Newspapers / North Carolina Christian Advocate … / July 17, 1867, edition 1 / Page 1
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.. ;' i ! u ETHODI Sirv. li. T. HUDSON", Diivj'tin tUd'stor. oki;an of the north Carolina conference, of THEtMETIIODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. Ilev. W. II. CUNIIV(;(;LV, Publishe r. M. 'OI, . I! A I.KIOI I, 1ST. C, AriaNILU:Y, J LTY 17, 18G7. 4 , IstO. "27. T ff E EPISCOPAL- M ST 0K i a he rVulpiL , ces of this want are hand. ( ! d speaks. ' be x , nil' ! lot k fi r ;! . eoni'cSS, Ijte 'OrUllle, ! for Zion and u's : and agonizing ? Arc v,i ready for a revival. .Iff the tithes all in? Hive ; we pr. vets Clod? Oo.l is not slack. - fter a hue tribute to Summerfield, !! mi lilt' . nii-i i. i jil ist fc, I-iml, IJcive T'ny Work-' 11 U:Kl K .: 22. Htbukuk was one o: the bust of men that i vt-r liv.'tl -a true watrliiiian, a revivalist of the spiritual stainn. Me ,i - 4- r t i ... It is not a vain tiling to serve tin saw some tmngs m tue light or eurm- , -i i l ,m, ii ii i i.or.l. The promise is sure. It' we TV I'.'i 1 ! I i'V. 1!1IM. II I i . I ) T II' . I Holy Spirit. Th" Lord's cause was neglected, and even professors wore in a low and worldly si at-. Sin anil i i Satan ran riot. Judgments and -To- I need a r vival, how much more de sr.i i . m-is ii"t-.l tin1 power ot oi:e, tor conversion and salvation ? 3 lav :ppaic?it on every Is it not to pray, ; Dr. Alexander took up four or live blessing? To we I huge packages of sermons, tied up in truva:'. ami care . brown paper with whipcord, and kick- A:.- we burdened ! ing them all playfully over into a cor ner he said to me, "Theiv, Mr. Cuv ler, goes the labor of ray life. Ami now. after twenty years of experience, I dec-hire' to you caneliilly thai if I euultl live iiiy life over again, I never wouM take one of those manuse riprs heir J with me into niy pulpit ! I would take the ! them in my head ami heart, and not election 1-ettcr on ChmeJi Recotfjjtruc t ion. stru. tioii multiplied their voices an.l dem aistrationt. The wise propliei saw th; . 7v and tir.:fiy remedy. Hi-cried Lord restore to us the joys of vafio'i and upheld irs by hi.: n:s sal , s: .irii : then we will tern h siniu rs, anil ll:ey will be ceiierl d. (,'hiist will save. e are sa.crilicinir rroaehui' to ssay-reading. Yet I would have )',, ni:k pr'iiar(i':!), with a good ; nr nlanvt',, vvhicli is worth to me more t;on. wrought owly jy the merctiH in tervention of the powr and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Pure religion is what Clod ordained. This is the duty and the privilege of men, yea the high est glory of all. It needs reviving by God's Spirit, as the opening spring suc ceeds the cold and barren winter, by the wanning sun melting awr y the ice and giving fertility. A revival is God's work, tVom begin ning to consummation agencies, in struments, measures, and application. In this he cm; .lovs the church as vvork- J.o i .. .';h '." Jit - h S'j.y-:..- ',!--t :i l ay liliravy,) cud jj'ioa I ;trviji'. we vlt!l, hive apt ji;cost '; God is more iir.-i; delivery with great enthusiasm. BY KEV. lilt. MOKAX. . t-7( .V'rfi:n VitiUiti. d willing to give us ail things lu:ii . e v to give gifts to our children. Oh, that sinners would repent, believe, obey and be prepared to share a revival, and to meet God! Now is the- r -iions time; to-morrow may In- to late. Lord, revive thv work! V.. A. I of poling friend! aim at. a high degree passion in preaching 11 tc d-u-t passion no Jiwa)!ur I i;v I : ! ' at crs ioL-vtln r with him. And bv his power the earth. -vhallhclp and the world 1 You ma sliall work for him and his people. A j thai the 1: revival implies a ;'.;,.: the winter ,! you said of cold and death is gone: the- sun f j -.:' of iiu riguietusiiess, wnn spring', summer and autumn has come, and gives us new light, life and fruit fulness. The gracious rain and the covenant bow salute and embrace us at our thanks givings. Converts are always inclu ded. When Zion travails, sons ami daughters are multiplied, truly cot:- ":f ! 