, 1874-12-30
CHRISTIAN CHARITY

"Alas! for tho rarity of Christian charity,
under the sum-" How much moro powerfully
Hood would 1leyo written Ind he beon praB-
ent at the meeting Of the Western Avenue
Baptist Church OIL Monday evening, which
wan called to consider the resignation OF its
pastor, whose ministry by its own decision
had beon greatly blessed. Notwithstanding
the solemn proprieties Of the occasion, ii
could open its proceedings with o prayer md
close thom with 1sticutfs, all manner Of
worldly trickery md carnal disgrace being
santlwichol bctwcon the prayer and tho fight.
The programme Of the evening reads Gko tho
programme Of q ward meeting Of bummers,
in some particulars. The meeting opened
with pious invocation, which was most
appropriate commencement, considering tho
purposes Of tho meeting. Then member
arose to defend himself against certain
chargcs which had been ,naao ngainst him,
and tho congregation commenced to choke
him of. Instead Of kissing, llooting, or
stamping, however, they had RECOURSE
to devotional extinguishor in tho
shape Of Tho godly singing OF " Coronation"
Against tho fortissimo efforts Of the strong-
AAAtNA "N9kV@A 2tfCAAt " UI4l1
forth tho royal diedom," the unfortunate
brother could not prevail. uo YVES cut of in
the middle of his story, and sat down discom-
fitted in tho midst Of his troubles.
Thon the auti-GonDoN men prayed ferrent-
ly for their sideo Of the question, aud this was
followed by the Gonpoy mon who prayed fer
paatlyon their side, and, if the two sides had
kept on praying through the evening. 1t would
have been better all round. Although the
devotional squabble might have been exceed
ingly ludicrous, while mon aro praying they
are not apt to cel1 each other liars or slap
eaoh others faces. The Committee on Reso-
lutions having made it's report M unpleas-
antnoss commenced by tho action Of tho Mod
arator, who had resort to the cheap paslia-
nentary trick Of putting 1t to vote after cut
ting OF debate. An angry discussion there
upon commenced, in which the brethren who
only few minutes before Ind been engaged
in praying aud singing dcyout hymns gayo
oacll other tho lie, the moro powerful choking
off the weaker when they attempted to
speak, and the woaker taking their revenge
by calling naughty Nance. IN the midst Of
all this confusion & vote was taken upon the
resolutions and they wero carried. Then fol-
lowed cri1nination md Eocfimination, md
charges Of illegal voting; and in the midst Of
this new confusion, the resignation Of tho
pastor having boon accepted, tile deacons ro-
signed. Atlast, tho mcnngerio was closed; but,
whilo tho congregation was passing out, ono
Of tho brethren aIsutyly accused a Indy Of
the offenBo of talking too mueh, ,--ns If allladcs
lavo not this right, -whoroupon the ladys
husband smote tho offender, who, instead Of
turning tho other cheek, rs he had been
taught from the pulpit, let tho earnal man
get tho better of tho spiritual, and snloto the
Rlniter. Then tho brethren md sisters, both
GonDos and anti-GonDoE, gathered about
tho bolligeyonts in confused circle and sepa-
rated them, and night md silence closed
down upon this tlesecration Of the house OF
God.
It is TO bo hoped TINT tho congregation Of
Western Avenue Daptist Church il by this
tino heartily ashamed Of itself, aud that tho
public will bo spared any repetition of such
exhibitions in future not that this oongrega.
ton iB singular in this respect, for 1t il mat
ter Of quito frequent occurrence, but because
sroll proceedings lassen tho respect of tho
untleyout for what is really good and true in
religion and religious worship Quo such
outrageous performance nlldoes tho work OF
years, for it graco, mercy, and peace, and
Christian oharity hnya not restraining power
enough to keep their possossors from tho dia.
play OF their OWL passions In discussing
aacred mattors, tho worldly nan will b
Ye1y likely to aooG 1t tAdso athibntasj