Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-05-20

the entire church in welcoming them to
their seats, and we shall gladly share with
them the labors and responsibilities of this
chief council of the church.
It may not be emiss in this connection
to suggest that excessive legislation is too
common in all deiberative bodies. Laws
and usages, generally understood and ap
proved, should not be changed hastily; or
if changed at all only from conviction of
the greater utility of the change. Nor is
1t prudent to alter even a recent enactment
until it is practically demonstrated to be
necessary to do so. This caution We would
respectfully apply to the regulations under
which lay representation has been intro
duced. Would it not be judicious to learn
by experience what modification if any,
may be necessary, rather than risk the sue
cess OF the system by hasty attempts to
improve it.
FAMILY RELIGION.
We invite your attention, specially, to
the subject of Family Religion and the
Christian training of children. Its i'm
portance cannot be over estimated. Regu-
lar family worship, morning and night, ac-
companied with the consecutive reading
of the Scriptures, is 50 morally tit, rea-
sonablo and salutary, that to US 1t seems
strange that the heads of Christian fani-
lies can feel guitless in neglecting it
While we rejoice in the greatly increased
interest exhibited in behalf Of Sunday
Schools, we aye sure that there can be no
substitute for religious training IN the
family. The impress, whether for good or
evil, by family instruction and example IS
indelible. In the Home-c!rcle is found
domestic and Patriarchal Church the
training school of the kingdom of Christ
the pledge and foretaste of the bliss of the
kingdom above.
Indulgence in worldly and fashionable
diversions is another great enemy Of earn
est piety which is invading the church,
and threatening to estrange our children
from us. Dancing. in particular, whatever
plausible excuses may be pleaded for Ii, IS
destructive to the growth, not to say the
very existence. Of spiritual religion IN
those who delight to indulge in It, Gen
orally, il is species Of ''rcvehng' con
demnt d and forbidden by the word Of God,
and its tendency IS evil only.
In imme date connection with the
spiritual welfare Of the church, tue great
and only effectual remedy for most, if not
all, our deficiencies as Christian people,
is an increase of inward, genuine, scrip
tural holiness. We fear that the doctrine
of Perfect Love, which casts out fear and
purities the heart, and is the measure Of
the stature of the fullness of Christ" as
taught in the Bible and explained and en-
forced in our standards, as q distinct and
practicable attainment, is too much over
looked and neglected. This was promi-
nent theme in the discourses of our
fathers, and alike in their private CONVEX
sations as in their public ministrations,
they urged religious people to ''go on to
this perfection" CT sanctifying love. The
revivals which followed their ministry
were not superficial. Their commences
and power were proved by the holy lives
ON frin nh Y1f 9nothC nf tho converts
If we would be like them in power and
usefulness, we must resemble them IN holy
conservation. Nothing is so much needed
at the present time, throughout all these
lands, as a general an d powerful revival of
scriptural holiness.
MINISTERIAL EDUCATION.
The inadequate support furnished, in
many parts of the Connection, to the
Work, and the consequences which must
follow if this evil be not remedied, will not
fail to be noticed by you. We must per-
petuate an itinerant ministry separated to
the holy office, and cOnsecrated TO the care
of souls with all of time and thought
and energy devoted to their sole and APP
propriate work. But to enable them to
do this the church must make provision
for proper supply of their wants. While
it affords us pleasure to say that in most of
our wide fields of operations there has been
witnessed a decided improvement, yet
there is no doubt Of the fact that in some
sections there is still a great amount OF
negligence in raising the means of support,
and of consequent privation and suffering
among the preachers. Do not the mem
bers of the church need to be especially
instructed and trained in this class Of rell-
giors obligations?
Our attention has been of laie years ar
rested by the inadequate supply Of young
men offering themselves to the work Of the
ministry, either for the home Or the for
eign missionary work. May we not assume
that Christ, the Redeemer Of all men, the
Intercessor for all, does call men to the
holy office, in numbers sufficient to the
demands of His cause in the world The
fault must be with us. How soon would
an increase of piety and zeal in the church
supply the remedy for this deficiency :?
What can be done to arouse our whole
communion to united, fervent prayer to
"the Lord of the harvest that he Will send
forth laborers into His vineyard?
You will consider, Of course, with great
care, the whole Sunday School interest,
which, we are happy to say, has assumed
a magnitude and importance never before
known in the history of the Southern
Methodist church. We think you may
find it practicable to adopt measures that
will secure uniform scheme Of instruc-
ton, which texts furnished at our own
publishing house, together With the en-
fragment of the Sunday School Visitor,
and possibly. in addition to that paper,
the publication of a monthly journal adapt
ed to teachers and the older classes of pu-
pills. It IS very desirable that there should
be an improvement both in the character
and price of the books prepared for the
use of Sunday school libraries We COM
mend the appointment of a suitable per-
son to be specially entrusted with the over
sight Of these vital interests.
CONCLUSION.
In conclusion, dear brethren, We pray
earnestly that the plentiful enrichment of
the esprit of power and of love and Of a
sound mind" may rest upon you IN all the
deliberations and decisions OF the present
session-the first of the kind, in the an
nails of Methodism. Could we take you
up the shining mount of vision and show
you the vast and grand Future before the