1 e. Argument, maile re-.l-hot lv and holy tire is what pleases people ami holds t h . m. Argument admits of great vehemence and tire. Unt man can lie a great pn g'.vat feeling. Aim at a 'it inisiasm. The old Greek t used to stir people up, ami kt . : i s. Jain 1865. To iltQ h'diliirs of Jo' Xi'W i'oA; ; l!hri! km Adcui-ati' andl Journal : 1 learn from an old friend nvA class mate, with whom I had f late the pleasure of an interview in' Xef.vbern, X. C, as well as from severaj of your Church newspapers, that val'Js and somewhat conflicthig ilans t'epn- jluefc of ts.ii oi-:cIe:,i.-)ti;".T:I" c the South have been proposcefwiirt ad- v.ci:t'd witlt sonic degree of zeal and earnestness. As I am now a member of the Xorth Carolina- Confere nce, though but a few connected vwtli the Geiie- vears sine ii ( 'i ! i i . '17 i f . e . ii !' (as mam ier withoat ! of your readers may remember,) ami ;h and holy j Iiave therefore an opportunity of somethin i, !o;;n ; .t i . 15 -i .ii. Te:tei Iievivals are He. sary iu in-.-niui.rrv: To power and increase of t the efticiency of the church; thegn. of the Christian; ami the avak--i of sinners high and i. v; they are cessary in order to carrv the holv iuto all the haunts of wickedness. ; to the battle-tields of a IV lu ili.'Us Wt conouei, -t -nvert ant save, i o v.iv. !'.5(. im.ij. 'eti I'L'os ii.ee-:, c-.;i i : . i . i jl'I'Ml! , w ak u ti:i- s!t we lding supper. iv vivai ;uv as mr.: I ; i T i 1 : n.a'-ic up t.f 1 M t ks CoUlilrv in or,;-over-es-nua.te tl of that Volii'ue . iamitti !: t b .ok gives v.ir s, can lie; and Am hi u i.uig ther- a rem- mot-i", mv ti--a met iu ) l!ie. " tie- - ; t late !)r. -iame,; W. Ale of ;:l-' hah'-d . l Jil i t pl't .i;U-ed in I V. lull Ul' I chal'ij lUi g l ic. The liiliaut ll'lou sai 1 of it. ue'i a.ictit!- -f As: u."' niiui.'ii' -tut .lav U. 1 i i:i r ! -. -: -, . ot i-a ire eiuLusias! ic- ab- -v lings, s;tc!i as art. poetry, 1 U , ii'wj i ,i (il- 1 .( 7 'i.-: TS.,,-1. conversation is fall ot eni eit their Sabbath M-nini: 1 sponge iVuui vh ! is oecil StpleCKed li'.T ii-rniii'i. live in yor :o:.!e .ii.' rling t. cry :'!. Tl'.e !est tlisc -.nrst ; ai'i i hi. i i f a mm's beMci thought-; e..hn's , luring !he wliole Wei k. 'i i .-ii w. .1:1.1 preach well. ; '. i ii e ! i lei : --ally eoi' snleiv-tl. one ! !' pruvcr :.- a better pi-t-parat ion t -i- i. . .i- 1,1 reciies Miowuig sonietlun!' aoout tue Scale oi p open j affairs in tho Sttuth, as well as in the .'iaiiy j Xovtli, I hac: coiu-luded to present to r vour readers a few th'otv'hts. which I write iu the interest of peace and of This, I assure you, is my I have h i selilsii or sec- IllufJ '. , . tvv.,1 r ot U,tery Cc iv ertaiu is likt oUun i all then t. Live for you-' u' sermon. Get ,!!)., ''lift!' . 1 i i ;ui' i in.' r.let houism. sole object, M tional u ; i!U!j-s to gratnv, anu no per sonal or iartis.m purposes to serve. 1 frankly own, in the outset, that for iiiegreal oo iy ol tue const ative cier- lurch i:i tlie Xortl ftUTV iKiUUt i States, 1 cherish, as in 1 .. tlet-ii tin fit'u t-f ioii anil too iiu-h a regard, to w: no one woiv p. ..' resti.f,- ti.e i the wander; i aek-:-tlu lei. virgins for t ( )! eet Ion us as they . pi rj Uce, -IV an. v. i Tl i ' ii." IK - war :1 a rid th" " ; ot. - X; t w. w i 1 lil "i u- tilt s ing i OIL .'vli : i. i S. ) . i ra .MUl- e cai ."5.. r.-nh: '. P.l-'V t ii. xautl aula- ( ':ii- i iu '.-.', Ay. I V' uuu i: ! ( " ,'leu , -I i are ' ,e ;i lamp.' e Il ia!! u -; i a s y its '.'il , la'lgU. i'.'i'e ; at a Lvpan rgetf; lead "."our i v. it li tlu' intention of wonndiug tueir j s'-ii'-;vsp"ct or lis -a raging their piety an. 1 intelligence. If, therefore, I shall give expression to any x -marks which may apear to be inconsistent with this general declaration, I wish it to be dis tinctly understood in advance that I itiii not therein uttering m ownstnti ills, but simply stating as a witness t t ... i ' la; v. 1 Know i :v b. lieve to- be t ie sen- tii lid Wilat it. I 't-heiOVe; t i -. I u S i; I ( t llel ; parties (Miii-i rued to nuef r-stau'l. i deem ii necessary to be thus e:- ' u on in.- pi ;ni as J 1 lunie.n f uvi- v la ;ni as V:, .4i .re I'll 11 i Uow 1, CUUi'i h " Th-.-re is too much chain ' .Cut wh: is that to the wheat '! Or luav he n. lie mistaken in his observation? "Too i ol much excitement," says another. lut ' the.': how much, compared with politics, war, j ' 'uu business or amusement ? Oh, it is the i trail : I the .tori to the iu ;. rred tt JU:U. v.