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1 . ra jlC'lff ll' , - , I I I - , , , . . VOL XXXI. 9. ORGAN OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. ESTABLISHED 1S55 TV. '5 1 HKII,i V' ? i -:i ?J liillilr. RALEIGH, N. C, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1886. -NO q. THE 1 CtfStiii!-. like al.l, otiikk large Kl"e. moves slowly. The House has Ven c l-HC.Iil- It Iv" i. 116 1 uiiii v.ii.-tT tit 1 the Senate the Blair Bill. aTIi- iK"-,'v-' 1111 lll,1 ,l mitu tuiiaiiiL, l jrxitinii tor iucs iikuh-is jcl uui ui tllO W:lV-- - OIl CUIIlJUillllO LIIUI VVJII- ji is ill loo iiiucii ui it iiiuijr. .t H.wiorTlN'ti is cjuowixcs. It be- ff iis to get a foot-hold down South. The Knights of Labor" are using it both Vorth and South. They are trying to t actil e it some little in North Carolina, vroni a purely economical standpoint he principle involved is radically faulty, lad it is one of the many evil results of !o-called socialism. Tiik Rev. Robert S. Howe, of Bal timore, has stirred up some excitement t v pronouncing charity balls 4 godless ltps given in the name of sweet Char ity." It seems to us that the phrase is Iraphie and truthful. That they are fiven in the name of sweet Charity is ue : that they are hops is true ; the paly question that can be raised is as to hot her they are godless. Can any one f ho has any use for the word 44 godly" iave auv doubt on this point? .V. F. 1 1 The Blair Bill is now before C011 ross a: 1 1 is being vigorously discussed. :prip 'i" fe guards are thrown around it. we hope it will pass both houses. It understood that the President will Jot veto it. Full discussion will guar- i 1 1 j T 1 I atee more saie-guarus, ami tenu to take it a greater blessing to the many, fllO gre:ill IlfJU mc ujjpuiiuuiucs IUI i education, which the passage of this Jill will afford. We understand our 'orth Carolina Congressmen are in fcvor of it. It is a Avise suggestion that S- me of the fund shall be used to estab lish industrial schools for both white lad colored people. t Ex-Gov. Sr. John has recently made i i extensive Southern tour, and was t-touisiuvl to tind the sentiment in favor prohibition so much stronger in the South th;iu it is in the North. He found more striugent anti-liquor laws in Ken tucky than in any Northern State. In Alabama and Georgia he found the Sentiment astonishingly strong. The feet is the feeling in favor of prohibition growing all over the United States. I A number of places in North Carolina i i.e going to try to carry " local option" t'ns year. The politicions are Irighten fcl. That is the best sign we observe. indicates a strong prohibition senti ment of whicii they are afraid. For the Advocate. . Kurtiinnr of Front St. !aurc!i. i Mr. b-avt. Tho f-'etr-' Kii ro!t : I write with a heavy ( )'d Front St. Cluuvh is in ashes. r w;lls and columns stand like atfh'iioa over departed great- f it and mourn like the anci- S 1 1 :ih .i!d over the run is of I think of the souls that have thre into a new life, of the b'-en b:iipy b l lo and groom at her altar, of t t strains of music and songs of p:i that havi tilled her high arches, pfth" mothers and fathers who have ji'"rsh.ippd there and have crossed over ihe river, ami of the eloquent tongues ol'many w!io have departod to a better life, and others who still remain, that V ... j: i ii . r 11 . i ; .i a i ! iui-mrsei mere 01 me iiign Lnemes i cf immortal it and there comes the trooping voices that wake the soul to sadness and start the tear of mourning. lanv. very many were the ej-es that jvere red with weeping on that fatal 1 Sunday afternoon as they beheld the high places of Zion made a desolation ' by the devouring flames, i I The storm of fire that swept over the Church started at the wharf of one of the Steamers that ply between Fayette 1 Mile and Wilmington. The Steamer as in flames when it struck the wharf I this communicated to the buildings adjacent, and the wind blowing a gale from S. S. W., the storm of fire mounted 5 he wind and rode flaming and flashing tpon its prey. The sparks and burning pieces of shingle flew through the dark mke like meteors that heralded death, khilf the red flames licked their long tongues on high, and kindled from build until eight or ten squarers were y.-rapped in the devouring element. Very f w persons m a lite-time are permitted I look unn sueh a sight. The sneed Jftlie wind beggared all effort to stay iV tide of lire in its front. Our splen- c:;it In, firemen, together with citizens, iit the enemv upon its flanks and t IV1-0 mii'.