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42.00 PER ANNUM THE ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF THE M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH. F. L. REID, D.D., Editor KSTAltf JSIIED 1855. RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY, JUL7 8, 1891. VOL. XXXVI., NO. 27. COMMUNICATIONS. For the Advocate. The Rev. Dr. J. M. Buckley. F.V DR. T. R. KINGS1HJRY. Mr. Editor: My dear friend, I lev. Joseph W. Shack ford, of the Virginia Conference, recently spent six days at my home. Uoon his re turn to his field of labor in West moreland county, Va., made forever historic and memorable by reason of its being the county that produced two Presidents of the United States, Washington and Monroe; and the two greatest men yet born on this continent Washington and Robert Edward Lee, he met at the depot of Lester Manor, on the Richmond and York River railroad, Rev. Dr. James Monroe Buckley, the great editor of the New York Christian AJcocate, whom Rev. Dr. Lafferty some time ago referred to in his own paper, the Richmond Advocate, as the greatest man in the Northern .Methodist Church. Dr. Buckley had recently preached the Bacca laureate Sermon before Emory and Henry. College, Ya., and had been visiting Rev. John Wesley Shack ford, of King and Queen county, the venerable and wise father of my friend. Dr. Buckley was on his way to Nashville, Teun., where he was to deliver the Baccalaureate Ser mon before Yanderbilt University. He married the neice of the elder Shackfoid, Mrs. Buckley was with him and they had had a delightful visit in Yirginia, they said. Mr. Shackford's letter to me was entirely private, but it contains such interesting matter that I take the liberty of making a long extract, be- lieving it will agreeable reading 1 3 many of vour readers who either remember writer of it or admire the eminent an-; faithful New York religious c ditor. Mr. Shack to r who was- widucd at the Univen ity of Virginia, writes: "I never saw him before, and was glad of an opportunity to talk, even for a short time, with a man who deserved ly holds so large a place in the chris" tian world to-day. I was agreeably surprised to liud him so easy of access. His first few utterances demolished all formality, and we mutually passed into the atmosphere of old school mates. I t )11 him that the valor and devotion on his part against the Woman Suffrage Agitation in the North, in both church and state, had aroused my highest ad miration. He replied : "The combat is not ended. The whole movement, ex tending over the Eastern States, and in many of the Western States, is noth ing in the world, but the wiliest fanat icism. They have found in me, as Editor of the Advocate, a serious ob stacle, and their next move will be to get me out of that office. I told him that, all over our secti m of the country, he would find, I thought, that the people were in hearty sym pathy with him. While there, no doubt.exists radical differences of view in our estimates of the late issues be tween the North and the South, still I was greatly pleased with the personal behavior of my "new cousin," as he humorously styled himself. On meet ing Dr. B., it requires but a moment's observation for a stranger to discover that he is in the presence of a gigantic intellect. He is master of English, and possesses a facility and a power of ut terance,even in ordinary conversation, wihieh 1 have observed in but very few. The lingual expression never has to wait for the mental pro jess. Words are n )t merely empty sounds, to awak en echoes and kill time; but they, with such men, are living, breathing tilings, s.rained to the limit of their capacity with the burden of thought which they are made to carry. When I come in contact with a mind that moves along its orbit with the symmetry an 1 the accuracy of a sidereal revolution; that apprehends, penetrates, analyzes, ar ranges, and comprehends its subjects of thought with the swiftness and sub t'e power of the electric current, that causes every organ of speech to move, in the sweet harmony of perfect obe dience by reason of the irresistible forces of the cerebral battery, then it is that I delight to take off my hat and hsten as I would to the indescribable, alternate murmur and roll of the ocean. Hut I am drifting." The fight Dr. Buckley is making against the dangerous tendency in the Northern Methodist Church is brave and may make him a martyr m the end. lie deserves the thanks f every one who believes in the Xew Testament as the word of God. Wilmington, N. (J., .Time 20th, '01. For the Advocate. Modern Evangelists. liY REV. j. w. LSE. Dear Dr. Reid : It is with much sorrow and regret .that I see articles from time to time in your estimable paper, from the pens of christian ministers, ridiculing and condemn ing by insinuation and innuendo, the work of men whom they vaguely term the "Modern Evangelist." These correspondents in most gener al and sweeping