- Vor a ri U r. i lie t : : -i - t ; the ei: Colli- T 1. e l s. eh niche kind, ami objt-ct disiik"'. "Costs too much,'" says the third. JJut how much compared with the antagonisms, pride .Mi.l prodigality of the world J "lee action,7' says the fourth, '"'is a great fault." JJut where', when ami what'. Surely there is action, aelvanee and success increasing. All moral reforms have received their motive power life speed and direction thereby, through ail past ages until the present. The hindrances to revivals are, sin and Satan, the th-sh and the world. Believe and obey, pray and yield to the Spirit, and the path is free and clear; " i.-torv and life are sure. . I God is the origin of all pure- revi- ! va's; they are not by might or power, j but by the Spirit, by his gospel, by J mea ts and providences. The Spirit j employs, as his agents, ministers, Prii in-' n iheoi.igical S ,1. tiieuce no was ssorship in the inarv; an-.l out iiU The tea. ier ready, for the ar 1:1V W- 11 i g -.1. lilt ver ,-'-v. 1. 1 k. Is for many a oil" . n is m. . 4-1 in-: sancgu ir AVith such rich, -f his death he wast h he- : the we;dthv and pow- at the time lo'.ed pasto e -rf Til chureli on l ifiJi Avenue at tlie corner of Xne teenth Street. At I'rince -ton College; lie ami your neighb..r Lr. T.'.i'vartl X. Kirk were " lively lads to gether," a? id knew more iibout l.iilii.ards and mint-juleps than about conic see- pi-ox!tah!e talk - the .lr honeycoml; - did my liscoitrse tome e n th: U'ings of a full earned friend 3f.iv morning. i ihinf ) ei of oiirNor.ht.ru friends, ant intim.it ions ;e- io v.uiat here m re.'U'.fii to wiia iosetl th; re. w h.inle U. ,-,-' ve: ft ca;m k.- new a ftnvnnifieas- .u.I felt and pro movement a Ier co lips ar Alas! thos etlist beside th wards in the 1 died in I iS .")!; juul witl now silent in the ash"s of 1'i'esident Ed inct ton ceinetery. lie i Siiel I'vcs ins veil tioek sliil reatl his na le. on tin: tions or Soplioeles. In af.er v.lieu God had luiele iheui both ing lights in the mini.-itry, tln-y tiniTe'I their coi'tiial intimaev. T rears ago, Alexaiitlcf sai.l to cears, me, in nuiroie. on tin.' wails ot tuo rittn Av enue Church in e-w York. He was a j delightful preacher for tliein; but not 1 a man for the masses. We have often thought that juvic s power is not. in his 1 d-'iiitT'i he is the suoerbest :-iit l -i ! Xew IhigLind, and een si: i -Minimeriieit!. Alexander s x lie in ins pun. in uuiiiorsinp a terrible toiler, and itis clubo view articles, -his volumes on h ur in iu iiVjasses wer '' was ite Ih- coni'oiua.tion of the best tU it. s of .James W. Alexander and of j.l ury Ward Beecher iu one man 'votilei. make the most glorious preach er of the ago. For Beecher Licks what Alexander so richly possessed, viz: ( nrisiian rules and mental it ligiot s sir net's for the promotion oi them of wate r ffr the little lis tor ami score; t"; Aliiel'ie; f capital wood ami drawers children of Israel." The '! of revi" Gotl. in the salvation s toriuio - hichea?. aSi- of l' a siiiglt.', unseili.-.h aim tt present men perfect in Christ for time at. eternity for glorv. The time for lev.vrs of i School Lnioi; wouhl make,' j b'.e it list of works as iliost from the iuelustrious h ue i ingtoii Irving. I Xom; of Ins many volumes would be more- interest to my Jiethoetist than his ' Tlioughts on is to glorify vceious souls. I OT an , oretnivn .1 ! a revival, and the.- set time to favor Zion, j 1 li' 11 i is ween silt: ieeis ner sin ami Pui'tlen : her responsibility ami her need: is penitent, reforms, offers to Christ, for In rself ami siuiiers, the "effectual, prayi r of the; rigliteous." Faith, con fessions ami offerings open the win dows of heaven. Pentecost is come! A e have- ample encouragement to seek rt.'vivals; from Bible history, God's promises, observation, and experience. j Preaching," published by the Scrib- ners, in Xew York. He had a speciid fondness for writing ami chatting about j sermon-making. As I look at his pho tograph, the serene benignant face with a sly humor playing about the 'profound Biblical knowledge, and thorough mastery of theology. Since Providence did not see fit to create . both those great, men in one it were a ; wi.e course for young ministers to study what is most worthy of imitation id ,,f Mi,. in TV C. ,-,,!,- far wrong wh-n lie once said to me : "A aivl J Needier is ne'i so i incii a miu- ; ister, of the "hieling of his power." i I have elevoted so Lirge a portion of : this sheet to Dr. James V. Alexander : that I have little space left fer his vet ; more giUed brother Annisox. In ge nius the younger brother stood first. is t n 'Ugut t is said reference to deration. of remark, S.eean.