Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1886-10-02
The Churches.

EDITOR INTELLIGENCER:-I have been an |
observer Of the manner Of doing things in
the churches of this city, under the super
vision and direction of what is called the
pastors of said churches. The worship call |
ed service Is stereotyped. consisting of. first,
song read by the pastor and then artistlcally |
sung by the choir, to complicated tune, in |
which humble disciples are unable to partic |
ipate; then short extract from Scripture,
read by the pastor; then the pastor prays,
while nine-tenths Of the congregation re-
mains In sitting position, with their heads
on the back of the seat in front OF them; then
another hymn is read BY the pastor and per-
formed by the choir and organ; then the col
after which a composition, called sermon,
is partly read and partly spoken bv the pas
tor; then the pastor reads another
hymn, the organ grunts. the chS:- rises and
gives the hymn the full operate touch; the
benediction by the pastor and the people leave
the house with iii formality, and without
the slightest recognition of one another ex-
cept to few we'll dressed, high headed aris.
tocrats. It is lamentable truth that such is tie
weekly routine in the churches in this city.
This being the style and manner Of worship
in al! Of our city churches. it is not to be
wondered at that the poor do not attend, and
that many of the church members patronize
the dancing school, the theater, the circus
and the church festival, and that the devil is
thus fast getting full possession of the so called
churches of Christ in Lexington. Wake up,
pastors and officers of the city churches;
d)n't let the devil have your focks; desclplire
your army and stop your members from at
tending the places ma med.
l see from the red badge that Capt. Shield
had reformed tho drunken church members
all over the noble little city. so, you soldiers
Of the cross of Christ, take fresh courage, un-
furl the banner of Christ that you have let
trail in the dust SO long; make battle again
under the flag of our Redeemer; he will give
you grace and power to hold the fort. 1t is
useless to say that it can not be. Otherwise
it was otherwise In the days of the apostles
and primitive churches. They proclaimed
the gospel of Christ, not IN reading fine SER
mons or declaiming fine orations, but by pro-
claiming the ancient gospel in all its simplc-
ty and power to saint and sinner. The church
brothers and sisters, glad to meet and greet
one another with the hand OF brotherly love,
look into each others faces and inquire aftt
their welfare and to mingle their voices In
prayer and praise to God. But, alas, the
churches are falling back. No discipline; all
at loose ends: hence their members dance,
trolc and burrah; and are stumbling stones
in the way Of the world by their low courses
and ungody walk and conversation. Thus
are hundreds and thousands being dragged
down to hell daily. If this course continues
In the churches. death is sure and certain.
The pastors have all had their vacations otY
to the springs for their health. Do they lose
their health by preaching or reading one or
two sermons week. Paul preached every
day, and sometimes all night, made tents
and we have no account of his having any
vacation on account Of his laoors. Our
pastors need, perhaps, exercise Instead OF q
trip to those fine watering places. Who
knows but in the absence O the pastor the
mock OF sneep were bleating all over the city
for the sincere milk of the Word of God
and Win no pastor OF feaderf But more
anon, TRUE.
Waterloo !-Wiggins' earthquake didn't
msterialize. Wheat sowing is in full blast
Look for frosts. The somewhat celebrated
case Of Armstrong vs.. School District No 8,
so, %, came to elimination in the circuit
court on last Thursday after full and elabo-
rate hearing of tae cause, and after an
absence OF the jury for about ten minutes
rendered verdict for the defendant. 1t is to
be hoped that the matter Is now finally set
tied.
What is the difference between Mexican
pony and Maxwell the st Louis murderer.
One is mustang and the other must hang
Copyright all points covered.