Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-07-22

The DUTY of Churches TO their Mem
bers.
( The Christian Religions so intimate
| ~ blended with the civilization of our
age that any attack upon it or any ut
tempt to lessen its influence win be re-
garded with dlsfayor by the multitude
who neither subscribe to its dugmas
nor profess 10 strictly follow its obser-
vances. Church organizations are iu-
tended to bring together those of the
same faith and who desire to worship
God in the same forms. When any one
comes out from the wOrldn and
makes profession OF his or her religious
belief, they are entitled to The esteem
of their fellowcreatures Just to the eX-
tent that their acts correspond with
their professions If joining the church
is not an assertion by the candidate
that he or she is better than those who
do not join, IL is at least q solemn cove
nant taken before their altar, and a
solemn promise made to the world
that they intend their daily work and
conversation to be taken as examples
for imitation of others. Whenever a
church member fails in his duty to
society and is guilty of some fragrant
and outrageous act of immortality, or
INDUCES in gross departure from an
honorable course of life, he is entitled
TO be dealt with i'm greater severity than
one who makes no professions OF
superior goodness. To the original
crime he adds hypocrisy, the most
hateful of vices, and the world has a
right to believe that he has sought the
church as cloak to his villainies, and
that all his professions have been hol-
low mockeries.
Not ouly does an act of this charac-
ter from "a protesting Christian strike
blow at society, but it casts reproach
upon the organization to which he be.
longs and brings the church and relig-
ion into contempt. Whenever such a
wolf is found in sleeps clothing the
least the church can do is to tear the
disguise from the bad pretender,
and instead of endeavoring to shield
his otfense, to the extent within their
power they should punish him with
social Ostracisnl. 1t is within the oh
servatiOn of every intelligent person
that our churches do throw the mantle
over men and women of most question
able character. To profess religion is
the shield behind which many people
hide their moral deformities. From
under cover of pious pretension and re-
ligious association they prey upon
society and practice the worst offenses.
In the olden time we used to hear of
church discipline and church trials.
The guilty one was arranged, tried
convicted and turned out of the church.
We seldom hear of these things in
these days, while offences multiply,
charges and trials decrease, and ii
there be any such things now as
church trails and church expulsions,
we seldom hear of them land yet we
must believe that no person would be
Indifferent to an ecclesiastical trial and
expulsion. Let us suspose, by way of
illustration, that in the church of the
Reverend Doctor Stone, some officer or
member in good standing had been
guilty of the gravest offense against
the laws of society and the command.
ments of God; that for years lie had
practiced his iniquity and during all
that time had prayed aloud in the
synagOgue-had boldly put himself
forward to teach the Bible to the young;
that his voice had been raised in song
and prayer to God, and finally that
there had been found evidence of his
crime. Suppose that this hypOcritical
NAAthuOl SLOulO bc anu
tried before the Elders and Deacons of
the congregation, and on some solemn
Sabbath morning from the pulpit the
worthy divine should read the evidence
and pronounce against the offending
member to go forth from the congrega-
ton a disgraced and dishonered man.
Would not this trial, this decree, be
more effective, more startling, than
even the sentence of a Court or the
decree of civil magistrate ? Would
not men aud women be careful how
they sought protection under the altar
as cover to their secret sins, and if
members, would they not not be res
trained from the commission of offenses
by the fear of so terrible an exposure ?
The old scotch Covenanters did these
things. The grave old Puritans of
New England thus made their laws to
be of effect, and, so long as the love OF
God and the fear of sin is the ground
work of church organization, this
discipline will be enforced. A church
organized as fashionable club, to meet
In splendid edifi1e to listen to liter
airy exercises and display garments OF
costliest texture and incest fit, will be
careful how it offends its paying mem
bers. Our respect for the church is 50
profound that we could wish its pro-
| fessors were held to stricter exercise
OF their religious duties.-- California
! Chronicle.