-:c most ot your writers, I observe, seem to entirely ovtTlooi. tho consitleration that s-In.mld the South look with elisfuvor on this project, it might prove a failure; while those who appear more considerate elo not fully appreciate the importance of t; lis mat ter, as the slightest reflection on the diiiicultics which would necessarily be involvc-el in the practical workings of most of the schemes proposed will show. It should not be; forgotten that there; are two parties whose views must be taken into account in the aeloption of any plan of this character which would be at all likely to succeeel. Every one who de sires to see peace;, unity, and concord established in the Church of Goel, must earnestly depre cate even the discussion, anel much more the adqfion, of any measures which tend to create dissensions or proeluce ill-blood, since by such means unnecessary ami perhaps insuperable obstacles may be thrown in the way of effecting a reconciliation and ultimate re-uniem between the two great branch es of American Methodism. I think irecy was not j such a re-union, unless haplessly fore stalled by intemperate zeal or defeat- as he is a gram! religious flump '''. " Yet therein lies very much eel b unwise counsels. ,w at least month I re-call a wonderful mornin I once spent with him in his in Xew York. He had just been moving. ami was overhauling oh I letter-re-arranging his library in its quarter .:,,u 1 . ii i r j , i "''-I'lwt vo!t is me same, msiorv repe-aTs it- i ,,. , t v 1 111 Ihe tnruing-up oi tl. I' MHO 11-11 LI-IT .- .if I .i.l ,.-,fl. l , '"" ii- nn ii.J.v -ii. ii-.u i.itii n.-i j surance for the future, as in the past. ' The effects of true revivals are only j good, and that continually, making in elividuuls, society, families, churches, and the world bettor. They are se en to promote life and health, civilization, commerce', arts, science, liliu-.dure. anel go.xl government, yea, and all real re formations for this and the wenhl to come. Do we not need a revival? Evielen- nc-w Fine as his library was, he still larger one iu his head. Id letters brought out several from his intimate friend John Si :.T.'.n'.iU'ii;ui. In one of these epistles from Suuimerfield -writie n in u smooth, lady-like haml occurred this sentence: "I study my plan thor oughly beforehand, ami then leave the selection of my Uv.fjmiy until I get in to tiie puipit, for the hi:-- irurd oftras riiin' V nf hi Ihr. heal t-.f 11, r niDiiind." That sentence might well be written in gold on everv minister's studv-wall. Puu'Kxtanck. A theological student once called on Br. Archibald Alexan der in great distress ef mind, doubting whether he had been converted. The ami oLl eloctor encouraged him to open his mind. Alter he was through, the aged elise-.iple, laying his hand em his 1 possible; anel it is doubtless elesirable that it should be effected, since there are goenl reasons to believe that the intere sts of our Church anel country would thereby be greatly promoted. It is aelmitted on all hands that sla very the sole cause of our separation, no longer exists in the Uniteel States, so that nothing but uncharitable prej uelices, a graceless pride, or bigoted exclusiveness of opinion, can hence forth keep up a wall of partition be tween us. I propose to show, although I fear the Xorth will not be convinced of it without making very injurious experi- it, is founded on the material assump tion that the M. E. Church, South, is disorganized, defunct, virtually deael and that the M. E. Church in tho Xorth has only to send out agents to aelmin ister on he'r effects ! But shoulel they come here on such a bootless errand. they Avill be perhaps disagreeably sur prised to find her ladyship yet alive, enjoying good general health, with a sound anel vigorous constitution, anel without any symptoms of disease to tcreate even the slightest apprehensions for her safety. i need scarcely adel that any ef forts which ,are made to depend for success on such an absurd assumption fts ihc foregoing,' musf- inevitably be injurious in their consequences, aml'm the enel prove