The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-20
CHURCH ATTENDANCE.
A STRONG SERMON ON AN IMPOR.
TANT SUBJECT.

Discourso Recently Preached by tho |
Rov. }. l.. stokes. of tho south Caro-.
lima Conference.
TEXT:-"NOt forSaking. the assembling
OF oursctves together. r."-HEB. x, 25.
We have but small congregation at
this place. You remind me that our
membership is small. But we have
eighty-eight names on our roll, which
10 a pretty fair showing. Nor is this a
mere list of names, unrevised aud ut
reliable. The roll was carefully revised
last year, and there are not, 1 suppose,
a half dozen lmcs on it Of persons out
Of reach of the church. You tell me
the country is thnly populated. But
not 80 much 80 but that eighty eight
names of members are now enrolled.
And we ought to have, as rule, in our
country places as many at service as we
have names on our church books. /
doubt if we could expect so much in
our city churches, where the copgrega-
tiOn is made up almost exclusively Of
those OF our own persnasiOn. Here it is
different. Our Baptist brethren regu.'
larly worship with us; we have. or
should have, all the church goers in the
community. So that, while mauv Of
our members are providentially kept
from church from time to time, there
ought to be Is sufficient number Of visi-
tors to make up for their absence. No,
Ills failure on the part of many Of our
members To attend regularly that gives
us these vacant seats. know this to be
true, indeed. I have looked out for
you. 1have missed you.
You say the explanation Is in the fact
that our church is not centrally located.
l know that, and am willing to discount
nay estimate somewhat on that account,
1t is, know, not as convenient for
some Of you to come as it would be if
the church were nearer But is not this
the more pertinent fact here, that you
have allowed the Inconvenience of COM
ing to get you into stay at-home habits
| fear that it is. You are not willing to
slcrifcc little; to put duty above mere
convenience, you have not made the a.
tendence upon church services a matter
of-course. That would solve the prob
lem. You farmers have long, heavy
drive Of it to Bamberg. 1t is 4 very in.
minds to it; it comes as matter-uf-
course, and you do nos mind it. Just so
here. SO have thought it my duty, rs
your pastor, to preach you sermon
bringing home to you the jereliction
you are guilty Of, and showing you the
God-givcn reasons for tho duty OF
church attendance.
But hasten to say that these remark
are not intended, in their primary appli-
cation at least, for q goodly number of
those present. have not found any.
where better examples Of constant at
tendance on the services OF the sanctu.
ary. | need not name those who are al.
ways in their places. You have them
before your eyes. You know who they
hrc. While on the other hand your pas
tor could mentioned those who are but
visitors here where they ought TO be n,
home. Sometimes they are here if al
suits, or the fancy is On them. Some
times they areat home, walking over
the crop; or they are out visiting, walk
ing over somebody else's crop, or discus
sing politics or what not. So that il
happened, l am most credible informed
several years ago that = brother respect.
ed and loved by you all preached at this
church, and his audience was not as
large as the company that assembled
that very day at a neighbours house
Yes, L come to you, as your pastor,
with message Of serious i'm port to-day.
l call you to most earnest, praverful
study Of the demand of God, and your
duty in this matter. sound my text in
your ears as the word of the Lord. It
must be that you have lost sight Of this
serious aspect Of the case You surely
have not felt the authority Of divine
command behind you here. Otherwise
good men and women could not be so
negligent.
Let US notice some of the reasons that
may be given for this "asscmbly oi our
selves together"
l. The first, in our discussion, and in
Importance, is the fact that God has
commanded it, as we have seen. This.
indeed, should be the end of all contro,
v-rsy with us. A ''thus saith the Lord"
should settle it. "Givc me the book
chapter and verse; my pastor, and that
is enough for me-" That should be
your word. A minister was once tfay
cling on the cars, and sat immediately in
front of the brilliant Gen. Robert
Toombs, who was engaged in an earnest
discussion with fellow-traveller. He
noticed that the proposition for which
the General contended antagoniZed the
plain teaching of the Scriptures. FL
nally deciding to enter the debate, he
turned abruptly upon his seat and said
"GencIal Toombs, do you know that YOUR
position is opposed to the Word of God2"
The General was greatly surprised, but
answered pleasantly: Good evening,
Professor s. had no idea 1 was in
earshot Of preacher! Will you be
kind enough to give me your ScrIp Ipture?"
The passage was quoted, and clearly
contradicted his argument. He at once
arose-the man who had swayed Senates
and stirred the thought Of a nation
lifted his hat, and with that courtly
manner for which he was noted, said II
bow, sir, to the Word of God" so.
brethren, let us bow to its majestic au.
thority. But this command of God is
not arbitrary. None of his command
ments is 50. They are grounded in
reason. They rest upon sufficient foun-
dation.
This command rests upon mans social
constitution. We SEQ this social ten.
dency in the humble orders of animal
life. We see it as we catch a view of
tho cattle uDOn the hills. or as we Hcop