-li fbnt wonlfl ntlirnvisf lmvA I"' 11 destroyed. The broad bdt of I inie and smoke and burning cinders "Mvfjit everything on the line of North ' '"it t ;u:d Front streets in the direction ;! the Chundi. but the wind shifting a n!e. it was thought the Church would J ' save.!. I5nt alas, the howlingdemon f -u.-h' tl fiiit his fiery lingers and grappl- I I the sp":-... Then the wail of women t:id children a nd the tears of men, who f J'v the doom of their spiritual home. f is piteous. When the great bell start- J ' to 'all its tongue was loosened, and it nioinaji'iil ite.nl sounded the funer- i- kadi of itself and all about it. If tlie iufiiL-l doul)ts the hold which the rdigio:i of Jesus has upon his fol-fe.vr-rs. lot him witness the scene around V:-d oM (;hurch and )arsonage on that -tal Sunday evening and next day, and ever after undeceived. J The tender sympathy and offers of Jf -p by other Churches have been very felling to Front Street congregation, f e hav. accepet !, however, the splend V ;tfer from our Jewish friends of their 7 letnpif. of Israel," on the corner of -Market mul AtU Tl, t : A, is almost universal with our people and the community, for us to build upon a more eligible site farther up the city. But the money ! Well, we shall makea heroic effort, and. with the blessing of God, will succeed. E. A. Yates. Facts. I often wonder if attention enough is given to the kk evening hour." Hy this I mean the time when the days' cares are all laid aside, the little ones all as leep above stairs, and when the mother of the home is free for the first time since early morning to enjoy the quiet comfort of her own particular chair by the library fire. That time having come she does not sink into the luxurious depths of the big chair, book in hand, to forget the days' cares in the pages of the latest novel. Her work basket is close at hand, and from it she takes some little garment, belonging to one of the babies who gave her too many steps through the day to admit of much sewing, so there she sits until bed-time comes stitching away, her brain as busy as her needle, planning work for the coming days and weeks. But 3011 ask is this mother alone in her home. Not at all ! One the other side of the table sits her husband, deep in some book, for his evening paper has been faithfully read from beginning to end. Of course he has ventured three, or four pleasant remarks from time to time, and perhaps read a few locals, but where was the k evening hour ?" Now,while I would not have this hus band any less fond of his reading, I would have him a little less selfish. I ask all husbands to consider a few home ly facts with me now. From early morning your wife has been alone with her children and the servants, she settled more than one lit tle difference between them, has kissed and soothed away a good many bumps and heartaches, planned and made it may be your favorite dessert and done much beside. The day comes to an end as all days must, tired little ones put j away the" playthings, and when the last prayer is said, and each one is safely tucked away in bed. the mother feels her da3-s work done. Tea over what comes then. Surely your wife who has seen that everything about the house is bright and" pleasant for your return de serves a little of your time now. Let this be the " evening hour," sit down with her. hand in hand it may be. and let her talk to you about the chil dren, about her work, about the thou sand and one little things which are her life. Tell her the flowers which she has placed on the mantel are pretty, oh ! you can tell her so many things which will make her so happy. If the day has been unusually hard and long, take her for a little walk, it will work off the tir ed nervous strain, and insure a good night's sleep. Let your paper and books wait, you will always have them, but 3'ou may not always have this wife of yours. Don't settle down with the feeling that your wife ought to lie satisfied if you are at home evenings, instead of being outside seeking other attractions. This is true to a certain extent, but so long as your wife is a faithful mother to your children, a good housekeeper, look ing after your interests in all the little details, and above all a devoted true wife, then this is only her due, and at best you can never half pay her. Now, I do not mean to be too severe on the sterner sex, but I see so much in some homes that I must speak. If men would only remember that there is noth ing in this world more worthy of ad miration than a tender loving husband, thev would be less afraid of showing their love. What if 3011 do think it foolish to keep assuring our wife that you love her,it makes her happier. She, knowinsr her own faults and shortcom ings and realizing too well that the beauty of face and figure of which you were once so proud, is rather