The first hymn that a conference session sings traditionally
is “And Are We Yet Alive.” I won’t say
that this has been universally so, but I believe that it won’t miss that mark
by much. The hymn is, in part:
And
are we yet alive,
and
see each other's face?
Glory
and thanks to Jesus give
for
his almighty grace!
Preserved
by power divine
to
full salvation here,
again
in Jesus' praise we join,
and
in his sight appear.
What
troubles have we seen,
what
mighty conflicts past,
fightings
without, and fears within,
since
we assembled last!
Yet
out of all the Lord
hath
brought us by his love;
and
still he doth his help afford,
and
hides our life above.
Then
let us make our boast
of
his redeeming power,
which
saves us to the uttermost,
till
we can sin no more.
Let
us take up the cross
till
we the crown obtain,
and
gladly reckon all things loss
so
we may Jesus gain.
The depressing and even combative language has its root in John
Wesley’s use of this hymn by his brother Charles as a hymn sung as part of the
opening of society meetings and then of annual conferences. The warfare is sometimes spiritual, but
sometimes literal. Methodists had a
reputation as “enthusiasts.” It was a status
that more traditional church folks did not appreciate. Their expression of that disapproval
sometimes took a violent form. As
Methodist spread in the American frontier, the dangers of the wilderness were
very real. “And Are We Yet Alive” was a
genuine expression of thanksgiving for the preservation of circuit riders.
Well, as our conference session commenced, the planning
committee was “overruled” by the presiding bishop, and the bishop preserved the
tradition for another year.
That’s how to start an Annual Conference.
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