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" " i iSSjSpp sppiei^^?^ g? - '---""r"'"3 The Abbeville Press and Banner " . ' , V- . . ^:":r ; ' 1 i ' ;.?| BY W. W. & W. R. BRADLEY. ABBEVILLE. 8. O.. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1909. ESTABLISHED 1844 | Methodists of Abbeville. Pure and Peaceable, V HAMIIA ?HJ fiftnAfAiif acinic aiiu ?eueivu^ Kind and Knightly, High and Honorable, Good and Groat. .Extract from Mr. Wilson's Booklet. "History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt, and men decay ; the inscription moulders from the tablet; the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns, arches, pyramids, what are they but. heaps of sand; and their epitaphs, but characters written- in dust."? Irving. This being true, I shall speak of the living?and only of the living. It is a fact that those pioneers in Christian thought, those follower^ -in he footsteps of the immortal Wesley, those good men who engaged in the work of refining, of purifying, and of Christianizing this people have accomplished much. How it was done and by whom it was done, need not be recited here. The result of their zi&l and their activity in the Master's cause is with ns. For present purposes that is enough to say. The actors in that important drama have long since departed ; their bodies have mouldered into dust and our knowledge of their former existence comes down to us in legend and in story. Their trialB, their defeats, and their final glorious triumphs need not be recounted. The rich heritage in spirituality which they left to us still rules and ' " ' * ? 5 j? j _ ; governs the religions sentiment or ADDevine. me pnniy ana um holiness of those who preceded ns are evidenced in the goodness and in the greatness of the hearts that now so loyally maintain and support the religion and the purity of the Methodist Church at Abbeville. The existence of this beautiful house of worship, which is an* ornament to the city, is evidence of the determination and the gener osity of the men and-women who built this temple and dedicated it to the worship of the Maker and Ruler of the universe. That Holy One has promised those of us who worship Him in humility and in sincerity that though our "sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white aa snow ,* though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." From their earliest entry into the limits of the city of Abbeville, the Methodists have been factors in every good word and every good work. In the service of their country they have ever beqi patriotic in war and in peace. In devotion to the Church they they have been unswerving in the discharge of duty. They have ministered to the sick, and to the poor and distressed they have been kind and thoughtful. Not nntil the seal of the great book has been broken will it be known how many wayward souls, with all their sins piled up about them, have been restored by their kindness and by their prayers to the paths of peace and to tne ways ot ngmeousness. There can be no means of estimating the good which the noble women of the Methodist chnrch have accomplished by their prayers and by their sympathetic tears at the bedside of those who have gone before. None can tell how many of the callous souls they have rescued from their downward course and set their feet in the upward paths which lead to the golden gates of the Celestial City. The Methodists at Abbeville have ever been active workers for the spiritual and material welfare of the church and the people of the city. Their influence is felt everywhere, and all look to them as a tower of strength when great effort, is necessary. When the accomplishment of any good purpose is sought, the aid of the Methodists is confidently expected, even if others should lead. And it is not recorded where or when the people of Abbeville have ever withheld a helping hand when the Methodists took*the lead. The Methodists have not only worked for the dissemination of the great religious truths which this church represents, but they have ta.lrAn a fnll share of resDonsibilitv in the advancement of every good Work in the temporal affairs. They love their church above all else, but this does not prevent their labor in any work that may advance the religious and the material benefit of their neighbors. As educators, and as friends of schools and colleges, the Methodists are in these lines the same pioneer workers that their fathers were in religion. / About twenty years ago they awakened in the public mind of Abbeville the great need of a