South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-21
DIR. MONGER TRACES
METHODIST ORIGIN
Tells People What They Must
Do TO Garry Forward the
Church's Mission.

The Mission OF Methodism For
the World Today" was the theme OF
sunday morning at the First Metho-
dist church. He traced the origin
of the Methodist religion back to the
days OF its founder. John Wesley.
and dealt on the trials and tribula-
tons through which IL has passed,
and urged the people OF this gener-
alton TO profit by the historical
precedents connected with Metho-
dism. He said IN part:
The discussion OF this subject is
in no way a disparagement OF the
contribution OF other religious bodies
Of the worlds civilization. Each
great Protestant denomination has
It's contribution. likewise both Ro-
man Catholic and Jew. Methodlsm
stands for certain things in the
worlds history. II represents GER
tain great historic forces and princi-
pals. We must look TO the cOndi-
tons which gave birth to Method
ISM and the conditions which 1t met
In order to have a right valuation
Of it's past and also to enable US to
take our bearings in order TO meet
the world crisis today
Laugh Mt Religion.
Briefly note the world into which
John Wesley came. Nobody has ?
good word TO say about the moral
and spiritual life OF the 18th cen
fury. Carlyle sums il up by saying
Soul extinct. stomach we'll alive
In the higher circles OF society
everyone laughs, says Montesque on
his visit to England. If one talks of
religion
The great scientists. statesmen
and many scholars were unbelievers.
Green in his history OF the English
people describes the period as an
open revolt against religion. Drunk
enness. gambling. profanity by both
men and women, wasteful extrava-
gance and lowest forms of debauch-
cry were prevalent vices amongst all
classes Of society. 1t was period
OF great unrest amongst people of
all classes. II has been described as
a period of compromise; compro-
mise in politics. philosophy and re-
ligion.
Criminals Bold.
Criminal classes gathered bold
ness and piled their trade OF rob-
berry. pillage and murder. Organ
lied religion was turned into a force
for social and political repression.
The failure of the church to COM
mand the respect Of the world and
TO grip the unchurched was not the
fault of the world. The fault was
with the Christians whose lives were
so barren OF the fundamentals OF
Christian living that the world could
sec no resemblance between the re-
ligious folks Of the day and those
great souls who had first wrought
the mighty works of Christian civil
iZation.
John Wesley in the midst of such
conditions came into n great exper-
fence OF fellowship with God. He
set out to teach no new religion but
20 emphasize the practical truth OF
New Testament teaching. The fatal
thing in religion OF that age was
that It had ceased to be life or even
10 touch life. Wesley gave the peo-
pie OF England an expression in
terms Of human relationships OF his
great religious experience.
Denounced Sins.
His followers denounced the sins
OF the day and set about in a con-
structive way 20 make their religion
10 serve human needs in a practical
way. Sixty years before WILDER
force worked for the freedom Of the
slaves. Wesley was preaching against
slavery. When John Howard was
lad, Wesley was preaching in the
prisons Of England. His rapidly
growing body OF followers was send
ing out missionaries before there
were any missionary societies; be-
fore there was a Bible society, they
were putting the Bible into the
hands OF folks; before public librar-
les were known. they had libraries
in London and Bristol. opened dis
pensaries and established In a crude
way what are known today In
more highly developed way as Build
ing and Loan associations 70 help
the poor. Inaugurated a system OF
religious instruction by publishing
weekly periodicals. Foundry church