lessening, is so happy and settles down in such perfect content knowing he loves me just the same." There can be nothing more sad than the way in which some truly loving husbands and wives treat each other. There are never any quar rels.better perhaps if there were, for the sweetness of making up is worth some thing. The wife tired of doing all the loving and caressing makes up her mind she can live without it, and so vows within herself to do so, and " he who wooed her with his caresses," sees no change and feels no difference while the poor little wife nearly heart-broken longs to cry out in his arms, but forced with much pride she puts down th sentimentality and goes on keeping down the loving impulses which are as natural to her as the singing of the birds. At last the work is done, and. her husband without knowing it and without an unkind thought in his heart, has d ne a cruel, wicked thing. I hold that a man has no moral right to tnke unto himself a woman, whom he cannot love and cherish to the very end. I use the word cherish in its ful lest sense as it is used in the marriage ceremonv. Is not the woman who is the mother of 3'our children, the bearer of vour burdens and cares, dearer to you now than she was in the old days of your courtship! Of course she is, you will say, then why not treat her the same, whv'not the same loving tender ness, it will give give her just as much pleasure now. Yes, more, and fill her heart with a deep abiding peace, which no amount of trouble or care can move. It is many years since I took upon upon myself the joys and cares of mar-j ried life". Little ' ones came into our home and brightened it with their dear presence, but they are all gone now, some into homes of their own, while others were called back to the dear fath er who gave them. Mrs. M. II. Vavghn, in Good Housekeeping. For the Advocate. In The Pulpit. BY THOS. S. CAMPBELL. We suppose when our Savior went in to the Synagogue at Nazareth, and stood up to read, that he occupied the reading desk ; and that Paul as his manner was on the Sabbath day, also occupied the place of reading in the Sjmagagues when he worshipped. The pulpilt had special sanctity, but was a convenience situat ed at a point, where the minister could be seen and heard. The three memor able discourses delivered by Christ, were preached while he was sitting ; one in the mountain, one from a ship, one in the Synagogue at Nazareth. A Church house, or a pulpites not a neces sit3T to Gospel and effectual preaching. Paul was evidently a great preacher, lie did more preaching than any other Apostle, or preacher.of his day. So far as human qualifications are concerned he was, by learning and culture, better prepared to preach than Peter or Bar nabas. None were more consecrated in all regards that Paul. To give full proof of his ministry, not even counting his life dear unto him, was his high aim. Of all the five Apostles who wrote' epis tles on the doctrines, duties and privi leges of the Gospel, Paul wrote more than any or all of them together. He only has given instructions and laid down rules for the special guidamce of preachers. He had first of all a full con viction of duty to preach. He believed himself to be a preacher by the will of God ; appointed and ordained to be a preacher and Apostle, especially to the Gentiles. Whatever may have been his " thorn in the flesh," his weak bodil3T presence" or his 44 contemptible"speech, or his man3 44 infirmities," he certainly understood what Avas meant by preach ing, and how it should be done. He only has left on record rules inspired, Godgiven rules, to govern men in preaching, 1 Tim. iii : 15. He tells Timothy-that he gave him these things that he might know how he ought to be have himself in the house of God. Again, 11. Tim. ii., 15. 44 Study to show thyself approed of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth. The Pau line rules of preaching clearly imply careful preparation by study and prayer. We have now many books of instruc tion on the preparation and delivery of sermons, with essa3s and lectures on composition and rehetoric, etc. I fear that some preachers now-a-da3rs are in danger of forgetting the Pauline.in their anxiet3r to conform to what we call the modern. No man should venture into the sacred office of a minister without a a clear conviction of a divine call to this work ; being " moved thereunto by the Holy GhostT 44 1 have set thee a Avatch man unto the house of Israel," rings in the ears 01 the " inner man," and cre ates a sense of high responsibility. Be ing thus commissioned for the pulpit, how shall I fill it? Paul's preaching embraced exposition, application and exhortation. He did not