9 w 4
ESTABLIf .0 IN 1855.
Eb.fORIAL
LET US BE JUST.
Some time ago we sent out to the
preachers and a large number of lay
jjjen of the North Carolina Conference
a request for an expression of views on
certain questions that are likely to
come up for consideration at the ap
proaching General Conference. One
0 the questions to which an answer
was requested is this: "Should the
publishing House money be returned
to the United States Senate?" We
have received a large number' of re
plies to this question, and the other
questions asked, and they will appear
to the Raleigh Christian Advo
cate of April 30. Whatever this
issue, which will be a General Confer
ence number, may lack, it will
not lack a full, free, honest expre:
sion of opinion on the part of our
preachers and laymen on some of the
questions to be considered at Dallas
by the law-making body of our Church.
We had intended to withhold any
editorial opinion touching any of these
questions until a later period, but we
have considered it proper to write a
few words concerning the attitude of
the Senate to the question of the Pub
lishing House money. The brethren
who have sent in replies are divided
on this question Quite a number
have expressed themselves as opposed
to the return of the money or any part
of it. These brethren hive given their
opinion honestly. On this point we
have at this juncture nothing to say.
It appears, however, that some of these
brethren couple with their opinion an
emphatic indignant condemnation of
the Senate. The idea seems to be
that the Senate practically admits that,
in making the Publishing House ap
propriation, it paid only a just and
legal claim, and that in making a fuss
over it afterward it only stultified and
incriminated itself. This idea seems
to bejgeneral.
But the idea is erroneous as we see
it, and we have studied the question
closely.jgThe condemnation of the
Senate of the United States is neither
just, nor necessary to the vindication
of the Book agents, the Book Commit
tee, or theaChurch at large. Hence we
wggest,that the following facts should
be borne in mind:
(1) The Senate claimed that in
passing the bill it was moved only by
the consideration that the claim was
made by trustees for the benefit of
L .
uene&cianes: that the hill teas not
pissed on the grounds of legal de
maiid, but on the grounds of mere grace
a&d expediency.
(2) That such being the case, the
Senate had the same right to protect
l&e beneficiaries from excessive char
gesas have the courts of the land
when cases are tried in which estates
infants and trust funds are involved
(3) The Senate voted for the bill on
the supposition that only a small fee
was paid by the Book Agents Pub
lcand private statements to this ef
cu was made by Senators who were
WUrKlnp for tVl mccna n( tVlA hill
he disclosure of the fact that as much
A
35 per cent was made placed these
waors in an embarrassing attitude,
ac investigation was needed on this
if on no other.
o) 1 he investlaatintr Committee
e Qn 01 its way, it seems to us, to
asize the patent truth that the
ORGAN OF THE NORTH
M. E. Church, South, is free from all
blame in the matter, and appeared
more than willing to set the Church
right in the minds of the public.
Whatever may be the grievances of
the Church in the matter this expres
sion of the Committee under the pecu
liar circumstances was no less than
magnanimous.
So we maintain that it is possible to
settle this vexed matter without abus
ing the Senate, which deserves no
abuse. The problem is to be worked
out among ourselves as a Church. If
there is any blame to be found, it must
be found among us.
mm mm
THE PROBLEM OF WORLDINESS.
The question of worldly amuse
ments, in other words, "worldliness",
has given Methodists much trouble.
Oar pastors agree that there is noth
ing else which gives them so much
serious concern as the disposition of
our young people to 1 un after those
pleasures which are forbidden in the
Word of God and by the General Rules
of our Church.
This fact, in our opinion, is not due
to a too stringent interpretation of the
divine injunctions. It is not due to
any peculiarity of our young people
expressed in a greater fondness than
the young people of other churches
for worldly amusements. All young
people are alike in their likes and
dislikes. Neither is it due to the
fact that we have such a large number
of young people in our Church. ""'
A partial explanation may be found
in the following considerations: The
majority of Methodists from the be
ginning have been composed of those
in the lowlier, but not less worthy,
walks of life. Methodism has always
prided itself on its mission to the
poor. It has done this so insistently
and positively that we are sometimes
inclined to believe that the effect has
been to repel the rich and high. Until
a few decades ago the poverty idea
largely affected the gifts of the Church.
Read 4 'Post Oak Circuit" in order to
come in contact with the truth of this
statement. 'You are poor, therefore a
penny a member' ' is a doctrine which
for a century drank up the life-blood
of Methodism's generosity, and the
traces can yet be seen, we are sorry to
say. But the fact is, the Methodist
Church is not rich, and makes no spe
cial claim to social prestige, though
many Methodists are well off in this
world's goods, and are in the highest
and most cultured circles of life.