terms, cast unkind aspersions upon the work of all evangelists without any exception or qualification. Now I ask in the name of common justice, is this fair? Is this right? Let us for the sake of argument sup pose that some evangelists do adopt methods in revival work which we Methodists cannot consider ortho dox, is that sufficient reason for de nouncing as dangerous and detri mental to the cause of true Christi anity all men who have consecrated their time and their talents to the work and service of God in the evangelistic field? If this reason ing were logical, let us just apply it to the p-astorate and see what its legitimate conclusions wguld be. Suppose there are in the ministry, some men who would make better farmers or merchants than preach ers, good men whose greatest mis take consists their calling are as a, rule in having mistaken and consequently unsuccessful in the work of the church, would that he sufficient reason for the public to ridicule and condemn the entire ministry, in whose honored ranks are to be found some of the grandest and noble it of God's heroes? All reasonable men would consider such a conclusion entirely unwarranted and unjust, as they do the narrow minded and petulant attacks made by self constituted critics, upon some of God's servants whom they please; I to style "Modern Evan Nearly every great inove the spread of the Gospel initiated by the Evange- gelists." ment for ha-s been list or Missionary of the Cross. John and Charles Wesley and Whitfield were nothing more nor less in their day than "Modern Evangelists." So "modem" was John AYesley that he was not permitted to preach in his father's pulpit, but he did preach on his tombstone, and gave utterance to those memorable words that have been the motto of Methodism ever since: "The world is my parish." The High Church ecclesi astics ctf those days, the same as at the present day, frowned upon such rant and fanaticism, but God was in the movement, and one of the great est religious reformations ever seen, was the lesult. The Apostolic Church recognized the office of evangelist, and nearly all the chris tian churches at the present day are realizing the absolute necessity of evangelistic effort to prevent them dying from stagnation and inertia. Look at the activity now displayed in this direction by the Presbyteri an Church. This grand old conser vative church is awaking out of its sleep, and with a mighty effort cast ing off some of its antiquated and fossilized ideas, and is meeting the emergency and need of the present day, by sending out "Modern Evan gelists." The church of England is doing the same thing through its Missioners such as Dr. W. Hay Aitken and others. This same prin ciple is recognized indirectly by the Baptist Church, who although os tensibly decrying the work of the 'Modern Evangelist," yet notice with approval in their official or gans, the success, whenever achiev ed, of certain men of their own de nomination. I believe the day is not far distant when our own beloved Methodist Church, South, shall in its wisdom see the necessity and utility of ap pointing to the office and work of the Evangelist, men who are en dowed with necessary gifts and graces for revival work. These evangelists to assist the overworked and over burdened pastor in pro tracted meetings, and thus give the latter more ample time and oppor tunity to attend to the many other onerous duties which are incidental to his work. Every pastor is nat urally desirous to stand well with his Annual Conference by making a perfect report; but to do this he is compelled to devote the greater part of his time to other matters which devolve upon him as preacher in charge, such as Conference assess ments, church building, etc., and consquently cannot give as much at tention as he would desire to pre paration for revival work. He knows that his success as a pastor is graded, and th it his promotion depends on his financial reports as" much as the spiritual state of his church. When a preacher can re port to his Annual Conference "all the assessments paid in full," this fact will hide a multitude of short comings in other directions. We can very easily see how in such cases the "Modern Evangelist" would be a benefit to the pastor, and a blessing to his people. As the Methodist Church is an active, wide awake, progressive church, these practical considerations will sooner or later make themselves felt in our General Conference, and wdil de mand and receive suitable legisla tion to meet the emergency. Until this is done there is room as well as need for the "Modern Evangelist." When we think of the infidelity and scepticism that is abroad, the unbelief and indifference to religi ous truth, and the almost total lack of piety on the part of some in every community, it should inspire all God's servants with more zeal for the Master's cause, and disarm all unkind and unjust criticism of that band of men called by way of deri sion