The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-02-23
CHURCH OF THE FRIENDS.
An Authorized Statement Of Views,
Doctrines and Usages.
A FRIENDLY REJOINDER.

A FRIENDLY REJOINDER.
SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE - PREPARATION OF
PREACH ERs-CHURCH MUsIC-sITTINa IN
sILENCE-BoCTRINEs - EARLY WRITER'S =
MEMBERSHIP AND MEMBERS AND oTaER
POINTS.
To the Editor Sunday Sentinel:
SIR-The article in the last number of the
Sunday Sentinel" setting forth the char
scter and history OF the Friends, does not,
think, do justice to these simple aud hon
est" people. beg space, therefore, in your
paper to refer to few points: l. 1t is stated
that, "it has been their custom to simply
gather together and sit quietly until the
spirit moved some one to speak
or pray. But now Charles
+. Oofhn Is announced as a.
time, on a certain subject, with little or no
reference to whether ne shall be moved or
not" II it is ever so it will be found to be-
think, not at the regular service, but
when the meeting is for a specific pu rpose.
1t was not so in the case of G. +. Coffin, in
this city. do not think there has been
day in the history of the church that the
immediate and perceptible guidance
OF the Holy Spirit, in the
ministry Of the word was more firmly be-
lieved in and more faithfully sought than
now; ministers and people believe that he
MOVED OF THE HOLY GHOST,
having a special amounting for each service,
will deliver a cold and lifeless sermon, and
fail to glorify God; at the same time the
conviction is as general that ministers are
under the most sacred obligations to use
every means in their power to en-
large their intellectual and spiritual
knowledge, by faithfully studying the Bible,
pursuing to their utmost limits texts OF
scripture and subjects OF divine truth, and
connecting and arranging thoughts with ref
erence TO effective use In preaching the
word. But when it comes to whether the
minister shall preach at certain time and
| what shall be his theme the decision is
made as he sits in prayer before the congre-
ton. 1t Is true that many times he is inn
subject in which his mind takes
great delight when the Lord is near him in
study, and he may think of time for its
presentation to the congregatian, but not
infrequently, when the time comes and he
sits in waiting before the Lord in the house
OF worship, his mind Is led in different
channel and the spirit moves him to declare
the truth on another, and, for that occa sion,
more appropriate theme.
WRONG IMPRESSION
| is given when 1t il said that
Friends regard human learning as
entirely unnecessary for minister" They
greatly value the highest degree of culture
in those whom the Lord snoints to preach
the gospel; they believe it gives power and
efficiency when ssnctified by divine grace,
and they encourage those who feel them
selves called to this work, to give them
selves diligently to the acquisition OF knowl-
edge. George Fox encouraged the study of
| Everything civil and useful" and
| many ministers in every age OF the church
have been eminent for learning. Friends
do believe that the highest degree of human
learning will not confer upon any power to
preach the gospel TO the glory of God, un-
| less there be onsecrstion 10 him, and power
from on high, through the baptism of the
Holy Ghost; and they also believe that God
can, and often does, use the
to confound the mighty" and he makes "un-
learned and ignorant men" strong, giving
them wonderful power in preaching the gos-
pei. The Friends recognize
| GODS GIFT
when 1t appears In such as these, either nan
or women, and while thsy do not require
them to take a course Of theological train
ing, they do teach that brightness and
growth in their gifts will depend
upon conservation to God and faith.
While the Friends do not believe in a paid
ministry, they do hold that ''shey which
preach the Gospel should live OF the Gospel
and where any give sheir whole time to the
ministry the principles of the church would
say give them their support. They .,olieve
It better that most ministers have some kline
of secular employ ent, bat not such as tc
stand in the way of perfect liberty to engags
In such work a. the Lord may call them into