The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-23
THE LOCAL CHURCH.
How to Develop It's Moral Power-The "Eyan-
gelist" and the "Del:rium Tremens."
New York Advocate, Editorial.


New York Advocate, Editorial.
The one great need of Christianity now is
moral power in the local church-power over its
youth and irreligious adherents, and over the
community in which it stands
That there is direful want of it in many
places is evident. A church is without moral
power when many of it's members. or few of
them, if conspicuous, disregard common honesty
or truth In the business of life, or when disrepu-
table feuds exist. involving bitterness, SANDER
and malicious opposition. 1t lacks moral power
when its youth are given up to social dissipa-
ton, and their parents are willing to have ii SO,
opening their houses and freely giving their
money for its promotion. A church shows it's
debility when the prayer and other devotional
meetings are poorly attended by its members. or
all the work, or only few ancient men assist
him, and that In proliX and monotonouS way.
The same state is indicated when none of the
unconverted attend the prayer meetings.
Another symptom, which is also result, is
where there are few converts, or where all,
nearly all, are children. We do not diparage
the conversion of children, but the church that
can lead to Christ children only is weak, and the
future. even of those children, if they remain in
that church, is to inherit its feebleness.
When church has good congregation on
Sabbath morning, and but few at other times, it's
heart is sick. When its official members do not
attend the prayer meetings, whatever attention
they may give to the Sabbath school-whch, in
such church, is liable to be social rather than
q religious institutionit is spiritually apathetic.
To conceal the lack of moral power, attractions
other that the preaching of the gospel may be
employed. Socials, literary unions and music
ais may be given unusual prominence. AT
ease in Zion is the condition then reached. 1--WE
are having good time" ANY conversionsN
Not many, but 1--WE are meeting all our expenses
and have a crowd at every social"
But all these expedients after time fail to
hide the symptoms of decline. Then the ''evan-
gelist' is sent for. The church having no power
to move the community an outside force must
be imported. kind of brandy in such case,
sure to be followed by exhaustion and low spir-
it's, and sometimes by spiritual delirium
tremens.
The Rev. William Taylor. addressing the New
York preachers meeting about year SINCE said:
II am evangelist myself. believe that they
have an important sphere but the great need of
the church in this land is revivals under the pas
torate The churches have, to a great extent
lost confidence in the ability of the pastors TO
have a revival. SO they send for an evangelist
which often means that pastors and people will
lie on their oars and see him scull the craft
This witness is true. Moral power is the re-
suit of consistent living, earnest prayer, clear
and fervent preaching, personal persuasion and
deep conviction that congregations drawn
merely 10y social forces esthetic tastes, or
music, or interest in the preacher as an orator
genial companion, but clubs-not
churches of the living God which are the pillar
and ground of the earth