aim at enter tainment : but the instruction and sal vation of men. Witness his discourse at Athens when he stood in the midst of Mars Hill, Acts, chapter 17th. Was ever anything grander, more calculated to expose idolatry, reprove sin being good to man and glorj- to God ? IIoav delicate, Iioav appropriate and powerful the application, as in conclusion he says: 44 Now God commandeth all men every where to repent, because he has appoint ed a dav m which he will nidge the world in righteousness." Paul was a man of refinement and taste. There Avas nothing slouchy, or boorish about him. He Avas doubtless neat in person and dress, courteous in manner, eas3r and graceful in poise. I imagine that when he rose to preach he looked strait at the people, not over, their heads ; and not sternly, but pleas antly. It was not long till he caught the e3re of every one Avith his loving gaze,and the ear Avith his natural Aoice pitched so that the most distant hearer could understand that lie Avas consider ed an auditor, lie did not scream, nor rant, nor foam, nor gesticulate Avildly, as one beating the air. In all his his tory Ave 011I3' lmye one account of his making an outcry. That Avas in a hub bub of bis enemies. ' He cried out spoke earnestly, loudly ; for in the noisy crowd he Avished to be heard. This was not an occasion for preaching. We can not use that circumstance, to justify. screaming, ranting and vociferating in the pulpit. In the pulpit, I am God's ambassador. I am in a place of dgnity as avcII as responsibility. I am Christ's . "T ? 1 - 1 T t 111 representative, i.ikg mm 1 snouiu De meek and loAvly ; especially full of love and good Avill to men. We must preach not ourselvers ; but Christ. Preach the preaching that I bid thee. Bad habits in the pulpit ! If habits should be good anywhere they should be in the pulpit. They ma3r be such as to make almost every hearer a critic, even an uncharitable critic. Satan is not sIoav to help criticise anything aAvk Avard, uncouth, or a violation ofgood taste in the pulpit. Workman that needeth not to be ashamed." The Avork of many a minister needs improvement as also his manner of doing it. In long Aears that are past, sa3r fifty or sixty years ago, the correct rules of preaching Avere notso Avell understood and obsereA-ed as at this age. It was then no uncom mon thing for some preachers to speak in artificial tones, -eiy loud and incohe rently. Wlrv should a man, because he is in the pulpit, assume a tone that is unnatural? He is God's spokesman. 44 Thou shalt hear the Avord at my mouth and give them warning from me." How shall I do this ? Must I vociferate, and scream so that I make a noise, only a noise, without lodging a thought in the mind of the hearers : or shall I speak so low or indistinctly that I can not be heard or understood? A preacher should never enter the pulpit Avith the thought in his mind that he is a spec tacle. Self should never be carried in his thought. The capital pronoun, I., should, with all of the ego, be left where he wrestled Avith God in his last prayer while preparing for the duties of the hour. In theor3 at least, the preacher leads the devotions of the congregation. The Methodists worship kneeling. When the preacher kneels, let him kneel ; kneel up right ; not crouch, asquat be hind the desk ; kneel so that his head will be above the desk and speak so as to be audible to the congregation. What are called routine praysrs should be voided. In public prayer the preacher should think before hand of the service of prayer which he is expected to per form. Let the approach to the Throne, be direct, simple, earnest, humble. How quickly does the Lord's Prayer get us into the Divine Presence ! 44 Long prayers" were not sanctioned either b3T our Savior or his Apostles ; nor do we imagine they are so acceptable, if ac ceptable at all, when they are eloquent, wordy and grandiloquent ; poured in to the ears of men Avhile professedly ad dressed to Our Father in Heaven. For the present I close. Lexington, Feb. 19tf, 1886. For the Advocate. A Chronic Crumbier. Harder times than usual, had been JosiahBeedle's portion for several years. Crops had been rather short, and it just appeared to him as if trouble Avould SAvallow him up. He had a quick pas sionate temper, Avas easily thrown off his guard and unmanly Avords often fell from his lips. He excused himself in his ovvn heart for being cross and impa tient because he thought his affairs were in a bad Avay. His Avife Avas not very robu.t ; children Avere numerous ; moneA scarc aiid the future looked unpromis ing enough. So he helped out matters wond.