Year: 1879

DISCOURSE by BISHOP WILLIAMS, OF coNNEc-


TIcUr ON APOSTOLIC METHODS FOR PRoPA-


eating THE GOSPEL.


Grace Church was filed last night with Episcopa-
lans gathered from all parts OF the city. to attend
the opening of the General Missionary Convention of
their denomination. Nine bishops in attend
ance and nearly OF other clergy. The SER
vices were led by Drs. Potter. schenck. living and
other members of the Missionary Committee. The
annual sermon was preached by Bishop Williams. OF
Connecticut. 1t was mastery discourse i'll behalf
of national churches in mission lands and based
upon Isaiah liv., and 3-'Enlarge the place OF
thy tent. and let them stretch forth the curtains
of thine habitations; not lengthen thy Cords
and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break
forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy
seed shall inherit the Gentles and make the desoate
cities TO be Inhabited .'The Church of God" the
Bishop said takes on thoughts and has new
lie with very advance makes. and this grows out
OF its III tho world. Its life is twofold-interna
and external The latter brings it into contact with
the world The work of Christianity in tho
world is aggressive. aud this siveness reacts
with power upon the Church. This is indicated
in the text. The outward growth Of the Chnrch
comes into view here under two aspects--inheritins
the Gentiles and making the desolate places to be
inhabited This growth is Intrinsic with the Church;
II Is not an atter-thought Jesus said He came to
seek and save tnat which was lost. And when lie
gave the great commission to HIS apostles II was was
that they might 20 all the world and preach the
Gospel to every creature. beginning ut Jerusalem.
where and in other cities they were to DC his wit
ncsses.'


The apostolic methods of carrying out this apos-
tolic mission were reviewed by the BISHOP, VINO
remarked that u Church claiming to be apostolic
cannot long ignore them and hope for sue
cess In following ont this Order. he said,
zone comes into contact with two things-the
King and the Kingdom The kingdom is preached to
make men acquainted with the King. The apostles
dwelt on the resurrection OF their risen and
ascended Lord and Master. The practical law under
which the proclamation of His Kingdom was carried
on was laid down by the Lord himself when He sad
.Ye shall be witnesses unto Ne not only in Jerusa
lem but in Judea and Samaria and unto
the uttermost parts of the earth The
apostles therefore planted themselves in the most
conspicuous cities and towns, such as Jerusalem,
Antioch, Phillippi and Ephesns Tho result was
that the Roman Empire was covered with national
Church, watched over by native minister's. They
never had any idea of looking to Jerusalem every
year for missionary aid. This is q modern idea
They were subject under Christ only to General
Councils in which the whole Church was represented
The Nicene Council gave its Endorsement to these
apostolic methods in Its Sixth CANON


Bishop Williams traced the growth of this mod
ern idea to tho Roman Church. which by fire and
sword had brought all nations under her sway. and
then dispensed to them the Gospel as she pleased.
And this she called unity but it was no more unity
than that OF the earth when 1t is held III the grasp
OF the winter frost. 1t not unity in the truth.
The Bishop called attention to the moral and social
aud political movements taking place III Asia, Eu-
rope South America, Mexico and the West India
Islands and Africa and urged his Church to DO ready
to take advantage OF prospective openings for the
spread of the Gospel III those regions.


The Convention will hold devotional meeting in
Grace Church this morning and afternoon and even
ing business sessions in Association Hall.