to be even more Quixotic than the u ost extravagant aelventures of the her- of La Mancha himself. Others, and I am sorry to say, by far the greater number, favor the adop! .on of a plan, the success of which, it is contended, would be greatly pro moted, if not certainly secureel, by the impoverished comlitiem in which the fortunes of war have left the Southern churches. It is assumeel that the finan cial resources of these churches have become so exhausted that they are not now capable of self-susicuance, and that if, under these circumstances, missionaries were sent out from the Xorth, our people here would ilock to hear a pure anti-slavery gospel pro claimed without money ami without price. In such an event, it is believed that Southern Christians wentld prob- ! ably soon become as unwilling as they are at present unable te support min isters of tlu-ir own; and in this way Xorthern pre achers would, in proce ss of time, become! " masters of the situa tion." This plan (with some unimpor tant nieielilications) seems to meet with the1 most general sanction. But in my judgment and 1 speak j advisedly on this subject tnose who reason thus are wholly mistaken. Their assumptions are as iueonvct as their inferences are fallacious. The impov erishment of our Southe-ni churches is oiiiy comparative. They are poor only when compared with what they wv . . ":. - .. -. '.'-o... ':..;- 'op: s!- fereel the lo.;.: o!! many tLings, ami are yet threatened, by confiscation, with the loss of "more. The commercial value of their slaves is annihilated by the stroke; of the pen which proclaim ed emancipation; their " confederate " Securities are worthless; their movable effects have been, to a great extent, impressed or elestreryed by military au thorities on both sides; labor is disor- 4 i..u., i (ligious instruction altogether, to receiv - 1 1. A 1 ing it unuei" sucn circumstances aim from such men. We tell the conser vative Methoelists of the Xorth, with out any intention to menace or intim idate them, anel in no spirit of jealousy or ill-will, that if they wish to exert any influence for gooel on the religious mind of the South, this is not the way to do it. That should any of theiy preachers attempt tliTis to obtrude themselves upon our people, especial ly at this time, such an act would be almost universally regarded as an in excusable piece of effrontery, and con demned as ii ruele anil unprovokeel as- ii n ai i -i saurc upon an me uecencies ami sanc-i titie;s of social and lvlifious life amone o o us. They wemld doubtless succeeel along iue.tfc'5(.r " j..Urw-l M tent, where a diversity of feeling and conflict of interests have heretofore prevailed; but in the interior, evcnin X pi th Cqi'tilina. the most ei n iser afiy and ULduUrloyjng of y,x the .Ntate which were mifortun.ateiy misled into f JieFFof se'cessicin, ihe ehurches wtmltl be everywltenTY-lostul against i hem none would be fouml so poor us to elo them reverence; and their labor:-;, how ever well-meant ami arduous, could result in nothing "hut e !, only e il. .and that eon'inunlic," to tin: cause of Christ ami ?!e i in '.lism. The most, radical, and at the same time the most oifeiisive and ohi elion- able, plan whit h we have yet seen pro posed, however, is that which was adopted by (he Xe-.v ikiglanj Confe rence at its hts't, session. I will not gi ve a synopsis of its gvn cr.il provisions, as your n-atlers are doubfle.-,s siiflicieii'ty familiar with them; nor need I uilt r into a dist us sion as to the propriety or cxpcdieiu'v of its adoption, since I am fully per suaded that no well-informed person, who has any proper regard for the in tei't sts of religion or tin: welfare of lUi'tlmelism, would for oni' moment se riously think of giving it his sanction. Illeleed, it seems to lilt; that e ven its authors themselves could not have pro posed it in good faith, jnr expected render of their indiv idii.il consciences any respectable portion of the( huivb, ! Io tin' keeping of unmannerly zealots, out side of Xt-w England, to concur i or to the ontrol of New -England with them, as- it appears on i!s ery ! popes. Ou 1 lie contrary, w it Ii the inu htce to lit t; been e.; pres.