The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-07-27
Equality of
Man
By Rev. S. M. Dick
Pastor Wesley NJ. E. Church. Minneapolis


neither male nor female; for ye are all
one In Christ Jesus Gal. 1l2S
Twenty-Five years ago the Epworth
League of the Methodist Episcopal
csurch was organized. We celebrate
its twenty-first anniversary. Its
growth has been marvellous, its work
significant. 1t is not my purpose to
review its history, but to call your at
tention to its opportunity for service.
Service is the keynote in the SYM
phony of this century's activities.
Four distinct phases of ethical devel-
opment mark the four quarters of the
last century. These four ethical prtn-
ciples are a foundation for the super
structure of the service to be rendered
TO humanity in the name of Jesus
Christ during this century.
In the first quarter of the last CEN
tury the fundamental principles were
laid for the breaking down of race
JEejudices Nearly all Europe was IN
war. One hundred and seventy mil
lion people were involved, 4,OOOOOO
men were drawn from the activities
OF economic production and were eX'
pending their energies IN wasting each
others states, burning their cities, rob
bing their fields, destroying their
homes and taking their lives. No eX'
cuse other than an other nationality
and plunder was necessary to go to
war.
But in the midst of this mighty
conflict of destruction other forces
we're at work. Great ideas were Ia
king form in the minds of men who
| loved peace rather than war. The
idea of the steamboat, the railroad.
the telegraph was budding and blos'
somlng to bring forth little later its
harvest of better feeling between ma
tions. larger conceptions of fraternity
and keener sense Of brotherhood
and Justice. 1t was the initiation OF
| that great movement which Is now re-
sulting in that worldwide feeling,
there is neither Jew nor Greek, but
mans a man for a that
/ The second quarter of century
was marked by abolition of slavery.
The agitation in the British parliament
succeeded in emancipating all British
slaves in 1884. Hungary had 100000
saves. Nearly all the peasants or
| Austria and Prussia were slaves. IL
was In this quarter of the century that
the principles that were to bring free
| dom to the multitudes were agitated
and the people began to see a grear
! light. The same was true of the Unit
ed States. While the emancipation
of the slave did not come until the
next quarter of the century, the leveD
Of emancipation was working with the
sure result which followed in the six
ties. Henceforth there was to bs
neither bond nor free.
The third quarter of the century
revealed that, ethically speaking,
there was neither male nor female.
After the beginning of the century
women we're excluded from schoo.s
by law. No woman was allowed to
teach in public schools; and for .
woman to think of being clerk In
a store or serving the public In any
industrial way outside of the home
was an almost unheard.of thing. But
from 1850 to 1876 was the period OF
then emancipation. Public schools
were opened to them not only to at
tend but they became dominant FAC
tors in the teaching force Colleges
for co-education were established in
large numbers and women showed
themselves the equals of their broth
ers in educational attainments. Be
fore the close of the century so per
cent. of the teachers In the pubic
schools of the country were women
Practically all avenues OF business
were open to them and all professions
welcomed them. Verify there was
neither male nor female.
The last quarter of a century we
bega0 to realize, 'Ye are all one IN
Christ Jesus" 1t was the quarter OF
brotherhood Trade, travel, educa
ton and religion began to bring men
to see things from the same ange
We began to know each other, we
learned we were brethren. We had
one common interest We served tC
one common end. Christianity make:
no distinction between races. Its
aim and purpose is to lift humanity
up to better things
These great movements have be
oueathed to the young life of TINS
century a rich heritage. In all depart
ments of life we are asking the ques
ton: "Is the product worth while"
We ask of the pubic school, is The
product worth while? Does 1t pay the
cost of its production? or the col
J lege and university we are asking thu
same question. The same is eens
asked of the saloon and of the grea
industrial organizations; the same o
the church of Jesus Christ. The sam'
|, of the Sunday school and of the Ep
! worth League and of every other so
| ciety of young people organized 10
Christian work.
This is the opportunity OF tn
ages Are we meeting It? Manhood
womanhood, integrity In business
honesty in trade, sincerity in service
sacrifice in relation to others, thes'
are things the age is calling for vii
we measure up to our part In the us'
t of our inheritance which the last cen
[ tury has handed down to us ant
I which this century demands we us
. to the glory of God and to the edifica
ton of man.