better school system in this city. Through the agitation which they brought about, under the leadership of Judge J. Fuller Lyon, we have in Abbeville today a thorough system of schools ranging from the beginners in education all the way up to equipment of our youth for the college classes. This it would seem were honor enough for the average ambition of the average organization of good men and righteous women, but not so with the Methodists. To an officer in that church, Mayor J. L. McMillan, under the sustaining influence of the brethren, is largely due the credit for the elegant city hall or opera house of which all Abbeville is proud. If the Methodists of Abbeville can build cotton mills; if they can inaugurate the best school system on earth ; if they can lead us to build the best opera house in the State ; it tney can Duna lor tnemselves, and for all men, one of the finest churches in upper South Carolina ; if they can contribute large sums for church purposes ; then are they not ready to look for new worlds to couquer ? Great is Methodism in Abbeville. The benefaction of their presence is felt by all, and it has gone out to distant places to bless and to purify the lives of others. The Methodists of Abbeville, like all other good men, are a modest people. They do much, but they say little. They obey the injunction of the wise man who said: "Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth ; a stranger, and not thine own lips." Having been born an Associate Reformed Presbyterian, and having lived in that faith all my life, I may attempt to say for the good Christian Methodists of Abbeville, some things which they would never say for themselves. Because of their modesty, gentlemen of the South Carolina Conference would never know of the merit and the worth of jneir Abbeville brethren. Yon will never hear from them anything of their patriotism, and they will tell yon nothing of their noble fidelity to their church. They will never tell you of their love of the service to the Xord, nor will they tell you of their innumerable deeds of charity to the poor and to the needy. You will hear nothing from them of their efforts to put their arms around the erring that they might bring them safely into the fold. The gentleness and the sweetness of the efforts of their women to bring their brothers and their sisters into the haven of rest and eternal glory are not recorded in books nor are they chiseled in marble. They are registered only in the hearts of those who have been blessed by their loving kindness. Their deeds of charity are recorded only by the angels that Jacob saw in his dream ascending and descending on the theological ladder from earth to heaven. Perhaps the most notable or most distinguishing characteristic of the congregation lies in the clean lives of the individual members. I have lived in Abbeville for more than fifty years, and few men are better acquainted with them than I am. Knowing them as I do, I feel warranted in saying that there is not a single notably impure or immoral life in the whole congregation. In remarking upon this most notably clean aggregation a wellinformed Methodist replied to me : "We require every member to live reasonably near to the standards. He who fails to live fairly well is invited to sever his connection with the church. We do not tolerate notably improper peraons in the communion." Rev. Henry Stokes is the preacher now in charge, and, if a layman might speak of the clergy, I should say that he is most acceptable. He is pastor as well as preacher. During his ministration of less than a year he has received 85 accessions to the church roll, some being by letter *nd some being by profession of faith. Hugh Wilson. LAST SUNDAY BEFORE CONFERENCE. Pastor's Statement of Work Done?Congregation Adopl Resolutions of Confidence and Esteem ? Paste Expresses Love and Affection lor the People. itev. Henry Stokes, pastor, stated that as this is the last Sunda before, the meeting of Conference he would make a statement of h work in Abbeville during the Conferenoe year which is now closing t w.:? .-> * i # Pastoral visits, - 550 Public services.:? 150 Additions to Church: I - By letter., 22 By profession 13 85 Marriage Ceremony, couples 9 - Conducted funerals 19 * V it Attended other funerals.. 5 , After tljjs. statement' &ir. Stokes preached on the allegory of tt of the vine;, and the branches, as recorded in the gospel by St. Joto fifteenth chapter,11st to ^th .verses. -i. }'. x 7 - , ~y V-.THE AUDfCNCp REMAINING SEATED. At the conclusion of the sermon Mr. Stokes said, that he ha4 bee requested.to ask the audience to remain seated for a few. minutes. . 