The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-01-27
PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE.

PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE.
Readers Of that able religious jour
nal. the "Chrislian Advocate" will
doubtless recall an admirable article Of
Or. James Portcr's, under the caption
Of Union Without Argument" which
recently appeared in a January num-
Der. In this paper the Rev DR. states
forcibly and succinctly his objections as
a Methodist to the alliance or union
services recently held in New York
City and elsewhere. and which We're
made up of Christians differing widely.
not only in doctrine, but in respective
standards of church membership. TO
secure the success of these services,
differences Of doctrine were readily har-
monizcd, and common ground assumed
lenOminationallv for revival purposes
Conversions followed. But " men the
fruits of the religious harvest were,
about to be gathered, the Methodist
Church reaped no benefit OF increased
membership, since it imposed discipline
AIRY restrictions upon personal and so
ciety" indulgences which the other
churches composing the alliance did
not impose.
As this subject Of the distinctiveness
Of Methodism, in its disciplinary stand
ard Of membership, has recently been
brought to the attention Of our local
Methodist readers, we take space profit.
ably it is hoped, for cursory consid-
Grafton of another important question
coexistent with it. We mean that Seri-
Gus and ever-recurring problem, How
the Young are to be retained in the
Methodist Church under the rcnuncia-
ton of worldly amuSements it imposes,
since, as DR.. Porter puts it, if pro
ftssed" Methodists dance, 90 to the
theatcr, and follow the world, they do
it AGAINST McthodiSm and in violation
Of their church covenants.
That this is a question Of serious
denominational concern, is evidenced
in the fact that the best minds and the
ahIest intelccts of the Methodist Epi--
copal Church are being directed to the
discussion of it and to the adoption Of
the best means Of preventing The enc
dus to other churches of the children OF
Methodist parcntage. Or. putting it in
other language, are considering How
far the plain prohihitory rules Of the
church, touching worldly amuScmcnts
are to lie enforced to he numerical los
of the church in this most important
element Of its membership. 1t is a
fact, apparent to every observer. that
the drift " Of the Younger members Of
Methodist families is away from the
Methodist Church and its associations.
Attribute it to what cause YOU NAV.
social ambition, pride, depravitv Of hu
man nature or what you will, the fact
exists Trul Y religious Methodists pro-
fcsS, aud doubtless feel, much concern
about it. The annual conferences Of
he ministers of the church. the country
over, praverGulv discuss it. Preach
crs' associations hear papers read on it.
The religious Journals of the church
devote much space to it, while they
whose siivcrv hairs indicate the period
Of their service in the sanctuary. de-
pIorc the tendency, as al apparent evil
dcnce, of the lessenin" influence OF
MethOdism. Smarting under a sense
of what appears to be Il disregard OF
the admonitions of the pulpit, now ami
then TIE ministerial lash is applied to
the backs Of recalcitrant members
But clerical casti~ations only bcgct re-
sistancc. and the attempt to force ohcd-
cncc to disciplinary rules provokcs q
spirit Of INSTRUMENTATION to church au-
thoritv To meet these denominatonaI
encroachments upon the fold. To stop
this loss of valuable material To save
to the charitable and other enterprises
of the church the effort and co-opera-
ton of the voung-vigorous in life and
enthusiastic in endcavor-and recoy-
nlzlng the fact that the control OF the
progressive agencies of the times are in
the hands of Young men, and that the
noblest personal sacrifices in behalf of
the humanlics and charities of the
church are those of Young women.
Methodism has, perforce yielded some
what of its original austeritv of diSci-
pline and rigjdity Of creed, to the more
liberal and progressive spirit Of the are
but Just here we are met by another
inquiry Has the Methodist Church,
in the concessions it has made to the
influence of higher and more advanced
ideas, compromised or yielded her orig
inal distinctveness as denomination
In other words, while it has advanced
in culture and refinement, in strength of
membership, and in aggregate wealth,
has it become impoverished in spirit
ual life? We think not We believe
that the proportion of truly devout and
pious people, to the aggregate member
ship of the church, is a. large to-day as
at any previous period in its history.