Texas Christian Advocate (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1904 Page: 2 of 16
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TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE.
2
April 7, 1904.
_ ire laws of God were at war with all as some of the lynchings in Georgia the matter so far as he, his Church
Denton, Texas.
Isaiah gives of the sins of his times has sway.
There is no question that
called by several persons who
marks of punctuation, they did not
been nodding?
there to be sure he is not forgotten.
and “vagaries.”
our preachers in Texas.
A DISCLAIMER.
Some time since I
found in
I
1
No man ever lived long enough to
regret the right.—Ram’s Horn.
“THE NEW ORDER OF WORSHIP.” signs of individual opinion or per. ---
•4
-
FOUR SURPRISES. ality in the paper offered us?
After thinking over the whole Silla-
I am surprised that it is taken for ation and having used the suggesteu
granted in so many quarters of our order, I can not but think that IE
Zion that the committee appointed to publication at this juncture is a piau ______ _______ __________________________. __________________ _____
formulate a new order of service has to make a trial of what the committee and of his peopble is repeated by the. among scientific men those who, like
plenary powers in the premises. I have would like to see officially adopte.
prophets who follow him, or who were Spencer, Darwin, Huxley and Tindall, was
J heaven or earth can help them or
• ___- ______ U- . _culu in the
the unhappy strife in America would tome of one of my members a leaflet
alone answer that question, for was entitled, “Our Indebtedness to the
ever Judea more fearfully scourged Methodist Episcopal Church.” It was
than the people of this country? The a most scurrillous and vicious attack
scourge did not fall on the South upon the Methodist Episcopal Church,
alone, but alike on North and South, South, its membership, ministry and
and God’s hand is not lifted yet. The Bishops, and an effort to justify the
angry strife in Congress for the thirty presence of the Methodist Episcopal
years before the war; the shameful church in the South. The family in
disregard of God’s law by both sec- whose home the leaflet was found was
are only here, and others not guilty may be
haps strict honesty would demand
invaded the land. The catalogue that is allowed a fair sweep and atheism
So that and Mississippi and Texas,
Iten brings licentiousness, and the Springfield, Ohio; such terrible scenes it to the Advocate, that it may correct
(
L
About a month ago my attention
modern escape? Are nations in mod-
ern times ever scourged? Does sin
That it is out of order to discuss go a wee bit farther and use all. All
this phase of the subject will not be that are found in the grammar are
admitted by thinking men and women made use of with the exception of the
—unless of course we have degener- colon. While Poor Rhetoric, almost
ated to the stringent ecclesiastical all his marks are exhausted also,
laws of Cromwell. Thanks to the There are brackets and sections and
elasticity of our admirable Church pol- parallels and paragraphs and daggers
ity and policy, there is still a chance and double daggers and asterisks and
given some of us to air our opinions the parenthesis thrown in here and
As I understand it the power given Such a lavish rhetorical hand has
the committee was purely advisory— been employed that the order fairly
not mandatory. They have no legis- bristles. One is tempted to call at-
lative authority as far as a change in tention to the fact that there remains
the Discipline is concerned. At least, in the overworked rhetoric two more,
this is the opinion of very many of They cry out for recognition. Per-
the sensualists held dear.
Jehovah was rejected and
of his day, and as he enumerates the practically ignore God; that among had received sample copies of the
sins of that day we have but to sub- critics those who class the Bible as Texas Christian Advocate of Feb. 26,
stitute Paris or London, or New York, unreliable literature, and among poets to an article therein under the caption,
or Charleston, or Atlanta, for Jerusa- men like Swinburne and Whitman, “Northern Methodism in the South.”
lem to find an almost exact statement and among literary people men like This article was written by Rev. T.
of the condition of things as they are Carlyle and Goethe and George Eliot H. Morris, pastor of the Southern
now in this Western land. There was have the largest following, and all Methodist Church of this place, on the
on the part of the chief men of the combine to degrade the Bible. They occasion of his finding in a Southern
land, from the king to the lowest kind, are sowing the wind and the whirl- Methodist home a pamphlet which in-
a practical atheism. The God of the wind comes. I am sick at heart as veigs against the Southern Methodist
Jews was regarded, but unlike many I write this and am only cheered as Church.