-rfully, didn't he, by being as cross as a bear at home ! He ate his meals in glum silence, and it threw him in quite a rage for his Avife to get up a lit tle cheerful coiiArerse, or for his children to appear playful. 44 If 3 0U all can see anything to git fun out of. it's more'n I can," he Avould say Avith a growl. He greAV gaunt and thin, his shoulders be gan to stoop, threads of grey multiplied rapidly in his beard and he looked older than he ought at his time of life. Had he none of the comforts of religion to help him bear up under his trials? He lrj'exij:l to have, but surely his faith must have been A'eiy Aveak. lie would read in his Bible : 4 Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof ;" and then go to ftetting the Areiy next moment and bor roAviiig trouble". It did 110 good to re mind him that there were thousands of persons poorer than himself thousands of families Avorse oft than his own. He persisted in always looking on the dark side and never sa" anything in his own situation to cause a throb of thankful ness. Really, there Avas nothing ap parently very distressing in the circum stances of the famny. They had a plenty to eat and wear, and were bless ed Avith not a feAv comforts. I've ob served that oftener than otherwise dis content with one's lot is not produced by actual want, but by comparason with the more fortunate. Somebody has a finer house, dresses finer, has more money to spend than ourselves and is able to take pleasure trips Avhile we are not. We look at that gay, brilliant picture of life and go to comparing it AYith our more homely existence, which appears so unsatisfactory ; while if Ave but glanced doAvnat those, who not onlj do not enjoy any comforts or luxuries, but are positively in Avant, we might Avell hang our heads for very shame at a complaining spirit. Josiah Beedle thought that things were already at their 'ery Avorst for him, because un timeljr saasons had shortened his crops ; but he hadn't calculated on somethings, sickness for instance ; therefore, Avhen he was laid up one Avet spring with a painful attack of rheumatiom brought on by reckless exposure, he became ut terly cast doAvn and discouraged. He had not had a day's suffering since he had the toothache when a boy and kneAv not Iioav to bear it. He chafed terribly under the confinement, and said a dozen times a dav:4iEverything will go to rack and ruin Avhile I'm er laxnig here my sickness is a tun-cole draAvback." 44 Oh!" said his Avife trying to comfort him,4iit is bad, to be sure, 'Our being sick and not able to do anything ; but 3 0U don't knoAv Iioav smart the bo3rs haA'e been since 3'ou've been laid up. They seem to think the3' must exert themselves, be cause44father"is unable to do anything." 1,4 Oh! they can't take my place," moaned Mr. Beedle. 44 Bo3rs is only boys. Oh ! that I Avas able to git about once more ! I thought things Avas bad enough before." Poor Mrs. Beedle had her hands full waiting on Mr. Beedle, for he Avas as irritable and impatient as he could be. While he Avas doAvn, one of his neighbors died suddenly, leaving a large helpless family behind ; and ..ye t, ungrateful man.was spared. But he did not consider that. After several weeks of suffering, Mr. Beedle Avas per- ( muted b- a kind Providence to get about again ; but his first act was not one of gratitude, for when reminded by his wife of holding family prayers, he said his back Avas so 4 stiff with rheumatism that he couldn't wTell kneel down, ac cordingly, prarer Avas neglected. The first dav he was able to ride over his I farm, he" expressed dissatisfaction with everjrthing the boys had done, and scold ed so much that their temper gave way. 44 Well," the3r murmured among them selves, 44 its a hard case to be found fault with Avhen one has been trying to do one's best." They very naturally became discouraged and felt inclined to rebel. And another thing, they seemed to regard religion Avith supreme indfference, due no doubt to their father's inconsis tent example. The fact is, Mr. Beedle enjoAed Sunday, go to meeting religion; but didn't practice eTery-day religion. He disconnected the two. The last neAvs I heard of Mr. Beedle he Avas still grumbling and fretting at home, yet it Avas reported he had recently said in a revival meeting that he'd been 44 enjoy ing religion for thirty odd j-ears." W. Uniformity in Public Worship. BY GEORGE T. SIMMONS. An article by Bro. Jas. E. Gay, in Advocate of" 10th inst., under the above caption, suggests the propriety of saj-ing a feAv Avords on the subject : The Discipline (Par. 97. Ans. 1..) says: The service shall be conducted in the folloAving order : 1. Singing the congregation stand ing. Prayer the congregation kneeling. (Lessons, etc.) Singing the congregation sitting. Preaching. 