The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1911-02-16

Johnson City, Tenn, at the
morning service on Sunday, Feb
ruary II, 1911, preached the fol-
lowing sermon on the above sub
ject:
The text that / offer this morn
ing is the 5 verse of the II chap
ter of Romans: $50 we, who are
many, are one body in Christ, and
severally, members of one anoth-
er." Irepeat it, $50 we, who are
many, are one body in Christ, and
severally, members of one anoth-
er."
Last Sunday l announced that
| would talk this morning on the
subject of the "Union of the Two
Methodist Curches," or to be ex-
act, 1.-The Union of the Methodist
Churches"
/ have decided to talk on this
subject for the simple reason that
it is today live issue among
Methodists, 1t is being agitated
by the authoritie of the church,
The two general conferences
have pronounced upon it. A fed
eral council has been appointed
by the two churches, and these
commissioners or councilmen have
had meetings looking to the union
of the two churches. Their great
meeting, at which they shall de-
eide and give to the public their
findings and their convictions,
will be held in Chattan ooga on
Many 18th. The congregations
along the border line, viz: at
Chattanooga and Knoxville, have
already had great masS-meetings
of the constituency of the two
churches, composed of bishops,
presiding elders, pastors, official
brethren, and the sentiment in
these particular places, as has
been expressed through the press,
is favorable TO a union and they
desire it. We also have some
what to say in this town, as we
are on the border line, and we
should have our views and our
convictions, and, therefore, we
have decided to talk today on the
union of the two churches.
l give you this morning a brief
review of the historical interests
of the two Methodist churches. 1t
is impossible for me to enter into
an elaborate discussion of these
points, and, therefore, do moth
ing more than simply cite them.
I begin by giving you the picture
that John Wesley gave of Meth
odist. John Wesley says:
GA Methodist is one who has
the love of God shed abroad in
his heart by the Holy Ghost given
unto him; one who loves the Lord
his God with all his heart and
soul, and mind and strength. He
-ejoices evermore, prays without
;easing, and in everything give
His heart is full Of love
20 all mankind, and is purified
rom envy, malice, wrath, and
Every unkind affection. His one
lesire, and the one desire of his
ife, is not to do his own will, but
he will of Him that sent him.
lie keeps all Gods commandments
rom the least to the greatest. I
lie follows not the customs of the
world, for vice does not lose its {
nature by its becoming fashiona-
lie. He fares not sumptuously
very day. He can not lay up Z
treasures upon the earth, nor can '
lie adoru himself with gold or {
ostly apparel. He can not join
ny diversion that has the least
endency to vice. He can not a
peak evil Of his neighbor any i
nore than he can tell lie. He c
an not utter unkind or evil /
words. No corrupt communica
ion ever comes from his mouth. c
lie does good unto all men, unto
friends, strangers and
These are the princi-
les and practices of our members.
these are the works of a Metho-
lst." :
This was Mr.. Wesley's estima- a