3jp '' ' , Mr. i. M. Gambrell moved that Judge J. F. Miller take the chai MR. GAMBSELL'S RESOLUTIONS. When Mr. Miller was seated, Mr. Gambrell said : "As this js the close of the Conference year, I think.it would ! well for the members of this congregation to make expression of the appreciation of the faithful services of our pastor." Mr. Gambrell then offered the following resolutions, which w? adopted: Wheteas the members of the First Methodist Church of the Gil of Abbey ille, South Carolina, in Church assembled, desire to give e: pression to, and to put on record their high appreciation of the zes ability, devotion to duty, and Christian character exemplified in tl life and work of our beloved Pastor, the Reverend Henry Stokes,' Therefore, be it resolved, v First: That we are truly grateful for that Good Providence whic one year ago sent to minister to us iq spiritual things, the Rev. Hem Stokes, and we rejoice because of the success which has attended h ministry among us. " . s Second : That we assure Brother Stokes of our appreciation < hie labors and of our unfailing co-operation. Third : That we devoutly pray that the Spirit of Grace may rei upon our entire Church. Fourth: That a copy of these resolutions be sent to Broth Stokes, a copy to the Advocate, and a copy to the Presiding Bisho the Reverend A. W. Wilson. MB. STOKES EN REPLY. . t. In responding to the resolutions Mr. Stokes said.: "Brethren, I wish to assure you of my appreciation of your co; fidence in and esteem for me as expressed in this resolution. . If I hai been useful as an instrument for good to your churoh and in yoi community, I am grateful to Him whose-1 am and xwhom I serv Next to the Divine approval I value the commendation of my breti ren. I have enjoyed the year, as your pastor. I have known the A beville Methodists, and Abbeville people generally, for several year having once served a change contiguous to your city. But I can no say that I know yon better and love you more than ever before, have rejoiced with you in your successes and blessings, and in yoi sorrows I haye mourned with you." You have referred to me terms of friendship which I greatly appreciate. "He who has a thousand friends, Has not a one to spare ; \ ' But he who has an enemy Will meet him everywhere." Then followed the stanzas of 'this hymn, as sung by the choir r ;. "Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love ; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. Before our Father'8 throne, W e pour our araem> pr?yei? Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares. We share oar mutual woes, Our mutual burdens bear ; And often for each other flows, The sympathetic tear.*' ? After which Mr. Stokes pronounced the Apostolic Benediotic Thus closed the Conference year. THE LAYMEN'S MOVEMENT. 'i ' May Not Danger Lurk Beneath the Faire Surface ? Oar Fathers Having Wasted Millions in Mission Work, Should wt I Seek to Avoid their Mistakes ? Everybody in Abbpvill&> loves and honors Methodist preache One evidence of this lies in the fact that every family, irreepeotive denomination, where conditions suited, was anxious to have one more delegates as guests during the Conference. The repetition of a little story which waa reeited in my heari when I was a thirteen-year-old boy won my heart for, the good a great Bishop Capers. As I remember the story, he went in a stage the frontier. The stage stopped every night on the journey. Wh he reached his destination he stopped for a time with the host, w also fed and slept the stage driver. Daring the night the weatl turned intensely cold. When the bishop noticed the driver next moi ing shivering on his stage box, he enquired why he bad not on an ov i coat. The driver said that he had none. The bishop, retogmizi the danger of the cold, gave him his own overooat, not knowing how himself could well spare it. When the bishop left this lodging pli the host handed him a $90 gold piece, which the bishop gratefully i oepted as a gift from Provideaee a? a reward for his aongideration thfi nooriv-clad stasre driver. Of course I eannoV toll the rtory in the impressive manner a with the same effect upon you that it had upon him who wM a lil boy then, bnt who is now an old man. Again : The son of Bishop Capes, Bev. W. T. Cape*, was m a preacher at Abbeville. During his stay in this city he wsa asked make the anniversary address befove a olaas to be gradnated at the I West Female College. One