Bat there is nothing in this to cause
our young people to run inordinately
after the "god of this world." No, the
misfortune is that there is in other
Churches another class of young peo
ple who are supposed to represent the
very highest in social culture, and our
young people, under the stress and 1m
pulsion due to every transitional life,
covet these banned pleasures not so
much as pleasures but as stepping
stones to what are considered true so
cial heights. We have no objections
to Lent, but do you know that we
have young Methodists who are so
swayed by this peculiar tendency to
reach after so-called social advantage
that they do not hesitate to break the
rules of their Church except during
Lent? They will dance in June, but
not during Lent. Lent is supposed to
be the property in fee simple of those
who represent the hignest social cul
ture of the land.
CAROLINA CONFERENCE.
RALEIGH, N. C, APRIL 23. 1902
What Methodists need most, with
the exception of the best type of good
old Holy Ghost religion, is a spirit of
stronger self-appreciation, more sturdy
independence, a more definite con
sciousness that Methodism shows to
day strength sufficient to sway not only
spiritual, but mental and social, life.
When we reach this point, the Church
will have less difficulty in keeping
our young people from the dwarfing,
devitalizing embrace of worldliness.
In the meantime, it behooves Method
ism to hold on to the "old landmarks,"
and have the determination to . make
no compromise whatever with the
world. This is our safety.
; mm mm
MEASURING SUCCESS.
It is difficult for Methodists to make
secondary the idea of financial profit
in the expectations coanected with
Church institutions. The tendency
is to measure the success of certain in-s-titutiots
by the standard of dollars
and cents. This tendency is partly
due to an oversight of the fact that
the Church as a business factor can
not possess the same constituency as
can the secular world. It is a sad
thought that Church enterprizes can
appeal to the public only through the
channels of quasi charity. Hence the
enterprises of the Church have lacked
the solid bases of secular enterprises.
This may be providential, inasmuch
as it will tend to fix the mind and
heart of the Churclion the higher
end that of giving out spiritual profit
and not taking in commercial gains.
In iLis connection, it may be proper
to state that there is somewhat of
unreasonableness in the claim that the
Publishing House is not declaring any
dividends. Dr. Hoss in the last
Nashville pertinently says: "Mr. Wes
ley was prompt to avail himself of all
the helps within his reach, and he
early saw that he could largely in
crease the scope, and gu'ality of his
influence by laj ing hold of the print
ing press. Let it be distinctly affirm
ed in the outset that he did not expect
to make money. His sole purpose
was to diffuse sound religious know
ledge."
It behooves every enterprise of the
Church which deals with dollars and
cents, to use only the best business
methods and to strive for the largest
spiritual, and intellectual and secular
profit. But let it be remembered that
spiritual and intellectual profits are
paramount, and that as long as such
are reaped, no Church enterprise can
be a failure.
DEATH OF DR TALMAGE.
He was born in Bound Brook, N. Y.,
January 7, 1832, and died in Wash
ington, D. C, April 12, 1902. The
cities. Philadelphia and Brooklyn, were
his principal fields of activity. In the
former, he served eight years as pastor
of the Second Reformed Dutch Church;
in the latter, he lived most of his after
life. A few years ago after burning,
for the second time, of the Tabernacle
i a Brooklyn, he moved to Washington
D C.
That Dr. Talmage was one of the
most widely known of American cler
eyman, cannot be denied. His ser
mens were read weekly all over the
civilized world. The announcement
that Talmage would prea:h at any
place was the signal for the gathering
of an immence audience. It is well
M. E. CHURCH, SOUTH.
i i ,.
remembered by many what an occasion
his presence made Trinity Commence
ment in 1876. His sermon and ad
dress on this occasion created an
epoch in the history of the college.
His preaching was peculiarly sensa
ional. He chose strange texts and
adopted strange methods of delivery
and sermonizing. He was dramatic
:o the highest degree. As a word-
painter he has never been excelled. - It
sa dangerous thing for any preacher
o twine the smallest garland of flowers
around a column of truth, be it never
so massive. This, we oiesume is on
, j.
he same principle, as that no man
who expects to be great can afford to
be a wit. But Mr. Talmage used the
flowers where there was no column
of thought to be adorned. He
eschewed argument and seemed to
glory in it. The fact that in spite of
his he caught and kept the popular
ear all over the wcrld proved his
genius.
It was easy for him to enthuse a
congregation. He was a failure in or
ganizing a church and in developing
and directing its energies. The inner
life of Brooklyn Tabernacle lacked
virility and aggressiveness. No Church
which neglects to exercise the mission
ary spirit can expect to retain long its
pDwer.
Yet, Dr. Talmage has been a great
po Tver in the world. Optimistic in the
extreme, he has made life sunnier for
thousands. A fragrance will linger
around his memory.- A good man, he
has gone to receive the good man's re
ward.