the "Modem Evangelists." The saddest feature of this question is that most of the criticisms are of such a nature as to border on ego tism. H some pastor holds a suc cessful protracted meeting he will report the same, and distinctly state that he did all the preaching himself, and was not compelled like some of his less talented brethren, to call to his aid that awful bug bear the Jlouem iwungeiist: UllU. JUO 1UI LU- er impresses on our minds the fact tnac ne ueneves many more would hav-t joined his church, had he adopt ed the loose method of that buga boo, the "Modern Evangelist." How do you like that Brother Sam Jones and Dr. Leo. Rosser ? Such ebullitions of feeling emanating from this good, but egotistical broth er, prove to all who read his phil lipic, in the first place, that he is certainly amazed and astonished at his own success when success with the pastor should be the rule, and not the exception; and in the next place he wishes it distinctly under stood that he and he alone, must have all the credit for the work thus accomplished; this honor he will not divide with another, and especially with that dreadful man, the "Mod ern Evangelist." Let me remark that I never knew a pastor to refuse any person who professad conversion under my min istry, admission to membership in his church; and yet I am one of those scare crows, dubbed the "Modern Evangelist." The Protestant Epis copal and the Presbyterian Church es have devout members in their folds that were converted at meet ings conducted by the writer. But now for the climax ! Oh tell it not in Raleigh ! Publish it not in the "Advocate!" If you do the whole world will be astounded, for they will surely hear it. My good Bap tist brother who does not believe in evangelistic meetings, especially Union Meetings, holds aloof, and views the warfare from afar until success is assured; then he paddles his little canoe across the river, and as the brood is hatched, at the close of the incubation period, he looks out for all the web-footed, whose familiar cry is aqua ! aqua ! and with delight he takes under his sheltering wings, and paddles back to his island home, all my birds that turn out to be ducks or goosie gos lings. I believe in consistency, but in such a case as this, let me ex claim, "Oh consistency, what a jew el thou art !" An article from one of your cor respondents, that appeared lately in your paper severely criticising the work of "Modern Evangelists," was copied in the columns of your religi ous contemporary, the Biblical Re corder, with strong expressions of approval, which made me mighty suspicious of something being wrong in that article, and that it boded nothing good for Methodism. Pilate and Herod were made friends over the crucifixion of our Lord, and this was a case of history repeating itself. The Editor of the "Biblical Recorder" endorsing a Methodist minister, holding a Lovef east togeth er, and making friends over the crucifixion of the poor down trod den "Modern Evangelists." So long as pastors of any and all denominations, are not only willing but anxious to take into their churches those who have professed conversion at meetings conducted by that troublesome religious tramp, the "Modern Evangelist," they should, if for consistency's sake alone, stop their uncharitable criti cism of men, whom God honors in the salvation of souls; and the re sults of whose arduous labors are placed entirely to the credit of the pastors whose churches the converts join. It is not for me to say what motives prompt those would-be censors of the "Modern Evangelist," but the tone of their articles, to say the least, would suggest to the un prejudiced reader a harsh, censori ous, captious spirit, bordering on egotism, jealousy and sycophancy. For the benefit of those who do not know me, I would say that I am a "modern evangelist," as I am only 41 years of age, you cannot place me as yet among the ''ancients," I am a Methodist from head to foot, second to none in my loyalty to the church of the nineteeth century, was ordained in 1837 by Bishop Key. I believe and preach the funda mental doctrines of our glorious Methodism, which are the teachings of the Bible, i. e. repentance, faith, regeneration; justification, and the Witness of the Spirit; I believe in deep conviction; pungent sorrow for sin; forsaking of sin; an experiment al religion and Holy Ghost power. I believe mthe old "Methodist Altar" and .Mourner s iiencia , ana now in the name of. justice, in the name of the mu ;h abused "Modern Evan relist '' all of whom I believe to be "CGus6crt4,lc j, oiiiGci'c a, lid godly men, I say it is not fair, it is not just, it is not charitable, for any christian, be he preacher or layman, to denounce in such unmeasured and sweeping terms, without any qualification, specification, explanation or excep tion, either expressed or implied, the noble hand of devoted and consecrat ed, zealous and hard working men, called "Modern Evangelists." For