part ol that speech dwslt npon the j portance of woman's dress. Thf main thought in that spseeh v that women should dress themselves beaomingly. He tali, tm ifati adorned a clod with a flower, ?o should woman be asrayed in \ choicest and the most becoming apparel. The apparel that waa coming and suitable for one g?l might be unsuitable for anoth , While silks sad other expansive goods were entirely becoming to 1 , rich girl, it was also true that such fine dressee do not become 1 daughters of those parents who ase leas able to boy them. It wa woman's Christian duty to dress and to appear as beautiful and _ _ ... tasteful as possible. Our Saviour loved the beautiful. He likened himself to the rose of Sharon and to the lily of the valley. The beautitg ful in nature adornsthe home of the humblcct cottager with the same )r purity, with the same ?weetn*?? and with the same beauty that it bestows upon the princely mansion. Beauty and good taste in dress was no less an. art than other accomplishments. Nice dressing was beoomIng and necessary for all, but ooetly dresses were not becoming to any . hnt ihfi rich. < 18 ,. The act of the bishop and < the speech of the son gave me such impression of theii goodness of heart that the name of Capers oan only be associated with that which is good and beautiful. And their oharacterand their goodness must, to some extent, be indiaative of the character and the good heart of other Methodists. The Methodists are. good people, The Methodists hare high standards. They are a great people. Their power for usefulness and their loyalty to every good purpose is not exceeded by men in any other Held of endeavor. The great growth of the Methodist church in this state furnishes indisputable evidence of their wisdom, their sufoerity of purpose, and their practical devotion to every good work. 16 Their colleges have sent the ablest of men to the highest and Q' to the best places in both the ehureh and the state. But above all the splendor and all personal achievements of individuals, in wv and 'in % peace, in church and in state, the ehief glory, of the Methodisk.church n is in its influence in the uplift of the same common people who gladly heard our Saviour, and whose standards of morality and whose purity of. life have been raised and blessed by their r precept and by their example. ( One of their influences for good is, the conduct of their church paper, whioh, as far may be seen, has the.highest.standards of. honor. It is reverential and it teach* rpo&^.for.inen and reveranoe-forall,things which are good, * espeetatiy. isihis noticeable in its use otj the name of the Hply One.; ir From published reports: the Methodist-, laymen's movement, which in^ taM is a movement controlled and gnided by the re clergy, has mapped j^t an immense work, which is so. bag, incumbers sad so lax^e.ia money thatit is almost incomprehensible, to the ? nlain everv dav lavman. j r? - ?; t. . . In the reported speeches before the-laymen's meeting in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 1008, there are many able, earnest and. valuable ie .papersu In fact they are so forceful that the Methodists, like the A. R. Presbyterians, may divert so much of their energy to the conversion of the heathen that they may neglect their own neighbors and their own brethren. Some of , the speakers at that meeting eeti:h mated that it cost two dollars per head to carry, the goepel- to heath7 ens at the endsof the world That estimate is so far at rvariance with is the well known facts in reference to the actnal expenditure .of the A. E. P. church in Mexico that the Methodists may well donbt the af correctness of any statement about two dollars doing anything. About thirty yean> ago the A. R P. church conceived the idea Bt of sending Missionaries to Mexieo, and great were the hopes of the ppople. sr During the firsttwenty year*.of thefcexperiment it Is estimated that $100,000 wae spent in that?undertaking. Result. 381 communicants, at an preragp cost of $866 for each convert, or proqelyte. In this number are included the missionaries* their wives, their children, their school teachers, and their hired helpers. The next ten years 1898-1907 the official statement of the cost of continuing that enterprise waa$99,600j. Results, a gain of 120 comQ. mnnicants at an. average cost of $796 for each. And the worst part re Of this- story is, that a well-informed Christian is reportpd to have ir said that fifty per cent, of our conversions in Mexico were: ready to L*?