The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-13

speakers whose words are reported spoke
IA though they were preparing 10 attend
the funeral OF the religious faith, once 10
vigorous and aggressive, known as Method
ism.
The Rev. DR.. CuHHY seemed TO have
reached the depths OF despair respecting
the denomination which he has 40 long
upheld. Referring to the present state Of
the Methodist body, he cried out:
ave are coming to shipwrcck Many Of our
churrncs have bcen 40 lnduned; the Old pcuple
die ont nd the Young 80 elsewhere. We are
IN n terrible criais, IN death agony for the want
OF money. ihc terrible taxes ~ tine church
wcigu on 1lethodi.m liEe . nightmare. Where
sleou. In the upi er y TT Of the ttty. there are
SIX churches OF ours WITHIN ten minutes reach:
cocn 3 lass tnln hundred membr y. md MI
are h div IN debt. THIS ~ a very serious aud
most ala ming matter. see no nope
Tue Rev. DR.. KE1TEiL spoke almost rs
gloonily about the matter as the Rev. DIR.
CrRRy did. There is no vital power he
exclaimed. mo influence on society by
Mcthodisin now, as there was twenty-five
years ago" Then Brother GRAVES in turn,
took up the doleful tale. Instead OF com
forting the assembled preachers, he told OF
Methodist churches in which the Methodist
Gospel is proclaimed to empty benches,
and said It would he u blessing If such
places could be shut up.
Astonishing, we again say, astonishing IL
such language from such quarter. When
we recall what Mcthodism was when il
came into being brief century ago; when
we remember ITS triumphs in the CONVEX
sion Of vast hosts Of British sinners; when
Of - xxppHnt rtlI uah N a N
time. gone by in the United States; how
can we account for the Row. DIR. CURRY's
cries of alarm. shipwreck, agony, and de-
spairY There must bc something wrong.
II is evident that the Methodist clergy
must make n serious effort 10 find out the
cause or he change. and TO save something
from thu wreck which the Rev. DIR. CURRY
foresees. They must inquire whether, in
these times. they are really proclaiming,
| with whole souled earnestness and genu-
inc faith. the doctrines ana prac-
tees Of the Founder of Chris
tinnty; whether they are faithful
in applying the stern principles OF Scrip
! tural law 10 the lives OF their people I;
whether they are carrying on. in proper
fashion, II relentless warfare against sin,
wickedness and deviltry in all their mani
festutions M the community; whether they
are striving TO carry the Gospel us
"a practical thing and real lite, into
the heathendom by which they are i'm
mediatcly surrounded; and whether, in
short, they think it worth their while TO
give betting evidence OF their own be-
lief in the doctrines which they profess to
teach. They must inquire whether they
have not, in large measure, neglected
the cardinal ideas OF practical religion /;
whether many OF them have not fallen into
the worship Of sham; whether they have
not catered TO the professions of fashion,
and the selhshness OF wealth. and the cant
of hypocrisy whether they have not
struggled to build costly churches, and get
heavy stipcnds. and live in Incidence
whether. in short, they have not forgotten
the real nature of the religion Of the Scrip
lures.
In the next place. these Methodist
| preachers must inquire whether their own
daily lives, ways, and practices are mall
Hesitation of scrptural religion, and
whether they copy the example and fol-
low the precepts 81 the Founder OF Chris
tiauity rs Described in the sketches lett by
| the Apostles.
We are aware that in these remarks We
touch upon serious ground. which some Of
our modern clergymer would rather not
hear OF; but yet we must trust that the dis
tracted leaders OF Mcthodism who showed
themselves ut last Mondays meeting, will
take time II reflect that religion Is worth
sustaining ouly in So far us il IS a power
over the life and conduct OF mankind.