-l v ti -i gnei i , li:;iii! y t ha t would revile them, or the that belief, they actptiesced in the actk n of their State governments, in with drawing from tho old Union, when il refusal to elo so would have immediate ly subjected them to all the pains and penalties of treason; and while, at tho same time, they knew that luligciv!it rights, were accorded to the new con-fedei-ation by all the great powers of Christemlom, including the Federal Government itself to allirin this, I repeat, is manifestly as unjust as it in ungenerous anel false. It confounds all moral distinctions by attempting to establish a conviction which no dialec tical subtlety can force on the judg ment, ami no earthly authority can fas ten on the conscience. Iu either or both of the above cases the essential element of criminality, namely, an mo icf or tricked iiiti'ntioii, is w anting; nnd J.v absolute law of or.i:w.a "natiuv it is simply impossible tor hiic.i motive or intention to be supplied by iin afterthought, or created bv nv hiiIi- setUent eiilightenmelit. No lihysie-al i ii i . . i A suiierings wnicn may nc lniiicteti, ami no bluste ring denunciations, be they never so ti. recly ventilated from pies: , platform, or pulpit, can extort from an honest mind a penite nt confession ef guile, where then; is only the consc- oiisiiess of e rror. " W may as well, then, inform these abolit iou oracles at once, that the niem- ( bers of the Met hod ist 1 Ipisi ipal Church, r.out u, do not now, more than before the late war, recognize them as infalli ble insl rue-tors in morals, nor will they Low to tliein as father confessors in re ligion. They do not see, nor can they be mailt' i comprehend what, hove ( these Now-Kngl.tiid brethren really seem to bike for granted in the rejn.it before us, namely, that the triumph f the Federal Government invests thm with the authority of inspired uposth s, and coi 1 1 pels t heir opponents toad iiow ledge that what they had hitherto looked upon as absurd or unwarrant able assumptions, are' in reality axiom atic truths. Tlu'V do not pe-re-eive, nor can they -be taught to understand, that the resumption of their allegiance fo the United States in v h es the sui tor no ot li. i-r purpose, than thai- ol' beA ; a i roganl. pivsumpl it n that would die ing an in: .silt : n g taunt or it studied! tate to them, they can have no coneon niiwrepivseiitalioii ol the religious pi o-I an I will make no compromise, pie of the Sotth. Bat be this as it'i Let this plan of the N w-Englaiu i may, s hi r .-is1 ii them, the '.e;jiii jv-g-.ir I. d i!, ant is-nt :d f ie -e u i i 1 1 ie i i : , 1 : ', .: C-Iii'i. iiau ,::i:.: e",-.;. Mish't I by fal-e notions of pat lit it ism, f he'se iliarisaic: 1 censors hao evi.lent- Iv mistaiien liu ir lieicesl passions tor 1 d come known to ( 'oufereiice be once- inagiiraled, and prose cut e ! with success but a few years, and M. thodisi.i in the South Would :oou be Ul 1 1 ,u it'l'etl among the e!i.. ilihurs thai were. liovei-.s aiul ' IViends,. disgusted with her hideous have iiiiii ersaliy so e.; D't ss th ir as: n eleclal'at iou ti' such 1 . 1 . ' , - 1" jars and content ion--, would immedi ately turn away from her, as if she weli; smith n with leprosy- the treat! gauized; e'nte-iirise' is stagnant; in- dustry is sttliering ii temporary aral iliviiu: graces;' and under tin- intlueuce 1 of he!" moving hosts would in longt r of this delusion, have published fo a j be heard where sin; was once crowned world a 'jiin si religious document, in ! with iefory-- the laces which were the form of aptvamhle and resolutions, j wont to bo gladdened ami illumined setting forth a plan for The evaiige iiza- i with the light of her smiles would be t ion of the South, which savots more j sh re unlet I in gloom - and the knell of of the frenzy of Mount Carmel than of1 her departure would ring out in the spirit of Calvary more of the : mournful cadence over the seem s ysis, anel their incomes for the present t fumes of the pit than the smoke of the i which erewhile echoed with her jubi- incense. f-! hint, songs. Let it be conceded for a moment From such a melancholy prospect that our Southern churche s are such j we turn aside w ith pleasure to glance sinks of iniquity, such pest-houses of'j in conclusion at another plan which, rottenness and corruption asthesere v-1 while it appears bbe theonlv feasible erenel calumniators represe nt them to'j one we have yet seen proposed, comes be; still may we not