of the men of modern times, who sim- I look through it all and see the “won- Concerning the subject matter of
bring its retribution? The story of
ply have no God save themselves, derful, the counsellor, the mighty God, the pamphlet I have nothing to say
those kings and rulers did have gods the everlasting hero, - the Prince of further than that it is thoroughly rep-
who allowed them to do as they Peace,” the child born of the Virgin, rehensible. However, Bro. Morris, in-
pleased. As far as we can see, with He lives, He rules, and because He troducing it, says: “This little leaflet
many of the rulers and legislators of lives we shall live also. He has not sets forth some reasons why that
this day in all Christian lands the tried in vain. Other agencies than Church (the M. E. Church) seeks to
thoughts of God never seem to have those of evil, are at work and it may establish Churches in the South. As
any influence on their conduct. God be they can stamp out the pestilence this little leaflet throws some light
being dethroned and his law dishon- and save the land. upon the methods and arguments that
ored, a sad disregard of the rights of GEO. G. SMITH. are being used, I will ask Bro. Rankin
the weak, of the widow, of the or- --------. ♦ .-------- ' to publish it entire. We have a
phan and the poor followed. At this SOME-LINC Icg- Tn rf ~ANE Northern Church in Denton, and this
day in the universal conscription in SOMETHING °-GHT TO BE DomE little leaflet, no doubt. is being relied
Europe, in the grinding taxation to I want to say amen to the article of on to do work for that Church here,
enrich a few in America, in subser- J.W. H., “A Crying Need,” which ap- The pastor and people against whom
vience to great corporations and in the peared in the Advocate Feb. 25. this accusation is made have diligent-
cruel greed of many employers the There is cause for alarm. Some- ly searched for other copies of this
same spirit manifests itself. thing ought to be done. Universalist, pamphlet and for evidence that would
An unbounded, covetousness, a Adventist, Mormon and other litera- lead to the discovery of the person
grasp at all within reach, a constant ture is being scattered broadcast free guilty of circulating it. No other
struggle to outwit the unwary and of cost, and many of our people, con- copies can be found. The pamphlet
add field to field, was then as verted at our altars, joined our has not been circulated at this place,
now. A sensual indulgence which Church, and have sincere desires to it is not being “relied on to do work
was found in drunken revels, in mu- live good Christian lives, are not in- for the M. E. Church here. It does
sic in song* in dance in spectacular structed in the peculiar doctrines and not "throw light on methods and ar-
displays, so common now, was com- polity of our Church. . guments, being used” by our Church,
mon then. Men rose up early to fol- Some one may inquire, "Where is the We have no use for any such methods
low strong drink, and there was in pastor? What is he doing? He is in and arguments. We would very gladly
their idolatrous worship horrid de- the field, the busiest man among us, try and expel from our society any
bauchery. Are we better than they? but he can t do everything. . person who could be shown to be
Let I.ondon and New York and Faris Take the circuit preacher with eight guilty of introducing that pamphlet
and Chicago and St. Louis, with their appointments, fiom four to six miles into a Southern Methodist home,
shameful exhibitions and their unre- apart. That means (if it don t rain) There is not a member of our Chui ch
stricted indecencies answer Alas one sei mon a month to each congre- against whom any evidence can be
the women of the land caught the spir- gation, and many of these societies found or upon whom any suspicion at-
it of the times and the daughters of are organized in school-houses, where taches. Every individual member,
Zion were wild in their pursuit of it is free for all. In that hour he without any reservation, repudiates
pleasure and in seeking for admira- must preach the word, hold Church the authorship, publication oi circula-
tion he ppophets, picture of their Conference, look after the Sunday- tion of this or any other such instru-
dressing and of their manners might school and prayer-meeting, get his con- ment. Very cordially
be considered in the present time as ference collections, and be at his next JOHN M. JACKSON,
too exact a description to be excused, appointment, six miles, away, on time. Pastor M.E. Church.