the Advocate. Our Washington Letter. (From our Regular Correspondent.) Some very plain talk on the sub ject of temperance was indulged in at the anniversary meeting of the World's Woman's Christian Tem perance Union, held here Sunday afternoon, and as far as can be learn ed it is generally indorsed by the friends of the temperance cause. It seems that last year some of the big brewers and malsters of this country requested the State Department to ascertain for them the best means for introducing their products into South and Central America, and that the department at once went to work, through the U. S. Consuls, obtained the information asked for and had it printed in book form for distribution among those who had asked for the information. Mrs. Maggie B. Piatt succeeded in get ting a copy of this book and upon it she based a very stirring address. She said : "For years the temperance people have been beseiging Congress with petitions begging for a commission of inquiry into the alcoholic liquor traffic, but their petition has never been granted. The liquor men do not want the traffic investigated, be cause they know that if the calcium light of public investigation be turn ed upon their business it would ex pose such festering corruption, such denths of infamy, such demoraliza tion of homes, and degradation of human beings as would arouse a cyclone of popular indignation . . "The; (Government, through it State department doffs its hat to the liquor interest, and says. 'Certainly, gentlemen, certainly; your request shall be complied with with pleas ure,' and forthwith the machinery of the Government is set in motion to drum up trade for American brewers in ether lands. If that is 'cordial sympathy with all well-directed efforts' we want no more of it. Open-handed, barefaced hostili ty is better than such sympathy. The United States Government, which we have delighted to honor, has stooped to make of itself a drum mer for the beer trade. Such busi ness is an insult to christian woman- hood, a burning disgrace to the na tion, and a blistering shame to all Christendom. This Government has not made for itself a hundred years of brilliant history that it may now, at the dawn ot the twentieth century, fall from its high place among the nations to the low level of a brewery and dabbler in beer. Great is the fall of this Gov ernment when it neglects that which it has declared should bs the first concern of all good govern ments, the virtue and sobriety of its people and at the behest of the li- qour traffic sets itself to work as a drummer for the beer trade." After finishing her address, of have quoted but a small which I portion, Mrs. riatt presented a memorial addressed to the Govern ment requesting that it desist from further efforts to aid the brewers and liquor men, as that class of men are amply able to do their own cor respondence, and the work is not in the line of duties of the Honorable Secretary of State, and setting forth the fact that such work was an in sult, which in the name of humanity and charity, the meeting protested against, and made the prediction that if it was continued the sun of this proud nation would set in blood, and woe, and shame. The memori al was adopted by a unanimous and rising vote as expressing the sense of the meeting, which was a large one. It was also resolved to flood the next Congress with petitions asking for a commission to investi gate the alcoholic liquor traffic. Mr. W. Hind Smith, who has been for twenty-seven years Secretary of the British Y. M. C. A. and who is now returning home after a tour of 30,000 miles for the purpose of visit ing and forming branches of the as sociation in foreign countries, de livered an address to young men here Sunday choosing as the basis a part of the 15th verse and 24th chap, of Joshua "And, if it seem evil un to you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom you will serve; but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord." Mr. Smith has visited while on his present tour, Egypt, Palestine, Spain, India, Ceylon, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, the Sandwich Islands, Victoria, Queensland and British Columbia, and he has established eleven new associations and taken the pre liminary steps for the foundation of thirteen others. He is very enthusi astic in his work. A movement is on foot to carry a crowd from this City to the Chris tian Endeavor Convention that is to be held at Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 9 to 12. Last year Washing ton sent to St. Louis 54 delegates, which formed the largest delegation from an eastern city, and this year the expectation is to send 200 dele gates. Washington, D. C. An Example for the Saints. A story about Mr. Stanley, which represents him as a conscientious Sabbath-keeper, is being widely cir culated. It is said that while in Los Angeles lecturing he filled an engagement on Saturday night, and instead