The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-01
THE CHURCH ANDY,A.C.
WHAT THE FORMER HAS A RIGHT TO
EXPECT OF THE LATTER.
Discourse Delivered Before the West
Tennessee District Convention by the
Rev. 7. w. Raymond. OF Browns
vile.

Gently held, by the Rev. I. W. Raymond,
OF Brownsville, Tenn.
The question implies thai there is some
necessary relation between the church and
the association. What this relation is
must be clearly understood before the ques-
ton, "What the church has right to ex-
pect from the association" can be satlsiac-
torily answered.
/. The association finds its origin and
motive power in the church OF God, for
these who conceived its plan, and fostered
il. and promoted II were those whose hearts
were sanctfed by means OF the ordinances
of the church and were prompted to en-
gage in more active and personal work in |
the service of Christ.
2. The church Ms an organized body oil
believers cannot be separated from her
members, and wherever the members OF
the church are found engaged in the work
OF saving souls, whether as individual
Christians or as voluntary association OF
| individual Christians, IL is nothing more
than the church at work.
2. Every active member OF tho associa-
| ton i. a member OF the church, and owes
allegiance to her fst and above every
other Christian organization. lie is also
subject to her laws and ordinances.
A. II the church should cease TO exist
(which is n mere hypotbessl, or u she
should declare herself opposed to the as
ISOLATION, then the association must either
cease to exist or else become itseli u
church.
From this 1t appears That the ASSOCIATION
is secondary, dependent and subservient
TO the church.
With these principles clearly establish
ed il is not difficult to decide What the
church has right to expect OF the associa-
ton" The answer TO this question natur-
ally assumes two forms-a negative and
positive. There are certain things mat
The church has n right TO expect that tho
association shall not do, other things which
she has right 10 expect that the associa-
ton shall do
/. Negatively.
/. The church has a right IN expect that
the association shall adopt no principle
that is forbidden by the constitution or
opposed 10 the judgment Of the church.
There must be no conflict WIN her
authority, rs she has supreme control over
the spiritual Affairs OF her members
Christ himself hath given TO the church,
and 10 the church alone, the power vi the
, kew.
2. She has n right 10 expect that the
association shall engage in no work that IL
either opposed 10 the work Of the church,
: | or that intcricres with or is opposed 10 the
manner in which the church Is accustomed
20 do her work. For instance, the associa.
ton has no right to engage in the work oI
foreign missions, or cyangclistic work, OF
the work OF organizing sabbath schools,
: The church has undertaken TO do thi,
| work herself in her organic capacity, and
has adopted her own plans, which mus
. not be intericrcd with by any voluntary
association Of her members. In justice e
] our association let Il be said that ITS consti'
tuition has sedulously avoided any inter
$ ference In such matters. There have beer
mistaken individuals, and perhaps q few
individual associations who have lost sigh
r Of Inc true aim OF association work, an,
/, have engaged TO some extent in the worl
Is of eyanrclists, so-callcd, aud in tn
b organization OF Sabbath schools. bu
5. such mistakes are TO he dcpreciate'
and no encouragement Is given them b,
+ our constitution.
k .. The church has n right 10 expect tina
tho association shall not Interfere with he
ordinances, such rs baptism and the Lord
sumner. and her services, such as the pub
81 lie preaching Of the word, her praye
meeting and Sabbath.school services. II
a other words. the association must mo
"A claim the attention and attendance Of u
members when the church has right :
their services.
10 4. The church has a right 20 expect tina
thcaSociation shall never lose sight OF II
5 subordinate relation 10 the church, an
that Il will not underyalue the power an
n efficiency OF the church. There IL tend
ency on the part of some would-be organ
III izers Of the association work TO einphssi,
the entire separation between the churc
10 and the association, in order, az they SUI
pose, more readily 10 Rain Tho attcntio
and attendance ~ the Nofid'rrs. IN
statement is made Wy rusls rcprcseninuV'
= Of The association. that the association
Organized 10 do work which INC cnnrc
,e cannot do, or else ialls 70 do. Whe
"a he church y proved incomp'
ID tent to accomplish the entire wor
Of saving souls and extending tue KIM
=. dom Of her Redecmcr, then the diyin
b. plan instituted by God "a proved 10 be
~ siupcndous failure, aud inan Is competcr
10 improve upon II. When any indiyidul
church fails TO accomplish the work &c
- has given her 10 do u u but question
80 time rs TO when God will remove her cal
H. dlestck out Of il place. Surely there
,r, nothing TO be gained by undertaking. n
efficiency OF the church. II Ia like a
child, who protesting great love and dew
". ton 20 is mother, goes of among 9th
la children and paradcs before thein h
W. weaknesses and failures. shall the ~
Ly boast itself against the him that howc'
M. herewith; or shall the saw magnify itss
. AGAINST him that Hhakcth IT, (Ifn 4, j