They wore chains, bracelets, ear in a short article it is impossible to Denton, Texas, March 29, 1904.
rings; they had fine linen, and hoods enter into details, butthink how much -------------------
and veils; they delighted in perfumery ourtnwnand ity.Churches,ofstoday “PHILOSOPHY OF A HOLY LIFE.”
and gave much attention to dressing e ebted to the countiy circuits
the hair; they were very haughty in for many of their strong men and I wish to review “Philosophy of a
manner, and their walk and enticing women, and we will have a higher ar- Holy Life,” which appeared inAdvo
looks betrayed their desire for admira- preciation of and necessity for/ the cate of February 18 First, All are
tion. They did not give bridge whist careful cultivation of these fruitful by nature unholy.” By thi s I under -
parties nor brew punch, nor dance ®s' . T , , stand the writer to mean t a every
germans, nor go to gross exhibitions . My plan: Let the next General Con- child born into the world is unholy
in the theater nor were their evening ference appoint a committee on doc- that they are sinners in the sight of
dresses quite so scant with trails quite trinal literature whose duty it shall God, and “under the just condemna;
so sweening but the same spirit was be to select such literature as in their tion of God s law to eternal death.
. ’ judgment will meet the demands. Re- Will the brother be so kind as to give
Murder and riot and oppressions of quire the pastors to appoint one re- us the chapter and verse in the Bible?
the noor was sadlv common The?e sponsible man in each congregation to If every little child is unholy and
were good TeoSe then as there are secure and distribute this literature as “condemned to eternal death,” pray
good 8000, PSP elten.5runimg ee necessity may require, settling for tell us who condemned them? What
ment was1 n n good To add to the that used and turning back in good were they condemned for? Perhaps
mentr"a state o? morals there was condition that not used, at the sue- he would say for unholiness. What
deplorable state or morais, i e e ceeding Annual Conference. made them unholy? Hear the words
on.thempar toof many worship They , This plan may work slow at first, STau) 1 Cor” "Ese were your
offenders a form of worship. I y but I believe it would show itself in children unclean but now are they
brought obligations and made rich of- telling effect on the next generation. ehnumfnhutpmrorit But
ferings. There were prophets many Something ought to be done to drive according to the writer he who has
who spoke with authority and cried out erroneous and false doctrines and accordins.to -6 We, ," -,445
neace neace when there was no erroneous ana raise aoctrines, and little children in his home, has little
F • Pea • i .1 "d 1- preserve and nurture our babes in nL.I/ creatures little sinners in his
peace. They were bitter against the ~LriL+ unnoiy -ned-uem, -—-.3 in
true prophets who denounced their Let our wise consecrated men take home, and can do nothing for them.
c1se At last iudgment fell Has X- 6, consecrated men take Neither the parents nor God himself
cause. At last juaomeiiL ren. rias up this matter now, for there is cause can do anvthing for them till they
God changed? Can men do now with for alarm “it is a erying negq» , anytnn8 tor mem ini mey
imnnnitv what Lev could not do then’ or alarm, it is a crying need reach a certain age. Up to this age
impunity what tney coma not ao tnen something ought to be done. n. demands are made unon them
Were those Eastern satraps subject, HENRY HOT COMR no demands are made upon mem.
to God’s visitations, and shall the * ’ Poor little unholy things, nothing in
take away their unholiness till they
get old enough! The Lord Christ,
their parents, the Church, all, all have
to wait till they get old enough! Then
all may unite in making them holy.
But, suppose they should die before
they get old enough. Oh, if they should
chance to die, God would take away
all their unholiness and fit them up
for glory.” Yes, indeed. Would it not
be well for all of them to die? But
what part of the Bible says so? No
man living can prove such stuff by the
Word of God. Again, “And you that
were sometime alienated and enemies
in your minds by wicked works, yet
now hath he reconciled in the body of
his flesh through death to present you
holy.” Strange indeed that he failed
to see that the “alienation” and “en-
mity of mind” came by “wicked works”
and not by nature.
Little unholy things, sinners; no
power anywhere to help them. We
will ask some questions and let the
Calvinist answer: What is it in a lit-
tle child that makes it disobey its
parents? Calvinist: “The carnal mind.”
Very well. Which is worse—to diso-
bey God or man? Calvinist: “To dis-
obey God.” Very well. What was it
in Adam that caused him to disobey
God? C.: “The carnal mind.” Not
so, for you teach that the carnal mind
is the result of his disobedience. Away
with Calvinism from the earth.
