Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-01-10
PRUNING uHURuH REUoRDs.
a Paper Read Upon That Subject ma.
fore tho wilmirg,on N. N. Preachers
nessipg, January IAN. 1889. by the

Second oniy TO exalted spirituality 40
distinguishing mark OF early Method
ism was strlctness In church discipline.
In the popular conception o Methodist
was one who profefsed 70 have Q religious
experience, more certain and Joyous than
that proiessed by members of other
christian churchee, and ono who was sub
jected 10 q more rigorous ecclesiastical
law-more rigorous not only In its form
on the books but also In Its practical en-
forcement.
There has been from the beginning of
Methodism until now q growing laxness
both in the form of the law and In Its ap-
plica.ion. Whether this tendency is to-
ward lowering the standard Of spirituality
and morality or only toward the removal
OF burdens, too kr.evous for US or for our
fathert," and at the same time unneces.
saiy for the highest religious experience
In the individual and greatest success of
the church o. large, Ia q question upon
which do not now pass judgement. l
only state Q fact which scarcely needs
proof. However, II any doubt It, point
them to the following facts showing the
decrease In the rigor Of the law.
/. The band meeting OF early times,
with its searching questions into the pr
vate life OF Its members, prominent
amongst which was one to be of every
member, "What sins have you committed
aimee our last meeting In thought, word
or deed" has been abolished.
2. The law on dress has been weakened
both In TIA form and Interpretation until
Methodiste dress as highly as others and
are nevertheless In fullest accord with
the discipline. 8. The attendance upon
class is no longer test OF membership In
the church. In some OF the smaller ap-
pointments none are held; In others there
are many whose faces are never seen In
the classroom, but who are considered
members In good standiDg-A thing UNI
thinkabio In Methodist church Of early
times.
But this laxncss Is to be seen more 10
the Interpretation and enforcement OF
the existing law than IN It's change OF
form.
A well-kn0wn pastor OF q Methodist
Church told me that he has members
who love party, a masQ uersde char.
are or any Other kind of q radc better
than the class and prayer meeting, and
ace found In tho latter only when they
have none OF the other tom Fool things
TO attend, ard yet don't know what to
do with tlem." Do you know what they
would have done with them In Metho-
dat Church of early times? The pastor
would have labOred with them and n
they did not reform they would have
been expelled on two charges. LIST Ne
glcct OF the means Of grace. I'D. Unchris-
tian conduct.
l believe that our Methodist law is
strict enough but It's enforcement is not
strict enough. IL is sad fact but 1. ia
nevertheless true, that in church as we'll
as state the people are governed BY the
law not aB II stands on the books, but as
1t is enforced Therefore By falling In
the proper enforcement OF TIC law we are
lowering the standard of mo allty and
christian fAithtulness among tho people.
As long as 1t is known that people who
neglect the prayer meeting, tho class
meeting and public worship TO run after
the "thiugs of the world or spend their
time in religious lazlness, can be consider
cd members Of the Methodist Church In
good standing, Just 80 long We will have
that kind Of Methodis's.
For one i believe the church RI cords
ought to be pruned of all such persons
because:
1st. BY retaining them we do the PEE
sons themselves an injury. We virtually
say, "You are all right" when we know
they are not. We are THUS preparing
them to stand among that great host who
with a deceptive ASSURANCE will cry:
Lord, Lord, Lord; have we not done
maDy wonderful works In thy Dame?"
but will receive in answer, depart from
me, never knew YOU"
I'd. Because by retaining them we are
uniting the church for It's highest use.
iulness. Quality aud not quantity in the
membership is the condition Of suectes.
Two or three sincerely in his name" are
better than myriad of worldlings
Joshua had ut least one to many IN his
membership when he went up against Al.
Leeson-Cut out the Achans. Caution:
Let any pastor scorn to whimper because
the uniei,htul Achan has gold. Gideon
after reducing his membership from 30,
600 10 $50 was certain of victory. The
Lords house must The house OF prayer
and not den of thieves" Let the church
record be pruned of all honorary mem
beis. Let It be pruned TIL It shows not
only living, breathing christians, but such
as come up to the help Of the Lord against
the mighty.
But how thall this pruning be done
Shall we go at It iu the spirit of bitter
nessl Shall We shcw the hand of author
ityl Shall W.T. summon them at once to
trial. Shall we have them 10 produce
their strongest Witnessed Mol This
would be as lar from the spirit of our
Master as the East is from the West 1t
would be an effectual way OF rending the
strongest church know OF. This would
be pulling up the wheat with the taree.
We must learn to prune without showing
the knife-to cut oil the dead limb with
out letting the other limbs know It.
There ere only three ways known In the
Methodist Episcopal Church to get rid of
unsatisfactory members; first, getting
them to take certificate OF Withdrawal;
second, excluding them by trial; third,
marking them removed without Gel tia-
cate after an absence of one year.
Different cases will require different
methods. Many may be easily dropped
according to die lest. Ninety-nine out of
100 OF the remaining cases may he dealt
with according to the first. But even
before they are asked to withdraw plead
with them to reform. Plead as one who
must give an account OF their souls, not
in tones OF bitterness, but meekly CON
sidering thyself lest thou 50 b.,
tempted. +" This is Christianity; the dl clip.
line provides for 1t. 1t requires double
portion of grace to keep cool head aud
a warm heart in this work, but 1t can be
done. Pastors who have followed this
method have seen Immediately the fruit
OF thsir lubors in the quickening OF many
whom they supposed to be spiritually
dead.
Sometimes, however, persons may he
found who Will neither reform nor with
draw, but get indignant instead THIS is
4 good time for you to pray; a good time
to test your spiritual strength; to be as
kind as a saint bnt rs firm Ms a rock.