The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-17
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Sermon on the Cincinnati Riot.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:
Almost excellent sermon was preached last night
on the above topic at the Meridan-street Metho-
dist Church, full of valuable suggestions, which
ought to be carefully needed; but which will not
be needed nevertheless fear. But the preacher
merely limited at the grand underlying cause of
the whole disorder, although he started out as if
he were going to make it the principal topic. He
maintained, and justly, that the spiritual king
dom established by Christ was intended to per
meate all governments among men. And this
exactly accords with what its founder claimed.
He was to be king of kings and Lord of lords"
and His disciples were to be the necessary light
of the world" and the salt or preserving iniu-
ence ''of the earth" But does the state of spr-
ituality in the church answer in any tolerable
degree to the requirement. l cheerfully grant
that the church is the best institution in the
world even in its present state; but does it an
swer its founders intentionl Is it too much to
say that, with here and there an honorable ex
eeption the whole church, ministers and lay
men, is in q state of defiant revolt against its
headf
Take tho laity. How many are there that
have even faint conception of the practical
meaning of Matthew vi. 10, or Acts XXX 30!
practiclng, 'brotherly,H that is, family love,
which was to be the peculiar distinguishing
badge of discipleship. so marked and sui generis
as to be recognized by all men; st. John xiii 80;
John iii, ID! Are not the affections and friend;
ships of the church mostly grounded, like those
of the world on Fictitious distinctions, instead
of simple discipleship2
Take the ministry. How many of them pay
the slightest heed to the frequent admonitions of
the Scripture similar to Matthew xiii, 26i Ro-
mans xii, latter clause of verse JOY Does not an
annual conference, electing delegates TO the gen
eral conference of the church to which the
preacher belongs resemble, to the life, political
convention2 And do we not hear already of
prominent candidates" for the vacancies in the
board of bishops2 Again is not the annual crop of
double DIS in all the churches, frightfu and is it
not positive relief to find an able minister whose
name does not wear that badge of defiant DISC
bedience of Christs unequivocal, emphatic pro
hibition of that very thing, expressed in the
there minister of note in this city, now Mr..
Reed has gone, who has not sought and obtained
this certified decree of excellence and pre-em-
inence}
Now, can the church exert its due controlling
influence in the world when these fundamental
requirements are carelessly ignored or delib-
erately set asidel And is it any wonder that
Christ himself, looking down the future. should
despondently inquire when the Son of Man
cometh, shall he find [thel faith in the earth
luke xviii, 81, when His own protested friends
and representatives thus regard His commands
relating to the foundation principles of His
kingdom as matter of indifference
We could not do without the churches,
grant. Better as they are than not have them