W. T. AYERS.
Queen City, Texas.
tions, brought on at last secession and one of the best in Denton, and they
war. Southern man as I am, honestly could not account for the manner in
believing the South was right in her which .it came into their home, as it
contention, I can but feel that our sins was found on their table, without a
deserved the scourge and brought it clew as to who wrote it, printed it, or
on us. The North suffered more than circulated it. It was turned over to
we did, for she was the greater sin- me, and I forwarded it to the Advo-
ner. She was fearfully damaged by cate for publication, with comments,
worldly prosperity, which may yet The author of the leaflet claimed
lead to calamity of a more awful char- membership in the Methodist Episco-
acter. And a Pandora’s box of evils pal Church, and it was evidently writ-
was opened among us by the war in ten and printed in its interest, and
both sections; but despite all, as God when I found it in one of my Southern
was not forgetful of the Jews, He was Methodist homes, I concluded that it
not of us. It was well with the right- was a method being employed by some
eons then; it is well with them still. One in behalf of that Church, and I
The calamities which follow grievous therefore fixed the responsibility upon
sins fall on individuals and families that Church.
and States now as then, but there is When the leaflet was published in
always good at the outcome. I trem- the Advocate, the pastor of the Metho-
ble when I think of the Revolution dist Episcopal Church at this place,
which will break to pieces the colossal Rev. John M. Jackson, called to see
fortunes of our . multi-millionaires, me and disclaimed for himself and his
overthrow the laws which have ren- people all connection with that leaf-
dered such things possible. Such fear- let. It afforded me pleasure to accept
ful suffering as came through the coal his disclaimer. I had no desire to fix
strike; such civil war as was in St. the responsibility upon those not
Louis and Chicago in the strike; such guilty. At my request he prepared the
wild lawlessness as the mob rule in following disclaimer, and I forward
I suppose the rather ex parte state- them to be added—I refer to quota-
ments and mild suggestions of our cen- tion marks and the interrogation
tral organ about the intonation of the point. J. R. MOOD,
voice, the genuflections of the preach San Antonio, Texas.
er and plenary powers of the Joint _______..._______
Committee, are all made to create sen- EAcIA i E-E
timent in our communion so that the —s-m— -s 1
co-called “new order” may pass the The destructive criticism which be-
legislative body without a ripple. It gan in Germany about a hundred years
is still a question whether the Gen- ago, and which attacked the Old and
S' frnerene 0906 New Testaments allke, took on a new
many attempts are made to show that phase some years since, when it
such and such a thing is a part of turned itself almost exclusively to the
our organic law, one begins to wonder Old Testament. The men who led the
whether what is true needs to be re- movement, as far as it made itself
peated and reiterated with so much prominent in Scotland and England
emphasis. and America, were in good standing
A Second Surprise.—Why should in the orthodox Churches—Dr. Robert-
the report be called a “new order” son Smith, among the Presbyterians,
when it is new in but two small fea- and Dr. Driver, among the Episcopa-
tures? The congregation is asked to lians, and Dr. Briggs, in America. They
stand'during the singing of the second have had quite a following in America
hymn, and this many of our preachers among those who claimed to be, as
confess to be the redeeming feature they said they were, believers that the
of the “new order.” A chance is also Bible contained the word of God, al-
given the congregation to take a col- though the tradition that it -was the
lection and the preacher is allowed word of God was untenable. These
to make announcements before the be- criticisms have had different effects
ginning of the sermon. So* far, so on Christians. Some have been driven
good. But these are exactly the things by them into an entire rejection of
we have all been doing for years. The the Bible and into agnosticism; some
Methodist preachers in Texas consider to the long held positions of Unita-
the taking of the collection as import- rians and Socinians and some to
ant as the singing of a Gloria Patri. a closer study of the old positions,
And it has been always done before and a stronger adherence to them,
the sermon. In fact, as a friend of Among the last I class myself. In the
mine has pointedly put it, this sug- early days of my ministerial life I was
gested order “is a simple problem in entirely too careless in searching the
permutations and combinations—to Scriptures, by which our Lord meant
count up the items in the order, and the Old Testament, especially the
compute in how many different prophecies. The prophets were not,
ways they may be arranged by the by me at least, regarded suficiently
preachers.” In place of being simple, as preachers, but only as prophets. It
it is an exceedingly complex order in has been of late years that I have
