The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-06-19
ABOUT JOHN WESLEY
DR.. Merton Rice Lectured on the
Life OF This Ancient Patriarch of
Metk.odism,

Inc lDfee nunOreQ or more people
at the Methodist church Wednesday
night listened to enc Of the most
interesting and enthusiastic addresses
on matters religious that has been
their pleasure in a long time. DR..
Merton s. Rice, pastor OF the First
Methodist church, of Duluth, Mimi,
delivered the address, which can be
characterized as a whirwind.
DIR. Rice hal been invited by the
alumni association OF Dakota Wes-
leyan and TO deliver the annual
address to the members Of the as
ISOLATION, a service which he per-
formed some two years ago. Previous
to the lecture the Misses Morris and
Rempfer rendered a vocal duet, the
accompaniment being played by Miss
Georgia Scott.
in a very %tlattering speech, and all
the kind words that were said of
him, DIR. Rice made amply good
before he finished his address. He
said that when he looked at the
calendar on receiving the invitation
to address the class he discovered
that it was June II, which was the
date Of tue 25th anniversary Of the
birth CT John Wesley, the founder
OF Methodism. and he said that he
had chosen the life of John Wesley
for his subject. believing it to be
quite applicable on the date Of his
birth and the further fact that the
institution was named after this
man. DR. Rice said what Methodism
stood in great need of was a good
biography Of Wesley, and lie sug-
gested to the young men and women
of the class that if they wanted to
rise tic great heights in the future
lives they could do so by writing the
Wesley sketch. He said that he
intended in his address to study
Wesley not a man but Jas a religious
force who will command the religion
OF the world. DR.. Rice said that
Wesley was the one man who has
kept the world awake to piety and
that his name has been marching
down the Of time with
tremendous force all these years.
John Wesley. he said, had more sides
to him than m man who lived in
the same century, and that it was
a truly most remarkable century,
which had to Go with the reigns OF
Queen Ann and George II under
whom the people had not tile slightest
desire to live anywhere near the
lines Of religion, and it was the
prevalence OF this sort of life al.
over the XII, gdom Of Lnylaud will
which Wesley had to combat, for tbs
/ church and state worked hard il
hand to the utter discontinue OF
making any Improvement In the
, religion of that day. Wesley's grea'
!, force of character and his fearles!
and %dauntless efforts to teach th'
: truths of Christ won their wa,
through the Indifference Of tn
ROYALTY. which even laughed al
religion when ever it was mentioned
He declared that Wesley stood 70
a great force that day after day
!, and told into what numerous avenue
his great truths went to do thei
work. He was the movement tina
revolutionlZed English society, ant
DIR. Rice gave it as his opinion tina
the'e was tremendous need for tn
same OF piety OF the ancient days
He said that it Was nowhere pre-
: valent row %days-that you did no
find the farmer or the business ma
quitting his work earlier In orde
that family prayers car be held q
e that time could be taken to get I
, the prayer meeting on the usus
night. No, there is too much bus!
: ness, too much activity along line
that do not lead toward the religion