be
sacrificed for the glory or effective
ness of the mass; Snethen reduced
government TO & mere opportunity for
the deyelopement of the individual.
Neither concerned himself much about
doctrines or ceremonies. Asbury's
supreme effort and triumph was to
create a government by administra-
ten. by the infusion OF his sheer per-
soaality. and to persuade multitudes
to accept it joyfully as good for their
seals. Sne1hen's triumph was not so
IMPRESSIVE as a material exhibition.
but he laid the AK to the root OF &C.
clestastical absolutism by the simple
expedient of giving unofficial Meth
oGists the right to vote. Asbury's
+1I-
o be revered as the father of Amer
lean Ne1hodism, and one of the most
impressive personalities of all time ::
bur he has LETT no heir. and the gov
erlment of modern Methodism is the
DEVELOPMENT of Snethen'S ideal. In
tta eighty years that have interview
ed since the sad separation OF the
daughter from the family home, we,
have never ceased to honor and love
the family name; we have never
ceased 10 labor in the great mission
OF Nethodism, viz, to spread Scrip
tural holiness over these lands; and
We have never ceased to believe and
10 pray that some time, his own good
time, God will bring again the scat
tered tribes of Methodism together,
and Ephraim shall not envy Judah,
and Judah shall not veX Ephraim.'
Now you have sent TO Benjamin
message of peace and good will. You
nave chosen distinguished represen-
&uyeS to bear that message to us and
to enforce and amplify it with words
OF felicitous cordially. You have
pointed out to us that the contention
OF our fathers has been justified in
me forum of events; you have by
formal resolution .vindicated their
memory from all doctrinal and moral
aSpersion, and you have asked us to
renew organic fellowship with you,
cemented by peace and honor, and
NUS inaugurate a movement for a re-
united and common Methodism in
America Great deeds are often done
uAconsciously, and it is possible you
may not realize to what a height OF
C4FiStlan courtesy and magnanimity
you nave risen in the fact and the
p1faslng OF this message. The Meth
oU!St Protestant Church has been look
.ls 10 You for inspiration in many of
me great things church has to do
!lAt tAe child trying to put it's feet
~ The footprints Of the father before
num-. We have been toiling after you
S4loi 4ilNuS sui you OIL Z
naAng IN al great Christian enter
MIssS threaten lis with heart-failure
=. .':e effort TO keep UP with you. But
=, nave battered ourselves hitherto
r:s although you were larger and
4Ner and stronger than we could
~ oecome, We might still rival you
W ototlerly love. And now you have
i na US at one stroke. My read
S, u ecclesiastical history does not
sr 1pP'y me with another instance of
ss1 - Hearty and magnanimous rever-
hoan u 0eclslons a century old. I have
co ,n Iold that in one of your Annual
The i sces a brother in reply to
IN o aaiss.clpllnary question preliminary
nart Siuination, Are you going on to
Tba aec,ion? said I am already there.
n him brother and several more like
emu must be in this General Confer
of 10, lor certainly in the perfection
hit mat casts out all suspicion, all
and ness all contention over words
in it, names and accidents, and writes
have pace, Let us have peace you
reaSr demonstrated that you are al
eoin wv may imagine that we are not
nobls " Yield you the palm in this
loyin. contention who shall be most
our no without serious effort on
Sa aa part. We are SURPRISED and ner-