The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-06-23
DIR. Fifer of Denver Gives
Strong Address Before
State Leaguers.
MISSION 70 PERFORM
Declares Church Has Be
come Convenience Rather
Than Affection.
Continued From Page Onc.)

tcrians, but the Methodist came into
the western country as if to the man
ncr born.
His cathedral was log cabin or a
grove. His pulpit was a barrel or u
stump. ms parish an area of many
square miles. He swan rivers. riskcd
MS ne before beasts and Indians and
despel1d0es; he lived on few dollars
MONTH preached fiery gospel,
shouted an invincible faith and prayed
until the heavens heard. His track
was marked by REVEALS and every-
where YOU met the pioneer circuit
preacher riding a strong horse. sleep
ing on blanket and fighting f,e;.s;
eating corn bread and the mea. OF deer
and other wild game.
Was Daring Minister.
He was picturesque and daring.
Wherever sin abounded there he went
with one message of repentance. AT
camp meetings the people called
Methodists cried and shouted, believed
III immediate conversions, and often
times went into states of uncon scious-
ness or frances. They were often
nervous and quick. approaching hys-
that purely physical excitement was
true spiritual inspiration.
Yet in those groups of so-caIIed
shouting MethOdists were many who
hewcd Christian commemorative out
OF the dark woods; who reared king
doms Of righteousness out of sordid
"hlhsPiring pioneer conditions. The
one force that saved the western
states from the floodtide of French in
fidelity and from barbarism itself was
the itinerant ministry of the Methodist
church. This ministry was educated
mainly in Brush college The lessons
were learned while riding lonely trails
through the canebrake. swamp. forest
or while watching before the camp fire
In the open or before u wide fireplace
with chimney made of mud and sticks.
These men could preach in a pc
culiarly powerful way. They often
made grammatical errors. Their pen
manship was frightful. They would
no more read sermon than die. But
they could sway the multitude as way
Ing grain before the winds of the
plains. Broad shouldered. tanned to
color OF leather when not made pallid
by fever, cleaning eyes, square chins,
muscular arms and hard fists. these
were the preachers who wrested from
the wilderness and the sinners
churches filled with singing Metho-
dists. Their class meetings were
unique affairs. Always the good sis
tiers spoke of the religion which hap
pfied the soul. always the good
brothers spoke of wrestlings with evil;
and always was the story of how bad
the former life had been and how joy
1ul was the present life of faith. The
early Methodist never was prosaic or
monotonous or uninteresting.
Methodist Today Needs Vision.
"The modern Methodist needs the
vision forward. He too. is u creditable
figure. He has built churches and
founded schools and colleges and or
aanized missions with marvellous sac
rifice. But we look too much back
ward over the achievements of the
good old times. We are reluctant toi
put into our faith the sacrifice and
the devotion which our parents gave
to make our day glorious. We havel
seen so much .of victory that we are
rather inclined to avoid any more
marches or campaigns. We have done
away with class meetings, and pro-
tractcd meetings and shouting CONVEX
sions and love feasts and plain dress
and rather whitewashed our amusc-
ments in order to keep up with the
times; but we have not devised enough
methods to secure the intense burning |
enthusiasm which is necessary for "a |
victorious church.
I'VE have made our Sabbath to suf- |
fer. We have made our church too
much of Il convenience rather than an
affection. We have been careless
about teaching, about instruction, con-
corning the missions. the Bible and !
social service. |
yet we truly have come into the !
larger vision of Christ. There is a
world sense in our hearts today" |
DIR. Filters address followed a street |
at Higgins avenue and Pine |
street aand a brief song service in the |
church.
This morning there will be devo-
tional service at 3 o'clock. Following |
this service the last business session |
of the convention. at which officers
for the coming year will be elected. |
will begin at 9 o'clock. Aside from |
l
state convention also will be selected,
the report of the Montana Volunteer
band will be received. appointed COM
mttees will report and the final mis-
cellaneous business will be transacted. /
Campfire Conference.
This afternoon the delegates will be /
the guests of the Missoula chapter the
chamber of commerce and the univer-
sity on jaunts to Bonner and the
Weather permitting camp
fire conference will be held on the !.
campus tonight. If the
weather is Indictment this servioe will |,
be in the church. DIR. Leon H. sweet
land, who has played a big part in the !!
success Of the convention, will deliver !
an address at this meeting.
Dr. Sweetland will conduct the con-
rention morning watch Sunday at Gas l
o'clock and at 9:45 will be celebrated Il
the convention communi ion by the dis
trict superintendent, Rev. Charles L.
D. D.. of Helena; Rev. W. w.
Van Orsdell. d. D.; Rev. ]. 4. Martin
of Great Falls, and Rev. Edward Smith
Of Bozeman. At II o'clock DIR. Fifer
will again address the convention. his