3. 4. 5. 6. Singing the congregation stand- ing. 7. Praj-er the congregation kneeling. There is philosophj' in this arrange ment. The service opens with a hymn the congregation standing. This puts them on their feet ready to kneel Avhen called to the next division of the order of service that of pra3rer, and they should kneel to the back of the pew in front of them, instead of turning their backs on the preacher who is leading them in prayer. (The proper authori ties should have e3e to this, and arrange the peAvs at a proper distance, so as to make the kneeling comfortable not have them too close together. Perhaps it Avould be Avell to have them so far apart that they couldn't sit on one and reach their heads over to the other, so as to produce a little more knee service. They should also see that the floors are clean of tobacco juice, and other things injurious to fine clothes.) The 4th division is singing the on grc''tion yiliing. This leaAres them in position for the sermon. Now suppose the next Avere prayer ? Why, the Avhole congregation Avould haye to get up in order to kneel down. But it is not. The Avisdom of our forefathers put singing the next thing in order the rongregation standing. This rests them from the posture of sitting to hear the sermon. (And at the end of some thev need rest.) and places them on their feet ready for the foil oav ing praA'er. After Avhich they rise and sing the doxology, and are on their feet ready for the benediction ; Avhich is too often one of the preacher's OAvn manufacture instead 01 that pres cribed in ansAver 4. Although this is the form of serA'ice laid doAvn in the Dis cipline and its use enjoined by the word shall, 3'et I have seen congregations properly drilled thrown into confusion by some minister avIio. either had not learned this order of service, or had but little regard for the disciplinary injunc tion. Especiahy is it the case that those who usually lead the singing are sometimes throAvn into such confusion that this important part of the worship loses a part, if not all, of its spirit. The 4th answer enjoins the use of the Lord's Prayer in closing the first morn ing prayer. That this is not done in a large number of cases is a fact. The 44 Avhy" I Avill leaA'e for those who fail to ans Aver. It m&y be that some of them have never put themselves to the trouble to memorize the praA'er. Oth ers may haAre a dieregard for the Dis cipline (Can this be possible?) and oth ers ma3r fail through carelessness, Avhile there may be others still, avIio think they have already tired their congrega tions Avith an abundance of speed 1 (?) Do any of this last class presume to think the3r can possibly use language, or express sentiment that Avould be a fit tin substitute for the Lord's Prayer ? It. seems to me it would be Avell to chop off about enough of their own, at the end, to put in the Lord's. There is also an injunction in this answer, on the congregation to repeat the Lord's Prayer after the leader. Ob servation teaches me that a great num ber ofour people don't read theDiscipline. Some can't. Brethren Iioav often have vou instructed and urged 3-0111- congrega tions to repeat the Lord's PraA'er after you ? These thoughts lead 1113- mind to an other subject, Avhich might be reckoned as a part of the same. For av hat pur pose do ministers read the Irymns in public Avorhip? Par. 08. Ans. 4., sug ests that it is for the edification of the congregation, (Get your Discipline brother and read that ansAver) but I am constrained to believe that most congre gations, or at least a large number of nearly every congregation, think it is done to give them time to find the hymn. Sometimes the organist and vocal leader get through whispering over the tunes and find the right one just in time to straighten up and catch the cue from a nod of the minister's heard that its time to begin. Sometimes I haA'e heard the second hymn in the morning service announced and then, Avhile the congregation and organist Avere finding said hymn and the proper tune the minister would read the lesson from the Bible. What do 3-ou think of that ? Mr. Editor. Avhen I commenced I ex pected to write about a page of this legal cap paper, but 3-011 sec I have AA'rittcn four. Commit it all to the Avaste basket if you think best. t For the Advocate. Our Sunday School Periodicals BY KEV. AV. Ii. NOKTII. Let no one entertain for a moment the idea that I do not appreciate in the highest degree our Sunday-school quar terlies and lesson papertf,for the East is no farther from the West than this Avriter Avould be from ea3'ing a AA-ord, through any medium, that would dis count aii3T of their intrinsic value. They are