Year: 1876

fraternity and as possessed OF ecclesiastical
rights and privileges Of equal dignity and va
lsiity. They should each receive from the
other ministers and members in good standing
with the same alacrity and credit as II coming
from their own Church, and without interfer-
ence with each others institutions or missions,
they should nevertheless cooperate in all
Christian enterprises.


1t is not to be supposed in respect of some
matters Of mere opinion that all ministers and
members In either Church will be in accord,
but we trust and believe that a spirit Of fel-
lowship and mutual regard will pervade


TIE REcoNcHRD RANKS


of the entire ministry and membership of both
Churches. We believe also that their supreme
allegiance to the cause of the Great Master
will triumph over all variations of personal
sentiment, and will so exalt the claims Of
brotherly affection that.from this auspicious
brighter history, 60 that we shall know no un-
fraternal Methodism in this the United States,
or even in the wide world.


To all we commend the wise counsels given
in 1890 to missionaries and members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church and of the Wes-
leyan connection in the Canadas by Bishop
McKendree and the Wesleyan committee,
namely, feel that you are one with your breth-
rem, embarked in the same great cause, and
eminently of the same religious family, and if
any warm spirits rise up and trouble you, re-
member that you are to act on the principles
now sanctioned and ayowed by the two con-
nections, and not upon local prejudices. We
cannot restrain the expression of our united
congratulations to both Of the great Churches
whose commissions we have executed in unit
ing between them the broken cords of affec-
tionate and brotherly determination. Hence
forth they may hail each other as from the
auxiliary ranks Of


ONE GREAT ARMY.


The only differences they will foster will be
those friendly rivalries that spring from earn
est endeavors to further to the utmost the
triumphs of the gospel of peace. Whatever
progress is made by the one Church or by the
other will occasion general joy. They will re-
joice in each others success as common good,
and amid the thousand glorious memories of
Methodism they will go forward devoted to
their one work of spreading the Seriptural
holiness over these lands. Two by two the
apostles began the PRONUNCIATION of Christian
ity in the world. They were companion evan
gelists, distinct in their several individualities,
but they were at the same time one in spirit,
purpose and fellowship.


Their itinerant successors In the chief
churches of American Methodism in restored
fraternity will vie with each other to wave the
banner Of the Cross in this Western world,
and hereafter will proclaim that these
Churches are one in spirit and in purpose, one
in fellowship. Astropomers tell us of dual
stars revolving together in mutual relation
and harmony whose different colors are SO
much the complement of each other as to pro-
duce pure white light of exceeding bril-
liancy. The dual Churches of American
Methodism will hencefor;h revolve in mutual
fellowship and harmony, SO much the compile
ment of one another as TO produce the pure
and


BLINDED LIGHT OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY
and fraternallove. These fraternized Churches
have no further occasion for sectional dis
putes or acrimonious differences. They may
henceforth remember their common origin,
pursue their fruit-bearing work, and rejoice in
their own and each others success while en-
gagged in the same great mission of converting
the world to Christ. Distinctive features of
profession and polity are bound up with the
name of Episcopal Methodism. That form of
Christian propagandism and ecclesiastical
economy has peculiar elements of power and
qualities of attraction that commend its effi-
cheney in proclaiming pure Gospel to the
world. Its cardinal doctrines of free sal
walton by faith and Of the witness
of the spirit, its scriptural articles
of Christian belief, its primitive system
of Church government, its contentious de-
mand of those who would join its societies,
the itinerant plan of preaching the gospel,
its Wesleyan simplicity and orthodoxy, its
urging of the practice of holy life, its liberal
and systematic benevolence, its support of
Sabbath school institution, its vigilant care
for the deserving poor, its provision for super
animated ministers, their widows and chill
dren, its worldwide missionary enterprise and
its general activity in the dissemination of
gospel truths are one and the same In the Meth
odist Episcopal Church and in the Meth
odist copal Church South. Far away
in - portions of the earth to which
their missionaries have penetrated di
vine light is breaking on the long
night of Paganism. For the elevation of hu-
mapity it is more than the wand of an en-
chanter. There as well as here Methodist
doctrines and usages wear their own peculiar
and heaven blessed distinctiveness, and seem
to presage the dawn of that era of gladness
when the claims of universal brotherhood will
comingle with the full glory of the millennium.
Episcopal Methodism was never more strong
and influential and never appeared to feel
more the quickening impulse Of


ITS GLORIOUS DESTINY


than II does at the present day. It is emf
nently fit, therefore, that its native realm and
wide-extended home in these United States,
whence its spirit and power go forth like swell
ing anthems of gladness to bless mankind, it
should bear along the blended sweetness and
paternal harmony. Then will It's cadences
roll down the ages, enriched with the true
spirit of the Gospel. For the wisdom that is
from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle
and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and
good fruits, without partiality, without hypoc-
fisy, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in
peace of them that make peace. The flowing
streams of Gospel truth, issuing from the
depths Of their sacred fountains in the Holy
Scriptures, as they are borne to thirsty thou
sands, through the instrumentality of called
and qualified ministry, and made effectual
to salvation by the mighty working Of
freshness when all the itinerant ranks of Epis-
copal Methodism shall move together in fra
ternal concord. Then as chosen vessels OF
grace may they bear the living water of saliva
tion to all the world. Contemplating the
prospect of complete fraternity among them
we are led to look back to those inspiring
scenes of primitive times, when the company
of the disciples were of one heart and mind,
steadfast in the Apostles doctrine and fellow
ship, having all things common, continuing
daily in the Temple praising God, and having
favor with all the people. In complet-
ing the work to which we were assigned
by the highest judicatories of the two
great branches Of Episcopal Methodism In
the United States, we pour forth our united
language which inspiration has prepared
for us and say, "May the Lord Of Peace him.
self give you peace always by all MEANS"
Now, unto Him that is able to keep US from
falling and to present US faultless before the
presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to
!! the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory
and mighty dominion and power, both now
| and ever, amen.


In the bonds of the gospel of peace, your
brethren and servants,


NJ. b. CRAWFORD,
ENoCH L. FANCHER,
ERASMUS Q. FULLER,
CLINTON B. FISK,
JOHN P. NEWMAN,
Committee of the NJ. E. Church.