ask, Is it possible. j from a man whose name is a tower of that men who know anything of human ! strength, ami whom we all delight to nature, anil who really desire to set; it honor as the: distinguished historian of rceleemeel anil elevated, could eh lile r- Methodism. I allude of course to the ately begin the work of reforming it j plan of Dr. Stevens, .as sketched in the year are nearly cut oil. All tins is true, I aelmit; nevertheless, the average amount of wealth yet left in their pos session, in the form of real and person al property, is probably much larger than can be fouml among an equal number of Methodists in any other country. Aelmitting, however, that they arc quite as poor as they are supposed to be: that concession affords but very slight grounds for the inference that they woulel welcome anel listen te mis sionaries who might come to them from the Xorth, uneler existing circum stances. Willingly as they now ac knowledge their subjection to the Uni teel States as " tho powers that be " anel right loyally, as I believe, they uni versally intend to act henceforth in ac corelance with that acknowledgement thev have vi't, a little residuum of in-Y 1. .-i,-.-!, ,1 rt ,,-. rtn! i-.-.lf i.-.t..-.-.-.f n-liw.li I t'.ii'if"itiirr.il ilen i m i .il mul 1 1 .vI.Tixl ( ie oejui iLlilU tuiii nvii t i.-t.i;i.i. 11 xa i v 11,4.1.1,1.. . . . . , . i.... , 1 iv , . heir Xorthern brethren mav term f after this fashion, they will yet sit dowuil ing us as cnei lies --should they "lay priele, prejudice, presumption, or what-. with more ihau the docility ot children,., aside all malice'., and all guile-, and hy- !. , i ... ii ,.i 4... ji :a. i.x ...,11 . by a tirade of i cant and Billingsgate which thev must know will inevitably defeat their ele sign in the very outset, Ne'W York ('hr.l iaa Adrofiilv and Jour- Hi. And in lvfeicne'e to it I will only say briefly for myself, as I Lave no uit- bv closing up every avenue of approach thoritv to speak for others; That to the objects Of their solicitude". Oil, should the Methodist Episcopal are the-y so simple as to imagine that: Church gene rously oblivious of past these professed Christians of thoSouth, dillerene-es of opinion, come forward are compounded of such a strange ad mixture of eliabolicul vices and angeii virtues, that though the y be subjected with Dr. Stevens, ami in the same v catholic and apostolic spirit which prompted him to peur oil upon the to tho ordeal of being blackene-d audi troubh.-d waters, speak to us of the South as brethren: no longer r prouch- ieat!, sum, ".l.v young brother, von know what repentance is- -what faith ; incuts, that are-union of the churches j on a proper basis, such as that pro- posed by Dr. Stevens, is the only feas- 111 iu'isr is. j ou TimiK you once ro pi.'ulcvl nu'l onco belicvetl. Xowdon't l! '! if i tl 1 r At 1 1 1 1 - ( 't I (. nw.V 'invin repent now, believe in Christ now; j iWo measure that can be carried into tlait's the; way to have a conciousnss j effect, and the only one which holds ol iieceptiince: with (Joel. I have to elo 1 out any reasonable prospect of good lioih v v- ol'ei-.n ftii i. -linn. i..-..n.i ' . -i i ! n ii'i ; re::sniis irom t up. ninvciiipii: eonr.enm :i- : teel. This, I think, will be seperilu- boiii veiy en ten ami give yourself to Christ this very moment, iinel let doubts go. If you have not been His discink, be one ously manifest by a brief consideration iivir. j;o"ii t ligtit the tievu ou ins own i OI ailJ OI tue ot.'ier pians wnicn we ground. Choose the ground of Christ's have yet seen projected to govern that righteousness ajid atonement, and then ! movement. tight him." One of these plans, as . e tm lerstanel ever else they choose to call it; but call it what they may, of this one thing we feel quite confident, namely, that it woulel present an insurmountable ob stacle to the success of this scheme of proselytism, anel effectually bafiie the talents anel adelressof theise who should ittempt to cajole them into such iiu ailiance. Bcsieles this, unjust and uncharita ble as it may be, or seem to be, the people of the South have not a very exalted opinion of the pietA' anel relig ious principles of many of those Xorth ern preachers, and particularly of those who evince so great a willingness and anxiety te serve them in this capacity. In