the which every man is law unto him- studied them as preachers to living
self. Our friends of the committee men. Men in their essential features
have taken our old form (and, by the never change. Their environments
way, still obligatory) and have graft- change, but under all we see the same
ed upon it the forms used in the men. The poems of Homer, with their
Methodist Episcopal Church, enclos wonderful pictures of the men of the
ing the latter in brackets and making Illiad and the Odyssey; the comedies
all the bracketed matter optional, of Aristophanes; the satires of Horace
With hardly a single exception the need but little change of setting to
new features are made optional iu adapt the characters they portray to
whole or in part. Why this attempt this time; and this is especially true
to persuade people that there is some- of the times and usages and people
thing new when the new part is so of the prophecies which are more ex-
vaguely elective and dependent upon act in their delineations. I have
the will and wish of the minister? been reading with careful attention of
This leads right up to the third sur the times of which Isaiah and his co-
prising thing—that people at large temporaries wrote and marking the
should believe that the committee ap- striking features of resemblance be-
pointed to make a uniform order has tween those days and the present, and
complied with the request that was marking the uniformity of the divine
made of them. They most certainly proceeding in all times. The days
have not. The suggested order that had been days of great prosperity;
they offer is without the shadow of a the valleys of Palestine were fertile
doubt a multiform, in place of a uni- and brought forth abundant harvests
form service. With so many optional of grain; the hills were covered with
features its tendency can not be to grass or terraced to the top for vine-
make the congregations in different yards, rich clusters of grapes hung
parts of the Church agree with one from their vines, and the fig tree blos-
another or with oui sister Methodism somed everywhere. The caravans from
in forms of worship. There is no one the south and east brought in rich
single standard to which to conform, cargoes of merchandise and busy ar-
We look in vain for it. We do not tificers found constant employment
care to adopt an order of service that for their skillful hands. Tyre and
may be lugged in from the forms of Sidon on the west were great commer-
a sister Methodism, however much cial ports and Judea was the granary
we may love and admire her great and market,garden and pasture ground
beauty and strength. Where are the for these rich cities. But prosperity
waited patiently and long for some one That what is suggested has been reai-
else to raise a protest at this point, ly used in many of our Churches ror
The statement has been sown broad- years and years no one doubts for a
cast that the “New Order of Worship moment. That it will ever become
is now official and will be inserted in the universally used order of service
the Discipline so soon as the plates is quite another question that only
can be properly adjusted. I venture time will tell. In the sections where
the statement that our Book Editor I have had a chance to observe the
will not do this thing until further results of the attempt to use it the
action has been taken by the General "new" has not been satisfactory. Not
Conference. While many of us “con- one in ten in this great State will
fess to a pleasure in this new form use the “new” order in its entirety
of order of worship,” because it is is my prediction.
just what we have been using for And why- try to foist upon a rural
years, with two small changes, I fear population an order of service that
it is very wide of the truth to say may he perfectly suited to a congrega-
that it shall be admitted to the Dis- tion of merchants and bankers? Let
cipline of the M. E. Church, South, be- the old order be really changed and
fore the sitting of another Genera] these changes, few and simple, be
Conference. It is not so understood really incorporated in the form of ser-
in many parts of Texas. I venture to vice, and you will have something
remark that nowhere in the proceed- that more nearly suits the wishes of
ings of the last General Conference is our intelligent * and simple-hearted
it definitely stated that the authority worshipers. More common sense
of the Joint Committee is final. The just now would produce an order that
expressions in the Nashville Christian would adapt itself to actual conditions.
Advocate of March 10, such as "re- Another surprising matter is that,
quired” and “obligatory,” are to be inasmuch as the gentlemen composing
taken with a grain of salt. Has Homer this committee went so far in using
idolatry illustrations of what comes when sin concerned. T. H. MORRIS, P. C.
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Rankin, George C. Texas Christian Advocate (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1904, newspaper, April 7, 1904; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1594210/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Library and Archives Commission.