The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-12-24

AT no former period in the recollec-
ton of this writer has there been man
ifested such great and widespread
disposition on the part of professedly
Christian people to organize, main
tain and multiply societies in the
churches as now. These societies are
usually organized by men or women
of vivid imagination and intense zeal,
whatever their knowledge may be.
The number of such societies we do not
know. but we hear or read of them as
existing and multiplying in almost
every part of the Country, and among
nearly or quite all the different de-
nominations of Christian people.
What meaneth this? Of cours, We do
not refer to those societies that are
legitimately part of the church itself
such as missionary societies, church
sxtention societies, and the like; but
to sort of side-show, under such ap-
pellations as "King's Daughters" !"
''Christian Endeavor," Little Work.
ers,n and many others Of like charac-
ter. Are they preferable to the church
or can the members do more good in
these societies than as simple members
of the church ? Is the Scriptural plan
of church operation defective and need
to be supplemented by some human
device? We are not opposing not ad-
vocating, only enquiring.
From the reports we sometimes see
in the papers o. learn through ether
sources, we infer that a large propor-
tion of the operations Of these societies
appeal to the social rather than to the
religious element of our nature. Is
that really the better way? Did
Christ or His apostles pursue any
course like that when trying 10 save
sinners 4? Innocent social gatherings
and exercises are not to be despised
nor condemned but is that the better
way to awaken men, women or chill.
dren to sense of their lost condition
and need Of q Saviour, or to lead them
to that Saviour ?-or the better TO
maintain a truly spiritual church? Or
do they not lead to a tendency 10 uE-
dervalue the regular and heaven-or-
dained church work ? DO they not
tend to attract the attention and lead
the course of conduct in the line OF
social enjoyment instead of the pure
spiritual religion?
We throw out these suggestions hop
ing that they may attract the atten-
tion of ministers and leading church
members and induce them to enquire
closely and thoroughly into the char
acter and influence OF such societies,
and after such careful examination,
say whether they be or be not promo
live of true piety.
We distinctly recollect the ideas,
and in part the language used by that
great orator, Henry B. Bascom, D. D.,
when preaching from the eighth verse
of the fifth chapter of the first Epistle
Peter :"Be sober, be vigilant: because
your adversary the devil, as roaring
lion, walkerh about, seeking whom he
may devour." Speaking of the ad-
versary, he said in substance, and we
give the precise words, SO far as we
can recolIect them: "He attacks the
church, and:the Christian first, as 3
roaring lion, to terroriZe, scatter, tear
and slay and destroy by violence. If
that fails, he next comes as willy SER
pent to beguile the senses, poison the
imagination and fascinate by worldly
thoughts, worldly desires and worldly
pleasures. Then if these fail, he comes
rs an angel of light, protesting to be
che holiest of all, suggesting and preach
ing what he calls a higher order of
Christianity, q purer patriotism, q re-
Iigion that has few or nor crosses, but,
10 reality repudiates the old-time plans
of operation and modes of worship,
and introduces a spasmodic exercise
that really, in the end, leaves the sub
iect in worse state than that which he
found them"
This was the general view, feebly
expressed here, which he in his own
strong language forcibly expressed.
The church would do we'll to consider
the matter very seriously.-&. Louis
Christian Advocate
We live in an age of self-im portance,
4 Id h., oNHI HIDl ln