-11?' ??? *n +>>& a n p ^hnrch. Would it be wise for 0 renounce lumr ouog iauv>? w vu? ?* . ?? h- Methodists, then, to neglect and to oppress their people for any such jj. result ? .8> While the Methodists and-fch&A. R. Presbyterians, were not very lW different in strength at the beginning of their work in this State, 1 the A. R. Presbyterians have increased their numbers to about 3,900. ar The Methodists hare enrolled in this State about 84,000 duiing the jq same time. While the A. R. Presbyterians are, in every respect, just as good aa the Methodists, yet may we not believe their efforts tc convert the heathen, rather than to giVe the gospel to home people, hat brought about a most dismal failure, as compared with the magnificent success of the Methodist church, which success, in the best sense of the word, ma$es it an important factor in Christianizing the-world, while the A. R. P. people are almost an unknown quantity in the religion of the world. Should not the Methodists Jparo a lesson from the A. R. P. Ghnrch t , We see it stated that during 1908 the Methodists spent mucb more at home in missionary work than they spent abroad, and tc ?1 JJA?? on/1 *n fKn concentration of effort tnat economical mjmuuuoi O (|t/ivnu im*u ww ???. ??? at home may be attributed the great success of the Methodist church. T.he brethren should, therefore, think well before dividing, or dissipat ing their, energies. And they should also consider well whether bur densome assessments for missionary purposes are of Scriptural author ity. Not a single instance is reoalLsd where our. Saviour commanded or authorized any organization to make upon others an assessment foi missionary purposes. "And he called untoJhim the twelve, and began to send then (n forth by two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits; "And commanded them that thoy should take, nothing for theii journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in thei: purse: "Be shod witji sandals; and not put on two coat*". Our Saviour further, said unto them: "In what place soever, ye enter into an house, there abide tillyi depart from that place. rt "And whosoever shall not receive tou? nor hear you, when yoi depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a te^ijmonj against them"' It would seem that our Saviour distinctly discountenanced the assessment of taxes upon the people for missionary purposes ^ when.he said; "Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! lor ye devoui widow's houses, and for a pvetense make long piayet: therefore y ra- shall receive the greater damnstion. " J kirnnOTtillll fnr Vfl commg 01 "Woe unto you, serines mm W UIIIIOCUV; JUJ pW*?vw ?. ? m of. eea and land to make one proselyte, and when he ia made, ye mak him two-fold more the child of held than yourselves." D& What our Saviour said about missionaries, "receiving the greate: n<* damnation" referred to the fact that the heathen in their ignorance o 110 the gospel of our religion were not accountable in the same degree a en the bar of the Grert Judge as they would be after being informed k? and which teaching.they might reject. When the heathen are offere< ier the scripture, and they reject it, then it may he that they are "two "a" fold more the child of hell." 6r. But when people, because they are rich, cast in much, shouli ^ not forget the widow's mites, which counted more with our Saviou than did the pretentious gifts of the rich. It is the spirit of the giv ing. and not the gift, that finds favor with the Lord. The Lord love a cheerful giver, but he authorized no one to extort giftsfrom unwill ing men. Whether it is well to cripple and to distress the home ohurohe *? ?nnin fnrM*n lands is for you to determine. ivr 9|^VUiOMV.V 0 Christian people hare been sanding men and money t< China for a hundred years, and to India for a shorter time ^ with scarcely the semblance of good results. Can yoi give any assurance that the proposed collections will bear any bette fruit than did the wasted millions, which have been heretofore col 40 lected by our forefathers from the people of America to send mei ra* to China T we The missionary business is clearly a case of "Man never is, bu alway to be blaei". We have, for our invested millions, in foreigl mr lands, no satisfactory results for a hundred years, and th probability is that neither we nor our children, will ever hear of an; satisfactory results. Upon what ground then oac we hope tha 4 our money will do more good than did Ihe mt*ey of our truaMnj a? forefathers ? In the distribution of the million* whieh it it proposed to rai? ........ . 7 % . / from trusting and confiding Christiana large humbew of heretofore unsuccessful men may reap a rich harvest in the,way. of salaries., They may combine and finally get the church by the thxpat,. a^d their appeal for more money may take preeefr&oe over, home wo^k, ,..: when home churches, home hospitals, home schools and the needy. . neighbor, may be neglected, even as is the case with the. Associate.: Reformed Presbyterian Church, which has so successfully collected*> money from every nook and corner of their territory, and whieh> money has been spent for little appreciable good to anybody, except * to the good men, and good women to whom it was .paid as salvia#-. " The people should not be given reason to fearthat the cjLergy are. in a ring or in a eombine, in the name of religion, to raise mgpwi or themselves and others who may be so fortunate u to participate in the division of the funds. Aiready we hear the home mission minimized on the one hand, while the foreign and unknown S 's work is extolled. Already we hear the aaaartion that interest In " home missions is .increased, and that the aoUeotiofcs for home x&itfionf ; are larger in proportion, as the interest to foreign mission#, If developed. This afl&ertion is fully as reasonable as woulft. be o&p- lifk this: "The more time and money a pxodigal spendawitfegoodf^llQW# down town the more time and money he will have to spend, at home, ' i with his wife and children." 1 The Christian world needs to be on guard lest the growth of our own people in the CMstite graces should be attested?when the '"** 1 A 4Ua ??1S 4am ft# nn? nonn1? af hnmA Wflnld . UiiUrUIiCD OUU iuc xvugivu V4 v?M ~ ? - .?? ^ ^. . . . Reference is here had to Bome statements contained in the bdok pt speeches delivered at Chattanooga, Tenn., at what wat- termed *; Laymen's Meeting, bnt which was in fact taken charts of by 'the clergy. It will be notieed that the following is not vpmchjkl for by Mr. White, bat is.laid at the oor of an unidentified Baptjji, who based his story on the dxpreesipns of an unidentified, ifuorau]fc. ne^rp . woman. J. Campbell White in his speech said: - .1. "I was riding along w,ith a,Baptist minister, in a, tiaip, sopetinp ago. In oar conversation he said: . "The mott generopi peraon lb my congregation is an old colored woman. She ean neither read nor write, she was born a slave, and does not have a penny whieh she dbek not earn over the wash tab ; yet she givee $W a year for fowdgni TBik-/ - ''f;& siona. I went to her and told her that she waa giving too she conld not aflfdrd so much. She replied something lit#: this; < 'Yon oertainly would not take away from me the very greatest pleasure of ;; my life. Why, very often,' she said to me, 'when f am at work; over 11? l-i?V. ~ Tnfl .A# IUP WdOUkUU UU Ll/lC LLiU liUUOC oncou Uiuyo <jbih>?v? . w i< wf*' *. : r* '? 1 i'^SS am laving up in the presence of Jesu*." That old blacfc .woman . IWfe '? 3m8 Carrying the gospel to about twenty-fire of he* listers and brother* at the ends of the world, every year by her humble sapTifiee and love." While that old negro's soul may have been m wh|te as. mow. and,while we all know that a pure heart is always an a?^taMf?y offering at the thpone of graoe, what shajl.we ?y of the honesty erf the man who told such a stoiy' and admitted that he had tslgffitfr# money from the poor old ignorant nsfto woman? (XSPUHe the.tfpiy is not true. No man could believett. Nomaawith.inWs body would hftve taken it for any steh purpose. No wash woman. eould spare that amount and if she oor 14 earn tb*t sorplu* fcke p*>b?ability is that she couldn't keep it for a year. The act of an Intel6 ligent white man taking the $50 from a poor ignorant 'colored: person / is too much like robbing the blind, and shows to what lengths nriir" aionaries may sometimes go for the sake of a little money. ' <;.? '* Again: If negro washwomen are to "he our guides >.