- mm mm
Bishop Andrews, in an address made
in Baltimore a few days ago, argued
that the theory of evolution is possi
ble, stating that God might have adop
ted this method of divine unfoldment,
adding here and there a great stroke
a mighty miracle. Dr. Buckley says,
"Such a doctrine of evolution is com
patible with the orthodox theory." But
there is a wide gap between this doc
trine of evolution and that taught by
the majority of scientists. They ap
pear to be desirous of eliminating God
altogether.
New Literature.
HELL IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY.
By Mrs. Sarah Hinton Johnson. J. W.
Burke & Co., Macon, Ga.
In this volume, Mrs. Johnson, the
daughter of a Methodist minister, ut
ters the protest of an increasingly large
number of Christians against the or
thodox idea of Hell. Although Mrs
Johnson professes not to be in thor
ough sympathy with the "Higher
Critics," yet she repeatedly falls back
for support upon the results of liberal
invest 'gat ion. She does not attempt
to do away with any Hell at all,
but revolts, with all her soul,
against the teaching that the wicked
must suffer eternally. To refute al
the Scriptures which seem to hold out
such a prospect, she quotes Christ's
words: "Broad is the way that leadeth
to destruction," and, "Fear him rather
who hath power to destroy both sou
and bo iy in Hell," from which she con
eludes that the wicked are fiaally de
stroyed. There is unmistakable sin
cerity in every chapter of Mrs. John
son's book, and she says nothing but
what she has found toy be good and
trueior herself But she has failed to
convince the public that all her views
are sound.
New Series. Vol. 4 No. 12.
X-RAYS PROM GOD'S WORD. Bible
Readings by Emma and Nina Tucker.
Foote aid Davies Co., Atlanta, Georgia.
Price $1.
This book, written by two intellect
ually and spiritually cultured sisters,
does what it claims to do gives a
series of practical, stimulating Bible
readings. The subjects treated cover
every topic that comes within the
range of pastoral and pulpit demands.
Dr. W. R. Lambuth, Missionary Sec
retary, says in the Introduction: "I
heartily commend this manual to those
who feel the Word burning in their
bones as a fire. I urge it upon those
who would wield it as a hammer, who
would feed the hungry with its bread,
or carry water to the thirsty from its
fountains, who would put to flight the
powers of darkness with the sword of
the Spirit, or throw its searchlight
along the dark and rugged pathway of
ight."
MOUNDS, MONUMENTS, AND IN
SCRIPTIONS. By Mark B. Chapman,
D. D. Publishing House M. E. Church,
South. Price $1.25
Ordinarily, the above title would
not suggest anything fresh and inspir
ing. While the reading public are in
clined to ascribe adequate importance
to the subject of archaeology, yet there
is lacking anything like a thirst for
information on such a subject. But we
can conscientiously say tbat in
"Mounds, Monuments, and Inscrip
tions", Dr. Chapman has given us a
book which in a simple, fascinating
style, gives that information which
instructs and inspires. No one can
read the book without adding
largely not only to his furifl of Biblical
knowledge but to his stock of faith.
The author oegins at the beginning,
throwing light on Genesis, and reveals
facts which are intimately connected
with Palestine in the time of Christ
and the early Christian Church.
THE SOTRY OP CREATION. By Rev.
G. C. Andrews. Yindicator Publishing
House, Greenville, Ga.
In this book the author gives his
account of Creation from. the stand
point of the Biblical scholar and a lay
scientist. A wonderful familiarity
with the Bible is shown, and an un
concealed contempt for science. Those
readers who will not be impressed
with the author's knowledge of biology
and geology will be instructed in
certain practical phases of thought,
and will be at the same time amused
at the flashes of humor which occur
on almost every page. We are not
sure but that the author has come
nearer the truth in certain particulars
than have the men with telescopes,
microscopes, and scalpels. The book
is written in a simple and somewhat
loose style. Our conviction is that
the time spent in reiding its contents
will be far from wasted.
EARLY CONVERSION. By Rev. E.
Payson Hammond, ALA. J. S. Ogilvie
Publishing Company, New York. Price
25 cents.
It is dedicated to the pastors, Chris
tian parents, Sunday school teachers,
and leaders of juvenile societies in
Great Britain and America, who be
lieve in early conversion. This fact
shows a phase of thought which has
been for sometime attracting the atten
tion of evangelical workers in nearly
every Christian Qhurch. "Early Con
version" , shows how children and
young peop'e can be led to Christ and
prepared for Chuich membership.
There are many illustrations of a prac
tical value. We comcnend this little
volume to our pastors, Sunday school
superintendents, and teachers, and all
others who have in charge the spirit
ual development of the young.
.