fact, they fully reciprocate that dis paraging and contemptuous estimate of their moral anel religious condition, which has suggested the necessity of inaugurating this reformatory move ment among them ; so that, almost to a man, they woulel be ready to retert on those abolition doctors who should come thus to administer their spiritu al nostrums, " Physician, heal thyself;" or probably they woulel turn away, leaving them to reflect on that whole some advice, "First pluck out the beam that is in thine own eye," ete. Xow it is presumed that whatever other disabilities may be imposed em the Southern people as a punishment for the sin of secession, the right of private judgment, in matters of relig ion, will at least be still aceoreleel to them; anel this being the case, it re quires no sagacity in any one who rightly unelerstanels their sentiments, to foretell that ninety-nine out of everv huuelreel of them would be so with more; ihau the docility of children,. . aside all malice'., ami all guile-, ami tho patience of Job, the mce:kncss of pocrisies, and envies, ami cvil-spc; Moses, and the loving simplicity of John, to receive; refigious instruction from the; lips of those very men w ho thus vihty ami aou.se them as infamous " scotuulre'ls" ami hypocrites '. Xo ! A thousand times, Xo ! The golden rule eloes not, we submit, require of an v man such a degree nient as this. However ing," ami no longer provoke us to re tort by "evil surniisings," or "railing accusations," nor stir up strife; ami contentions by "pe rverse: disputiiigs," about politico-religious dogmas and ethical abstractions which neither partv is eve r likely to aelmit. the either e of self-abase-hus either the right or the power to ;ver much they Jdeh rmine--should they cast, offthat may neeel moral instruction ami spirits , sour ami rancid film of ill w ill w hich ual reformation and we elo not elenvt has e-ougulateil on the fountain of their that there is ample room for both sympathies, ami let us look into their they have no use for such reformers asi he-arts once; more should the dying these. On the contrary, instead of lis- embe rs ef w rath be entirely extin tening to them w ith that deference! guished, and the names of love be re which is essential to success, they wemlell kindled in their bosoms and then, instinctively shun them as they wouhl) should they come and unite with Dr. the plague, anil avoiel them as venoniv Stevens in proposing terms of re-union ous serpents. J j such as it becomes them to offer, and True, our people are now ready to j us to accept, as equal bretheren of one aelmit with almost one accord, that the 1 common faith, 1 doubt not that the right of secession is wholly inadmissi- Methodist Episcopal Church, South, ble, anel that revolution, (or rebellion would magnanimously respond to the if the term please la tter) was not the ' overture, and that in the same; spirit proper mode of redress for the ir real or ! of fraternal charity and Christian lib supposed grievances. Itis true, in like ' crulity, her ministry and membership manner, they are willing to grant that wouhl join hands with them in solemn the doctrine of State sen reign ty as 'covenant, to co-operate: together iu the held by them, is eleael and burieel, ami unity of a common brotherhobel, in that any attempt to resurrect it again, "spreading Scriptural holiness over after it has bee n utterly destroyed by these' hinds." Bet such a happy result our unsuccessful appeal to arms, woulel , as this be accon.plished, ami a bright lie wicked ami atrocious. But to afT ! vr era of prosperity and glory would firm that they are guilty tf the most, elawn upon Methodism, than has eve r henious moral oblieptity for having), been witnessed before, once honestly believed iu these politi-V It wemhl semi a tide f delight-l cal heresies, w hile they were coniielent- Vensibility to the hearts of the Wesleys ly held as orthoelox by most of the lea- ;und their coaeljutors, ami the hosts ding men in the South, anel zealously who have gone up to join them from ftelvocateel bv even manv in the Xorth our mielst, that woulel fill heaven with or because, forsooth, impelled by 1 gladness and praise. II. S. Mohan.
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 17, 1867, edition 1
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