%lectual leaders, why go to the'expense of educating our of sending them to Theological Seminaries! . Here ia another story as told by Mr. "V^hite: - * / ' i r j:' . * - - > On the west coast of Africa a missionary station was, est^blish^t Among the converts was a yonng girl about sixteen yearsu old-... T?e natives we^e taught to give their best gifts on ChriBtaaag k>. .tfi? Savior, whose birthday was being celebrated. Their very poverty kept them from giving anything of great value; but if anybody eo*'d I give a penny or two, tnat was counted a great gift. Most ok them were not able to do that. They would bring a handful of veg^ables from their gardens, or something of that kind, But on this, occasion this girl in the procession, when she got in front of the preacher&ook out a silver coin worth eighty-five cents and handed that to the Voihister as her gift to Christ. It was so large an amount for a gv| in her position to give that be felt sotae hesitation in taking itHe thought that she had probably stolen it; but, leat it might create, eon- X'M fusion, he accepted it for the moment, and then called her aside at % - J the close of the service to ask her where she gpt it, She explained to him in her simple way that, in her desire to give something to Christ in some way worthy of his love and sacrifice for her, she had gone to a neighboring planter and voluntarily bound herself out to hun as a slave for the rest of her life, for this eighty-five cents, and had brought the whole financial equivalent of her life of pledged service and laid Jt down in,a single gift at the feet of her Lord! ^ That story as told by Mr. White is too shoakjag foe ?on ' temptation or for belief. The idea of any sixteen year old gill sel' ling herself into slavery or into sin for life to taiae 81. emits to be laid ' at the feet of her Lord, which 85 cents, according to our interpceta' tion of what the missionary said, was put into his own pocket, is up: worthy of belief. There is no evidence to show that the Lord ever received a single cent of it. i Such cnpidity as is evidenced by the veeeiver of the 85 cents is offensive to every good' impulse, and gives an example at the unr conscionable acts to which missionaries may resov# under pretense of r raising money for the Lord, but which money is to be put into their own pockets. f J J if In the book where the good so largely preponderates it may be ungraoious to critieise, but there were soipe expressions which should 9 have been omitted. As a rule the elergy made very fill and unnecessary use of the name of the Almighty, while,. aa a mje, the laity ! read more carelully prepared papers, and were more reverential in F the uje of the sacred Name. One exception among j^ I>le^. was that of J. Cambell White. He said repeatedly the ''Churck.pf. Ghpd." 1 As I see it, the Methodist Church is composed of Tfyst being true, the Methodist Church is a Christian Church VKhiefr Jwjphes * " - ""1 u <'Hi? Holm?? ana pureness or living. luon nw ir uu? ** w~. Church of God" while ignoring the Name at onr Bedeenaer- and forr getting the founder of all Christian Chnrehes? Ton. may recqfnize the source of these words: "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no B man eometh nnto the Father but by me." "Ye shall know that I am e in my Father, and ye in m^ acd I in you." The title of the book iB an i*eveaent expression: "Tbe ?all of r God to M^n." - i f The movement to raise million* is one of oppression, the result", t of whieli may be disastrous to the chureh, and ruoons to some of ? those who distribute it. * a I 1 The distribution of millions of free money with no one to see to the honesty of its division has a tendency to develop a spirit of wastefulness. ' V i i In the division of the funds it will be a miracle if a caaeless ring r is not formed where the money may be paid to themselves, to their partnew, and to their favorites. . 8 . v ? Gentlemen, it is for you to say if this onseemly asrmtnble for office and the struggle for division of the vaat sum o< money do not tend to lure men from their spirituality. It is lor you to deter*" " : c n^nnlo ft* Vinmo fnr SAT DOrDOMj bow* mine ii me uppreuaiuu uj. juuu. , ever good it may be, does not tend to stop the giawth and the 0 prosperity of the Church. . Except on the ground of oppression of the people foe the benefitv of high salaried missionaries, how do you aooount for the inooneeiv ably slow growth of the A. R. P. Church? If your Chursh shall make the work of missionaries the most profitable btuin??, trade or profession within your gift, would not the home field be neglected? If the laity are taxed to death, how is the church to prosper? If yon send ' your best men to fill these positions, how would you avert slow death or a premature decay ? Can you afford to send out of your bounds the e men of ability who give tone and character to your chnrch? Of what P benefit is a weakling in a foreign country? t ? If rulers shall collect vast sums of money to be paid to friends who may have a "pull," how do you expect the continued growth of - - - 11-ji | that graDd and glorious body or tnriBuaus cmicu . . t ' f - - . -j . }>..* ' ... . :V/J?ivw,w* /