of proceeding on his journey the next day, according to the an nouncement in the papers, he tar ried in the city over Sabbath, at tending church with other worship pers. When some one expressed surprise that he had not left the city, the great explorer said : "No; we never travel on Sunday." This fact should not appear sd singular as to excite remark. It is nothing more than right that Mr. Stanley should conscientiously avoid Sunday travel. But when ministers patronize Sunday trains, and when railroad officials testify that they have been urged to run Sunday trains by church members to accom modate them in going to and from church, such acta as this of Mr. Stanley assume great significance. Sunday railroad travel is needless and wrong. One of the chief forces now operating to destroy the Sab bath is the Sunday railroad busi ness, and whenever ministers and church members patronize Sunday trains they strike a blow at the Sab bath. The fact that they are travel ing to church does not lessen the mischief. One presiding elder who had filled the office for many years, and whose districts were well supplied with railroad facilities, once declared that he never made use of trains on Sunday. When asked how he managed to visit the churches on his district he replied : "I go on Saturday, and make no ap pointments which I cannot reach without Sunday travel." Why may not all do so ? One of the chief obstacles in the way of those who contend against the prevalent and growing Sabbath desecration of our day is the atti tude of some church members, min isters, and men of great influence in the church in reference to this sub ject. They persist in Sunday travel. They do it openly, sometimes an nouncing from the pulpit that they must close the service early in order to catch a train, or that they wish the congregation to remain standing after the benediction to give them opportunity to get out m time to take the train which is due in a few minutes. Do ministers know how such an nouncements strike the congrega tion? Do they consider what effect they have on the young, on those who make no profession of religion, and on those who think these things are sinful, and on the case of Sab bath reform ? It will not do to say that we are not responsible for the effect of our acts on others. If it were a plain duty, from which there is no way of escape, then one might say : "I am not responsible for its effect on oth ers." But what christian principle would christians violate by abstain ing from Sunday travel ? Is it be cause they are compelled by inward conviction of duty that church mem bers ride on the trains on Sunday? We risk nothing when we say that such travel is needless. It is not to be denied that some ministers and church members have placed themselves in situations where Sunday railroad travel ap pears to thera to be a necessity. If railroad facilities had not been at hand they would not have assumed these conditions. But no one has a riht to rnak 3 an appointment for himself or any one else which will involve Sunday travel, nor has any one a right to accept an appointment of this kind. When christian people appeal to railroad officers to run Sunday trains for religious purposes and when they make use of these trains in the performance of their Sunday work,they allow themselves to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers." Dear Editor : I send the above from the"Christian Advocate" (New York) and hope you will insert it, because of its real worth. I was glad the Bishops of the sev eral Methodist Churches, with sev eral Bishops of other churches agree against the "Exposition" being opened on Sunday; and of your edi torial note on the same subject. That however is a small matter compared to the running of the trains and delivering of mails on the Sabbath, by which the whole nation is being taught to disregard the sanctity of God's holy day. Fifty twro lessons each year, in every part of this great nation, will go very far to destroy, in the public conscience, any acknowledgement of God's claim upon the day and will tend to disobedience to His will man other respects. We must not be partakers or helpers of the wrong. Sincerely, J. A. Cuninggim. Some Short Selections. Troubles always look big at a dis tance. "If ye love me keep my command ments." No man lives who does not need a Savior. Christ is always close to those who need Him. Whisky is not the only thing that intoxicates. Before you can do much good, you must be good. There is no heaven except for those who overcome. Many a man signs his death war rant with his teeth. The way to love God more, is to trust Him more. There isn't any place in God's ser vice for a coward. Whatever brings us nearer to God is a blessing to us. Rani's Horn.
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Raleigh, N.C.)
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July 8, 1891, edition 1
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