Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1873-02-22
For Me Register.

\ orE. IN the general interest OF ciriS-
tianity called ''Ihs Horking Church.
Il is commended to Your readers in cot
nection with the notice in vour last
number. Of our Christian Association
Bible Class.
THE BIBLE CIASS-TIE MINISTERS
RIGHT HANp.-There is no organization
within the church that seems te Us to
have more Importance than the Bike
Glass. and none that can be used with
greater effect. 1t is al instrument
which. in skiltul hands, will surround
the minister with 4 body guard, whose
members know and sympathiSe with his
opinions. and will help to carry them
out 1t is generally composed of earn
est seekers. men and women who take
an active and personal interest in the
gospel. and who are willing and ready
to labor in any direction. There Is,
moreover. unused material enough III
nearly every socictyto form Bible
Glass that can control the religious pub
lie opinion of the congregation, that
will gladly stand shoulder to shoulder
with the minister in every new work
undertaken, and. in word, will give
character ana standing to the whole
church.
Tins subject is being discussed just
now with great vigor. We are glad Of
ii. 1t is exceedingly important We
cannot afford to neglect it, 1t is not
enough to ill our pews regularly every
pleasant Lords Day with the respecta-
bilty and dignity OF the neighborhood:
not enough TO have heads of families
who always stand ready 10 pay their
rent in advance, and to sit slecply
through our sometimes long and prosy
sermons, rouSing their dropping cyelids
Just in time to drop dollar bill on the
contribution plate, or 10 rise courteousIy
ior the bcmcdiclion. That every minis
ter needs goodly number Of listeners
to give him inspiration is willingly con.
coded that he ought 10 have his sala
nv paid when it comes due that his
society should take pride in coutribu-
ting largely To the various charities aud
phlanthropics which the Church Uni
vcrsal has in hanI, Is a matter too plain
for argument 1t is equally patent
however that the interior interest in rv-
cry religious organization, depends not
so much on the heads, as on the sub.
heads of the family. The old people
give the money, but they expect the
yonng people to do the work. Fresh
hands in the Lords vineyard are gene
rally eager and earnest There ought
10 be some means Of organizing this
carneStness into working unit 1t
can. we think. be more easily accom-
plished through the Bible Class than in
any other way The truth is,that ser
mon, however good ii may he, fails TO
reach, satisfy, and excite all \ minis
ter will OitcntimcS do more towards
converting soul after he d,scehds the
pulpit stairs. by shaking hands with
some of those who linger for just that
kind of bcncdiclion, than he can effect
by written production, declaimcd in
eloquent fashion from text 10 amen.
There is a great deal Of religion iu''a
warm, hearty, hand-shake; it involves
personal interest in the man who ,
strikes palms with you, aud argues an
affection which no sermon can express
Now, in Bible Class, this persona.
oversight is exceedingly y tender. The
place where YOU meet is more cosy than
/ the church the flow of feeling is moro
generous and natural and the heart il
more receptive, because teacher and pu-
pill talk face 10 face. We have often
thought that it would be vastly better
for ministers to drop the manuscript at
the afternoon service-bccausc il implies
Il premeditated intention 10 accomplish
the end sought, and because it loudly
proclaims itself 10 be the battering-ram
BY which hearts are 10 be brokcn--and
just pour the soul ont in fresh tide ot
exposition and exhorta,ion. Toa great
many people, a manuscript is proof of
malice aforethought. but the extempo-
nervousness of a praying and ieryent
soul enfolds the whole congregation in
the spirit Of true religion. This il not
T
TO affirm our conviction that too MANY
of our sermons are philosophical and
scientific. and that Bible sermons are
more effective than any others. i'm our
own experience, the SERMONS that VIC
have heard most frequently. nave been
those which have been AN exposition
and an enforcement Of some simple rule
of faith.
Let us, then, make suggestion. II
can, perhaps, be followed more conye-
niently in the country parishes than in
the city. Make your Bible Glass a
marked feature III your church the
more marked it becomes, the better for
all. If the minister cannot take charge
Of it, give it into the hands Of some con
secrated man or woman. Make per-
sonal appeal to the yourg people in tho
neighbOrhoOd 20 attend It's exercises.
and, ere long. you will find a growing
interest in Your church. and revival Of
the quiet kind will follow at its heels.
This is an experiment,-no, it is no
longer All experiment, for il has proved
itself a thousand times. Every parisii
shonId organize class Of this kind, and
while you arc rejoicing at your success.
the whole congregation will he lifted
into a warmer atmosphere. Do not bo
too dainty about your invitations: dain-
tiness among Christians is a grave fault.
Ask anybody, ask everybody to come.