The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-05
The State of the Church.

Bishop X. 5. Foster, in Christian Standard.
The church of God is to-day counting the
world. It's members are trying to bring it down
to the level of the ungody The ball, the thea
ter, nude and lewd art, social Injuries, with all
their loose moralltles, are making inroads into
the sacred inclosure of the church, and as a
satisfaction for all this worldliness, Christians
are making great deal of Lent and Easter. and
Good Friday, and church Communications. 1t is
the old trick of Satan. The Jewish Church
struck on that rock the Romish Church was
wrecked on the same, and the Protestant Church
is fast reaching the same doom.
Our great dangers as we see them, are as
sanitation to the world neglect of the poor.
substitution of the form for the fact of godliness
abandonment of discipline, hreling ministry.
an impure gospel, which summed up is fashion
able church. That Methodists should be liable
to such an outcome, and that there should be
signs of it in hundred years from the 'sail
loft" seems almost the miracle of history; but
who that looks about him to day can fail to see
the fact!
Do not Methodsts, in violation of Gods word
and their own discipline, dress extravagantly
and fashionable as any other class? Do not
the ladies. and often the wives and daughters of
the ministry, put on gold and pearls and costly
array?' Would not the plain dress insisted upon
by John Wesley. Bishop Asbury, and worn by
Hester Ann Rogers Lady Huntington, and
many others equally distinguished, be now re-
garded in Methodist circles as fanaticsm? Can
any one going into Methodist church in any of
our chief cities distinguish the attire of the
communicates from that of the theater and ball
goersl
Is not worldliness seen in the musicl Elabor-
ately dressed and ornamented chors who in
many cases make no profession of religion and
are often sneering skeptics, go through a cold
artistic or operate performance which is as
much in harmony with spiritual worship as an
opera or theater. Under such worldly perform
ances spirituality is frozen to death.
Formerly every Methodist attended class and
gave testimony of experimental religion. Now
the class meeting is attended by very few, and
in many churches abandoned. Seldom the
stewards, trustees, and leaders of the church at
tend class. Formerly nearly every Methodist
prayed testified or exhorted in prayer meeting
Now but very few are heard. Formerly shouts
and praises were heard, now such demonstrations
of holy enthusiasm and JOY are regarded as
fanaticsm.
Worldly socials, fairs, festivals concerts, and
| such like have taken the place Of the religious
| gatherings, revival meetings, class and prayer
meetings of earlier days.
| How true that the Methodist discipline is a
dead letter It's rules forbid the wearing of
| gold, or pearls or costly array; yet one ever
thinks of disciplining its members for violating
| them They forbid the reading of such books
| and the taking of such diversions do not
minister to goodness, yet the church itself goes
| into shows, and frolics. and festivals and fairs
which destroy the spiritual life of the young as
| well as the old The extent TO which this is now
| carried on is appalling. The spiritual death it
| carries in its train will only be known when the
millions it has swept into hell stand before the
| judgment.
| The early Methodist ministers went forth to
] sacrifice and suffer for Christ They sought not