replete Avith valuable instruction for the 3roung and old, learned and illiterate, and gotten up in a style very much to be admired. Still it seems to maiy Avith Avhom Ave haA'e conversed on this subject and to us that as a Church, avc are los ing a large number of our 3-01111 g people, as members of the Church, because of the fact that our distinctiA'e doctrines are not being made a specialty, and have not been made in several year;-, in our Sabbath-school instruction. Th3 teach ers Avould like to spend some time at each recitation in indoctrinating the members of their classes, but alter the conclusion of the regular lesson all of the time allotted for the recitation has expired, and thus in many i istances one of most vital interests of Sundaj' school Avork, and one upon which so much of the growth and prosperity of the Church depends, is being sadly neg lected. If the child is thoroughly indoctrinated in our Sunda3r-school, I have not thd least fear that he Avill ever be anything else than a genuine Methodist. Early impressions upon the minds and hearts of the 3-0 inig, are like the ins. ript 'nis chiseled in the marble slab, which ie fy for ages, the tooth of time. The most prominent book in the Bap tist Sunday-school programn e is the Catechismand the Episcopalians, Pres byterians and Catholic make their Chatechisms most prominent in their SundaA'-schools. TIi J; emphasize ihe't - jtcc-tH-.tt' doi'tines more than anything else i.i (h ir Cate chisms, and never ceisse studying them as long as they attend their schools. Their object is to indoctrinate their scholars, so as to permanently secure them to their peculiar denomination, and this reveals the secret,, whv they succeed so admirably in making Church members of their Sunday-school atten dants. We might as aa'cII speak and let the Avorst be known, if speaking on the subject will cause us to secure rnd use the remedN". The parents of many of the members of our Sunda3'-school classes are not members of our Chinch, are not familiar Avith our doctrines and do not feel suili cientty interested, as far as this ques tion is concerned, to teach them the doctrines of any Church; hence the performance of this important task falls Avholly upon theSunday-school teachers; for they only have the opportunity of accomplising it. Would it not be act ing the part of Avisdom, for every schol ar in our Sabbath-schools to recite a short lesson in our Church Catechism every Sabbath, and in ord-r to make the doctrines ofour Church the most promi nent feature in the recitations, let these lessons be recited and commented 011 the first thing when the classes meet for recitation. If this plan were adopted it would not be long before our young people Avould be familiar Avith the doc trines of the Methodist Church, the passages of Scripture in which they are clearly taught, and the places where they can be found. You can indoctrin ate older people from the pulpit ; but the child must have the lessons Avherc he can stee or hear thnn ofi u and commit them to memory in order for him to derive much benefit from them. Some 3-ears ago, aac used the Wesley an Catechism to great advantage. ; but Avhen the lesson papers and quarterlies were added many of our schools laid aside the Catechism entirdy. Itev. If. T. Iluddson, J). D.. lias re cently prepared a standard Catechism, called -The Children's Lamp." on the leading truths of Christianity, j;s b-dio-ed and taught by the Methodist Episco pal Church. South, with a brii-f outline of her ecclesiastical government, for Sunday-schools and families. This is undoubtedly the b:.-t book for Sunday-school use that T ever .-aw, ex aepting the binding. All of the lessons are short, the questions and an.-Avers are as clear as crystal and eli gantlv il lustrated, just the book for the times and the one avc need. To secure it Avill cost but little, and to ovenare and recite one of its short chapters each' Sabbath Avill require but little time and study, ana tne wonder ful result.of so doing, infavor o4'the .sal vation of the souls of the young and the prosperity ofour Church, would 01113- ue told by eternity. Wh3' not use the Sabbath-school to the m-i'att advantage! Why not make every teacher in our scnom.-s a. .-oeciai preacher of the peculiar doctrines of our Church ? Why not put the Children's Lamp" in the hand of erery attendant of our Sunday-school classes, and sIioav him the doctrines of the Bible as taught b' us, the door into the Church, the Avav to the mercy sent, the Cros. and the" crown '?
North Carolina Christian Advocate (Greensboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 3, 1886, edition 1
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