Evening star., 1924-10-15

text of his first sermon in America
these very significant words: For
determined not to, know anything
among you save Jesus Christ and
Him crucified.' When several of his
associates left for England in 1873, he
decided to stay. I can by no means
agree to leave such field for gath
ering souls to Christ as we have in
America he writes, therefore I am
determined by the grace of God not
to leave them, let the consequence
be what it may But he had no lacl
of loyalty to the early form of Amer
lean Government. When the inaugu-
ration of Washington took place
April 80, 1889, the conference being
in session. Bishop Asbury moved the
presentation of congratulatory ad-
dress to the new President. His sug-
gestion was adopted, and the BishoI
being one of those designated 'for
the purpose, presenting the address
in person, read 1t to Washington
How well he fitted into the scheme OF
things, this circuit rider who spen
his life making stronger the fourda
ton on which our Government rests
and seeking to implant in the hearts
of all men, however poor ana uh-
worthy they may have seemed, al
increased abiliyt to discharge the mgr
posts marched with the pioneers, hi!
missionaries visited the novels of th'
poor-that all men might be brought
to knowledge of the truth.
"A great lesson has been taught US
by this holy life. 1t was because o.
what Bishop Asbury and his asso-
ciates preached and what other reli-
gious organizations, through theii
ministry, preached, that our countr!
frnadOm
contributed so much to the ciVillza-
ton of the world. 1t is well to re-
member this when we are seeking
for social reforms If we can Keep
in mind their sources. we shall peter
understand their limitations. Ihe
government of a country never gets
ahead of the religion of country
There is no way by which we can
substitute the authority OF law Tor
the virtue Of man. OF course, we can
help to restrain the vicious and
furnish a fair degree of security and
.otection by legislation and police
,ntrol, but the real reforms which
ociety in these days is seeking Will
come as a result of our religious con-
vctions, or they will not come at all.
Peace, justice, humanity, charity
these cannot be legiSlated into being.
They are the result of a divine grace.
1 have never seen the necessity for
reliance upon religion rather than
upon law better expressed than in
a great truth uttered by Mr.. Tiffany
Blake of Chicago, when he said {;
Christ spent no time in the ante
chamber of Caesar" An act of Con-
gress may indicate that reform is
being or has been accomplished. but
it does not of itself bring about a
reform.
Lesson in Contentment.
Perhaps. too, there is a lesson in
contentment in the life of this devout
man. He never had any of the lux
uries of this life. Even its conven-
fences did not reach him, and of its
absolute necessarieS he had a scanty
share. without ever having the en-
joyment of a real home, constantly
on the move poorly clad, often
wretchedly sheltered, much of the
time insufficiently nourished, yet his
great spirit pressed on to the end,
always toward the mark of his high
calling. His recompense was not in
the things of the earth. Yet who can
doubt that as he beheld his handi-
work, as he saw his accomplishments
grow, there came to him glorious
satisfaction and a divine peace; No
doubt he valued the material things
of this life, and certainly they
ought to be valued and valued great
ly, but he regarded it as his work to
put a greater emphasis on the things
of the spirit. He sought to prepare
men for the sure maintenance and the
proper enjoyment of liberty. and for
the more certain production and the
better use of wealth, by inspiring
them with a reverence for the moral
values of life.
rfrtl
must have had. this prophet of the
Wilderness! Who shall say his influ-
ence, written upon the immortal souls
of men. shall end? How many homes
he must have hallowed! What null
titude of frontier mothers must have
brought their children to him to re-
ceive his blessing. 1t is more than
probable that Nancy Hanks, the mother
of Lincoln, had heard him in her youth.
Adams and Jefferson must have known
him, and Jackson must have seen in
him a flaming spirit as uncomfortable
as his own. How many temples of
worship dot our landscapes: how many
institutions of learning, some of them
rejoicing in the name of Wesleyan, all
trace the inspiration of their existence
to the sacrifice and service of this lone
circuit rider. He is entitled to rank
as one of the builders of our Nation.
civilization which he sought to build
our country has enjoyed greater
blessings of liberty and prosperity
than was ever before the lot of man.
These cannot continue if we neglect
the work which he did. We cannot
depend on the Government to do the
work of religion. We cannot escape
a personal responsibility for our own
conduct. We cannot regard those
as wise or safe counselors in public
affairs who deny these principles and
seek to support the theory that so
ciety can succeed when the individual
fails.
Il do not see how any one could
recount this story of this early bishop
without feeling a renewed faith in
our country. He met a multitude of
storms. Many of them caused him
sore trials. But he never wavered.
He saw wars and heard rumors of
war, but whatever may have been the
surface appearance, underneath it all
our country manifested then and has
continued to manifest high courage,
remarkable, strength of spirit and
an unusual ability, in the crisis, to
choose the right course. Something
has continued to guide the people. No
tumult has been loud enough to pre-
vent their hearing the still small
voice. No storm has been violent
enough to divert inspired men from
constantly carrying the word of
truth. The contests Of the day have
but been preparations for victories
on the morrow. Through it all our
country has acquired an underlying
| power of judgment and stability of
action which has never failed it. 1t
furnishes its own answer to those
who would defame it. 1t can afford
to be oblivious to those who would
detract from it. America continues
its own way unchallenged and un-
afraid. Above all attacks and all
vicissitudes it has arisen calm and