The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-02
RELIGIOUS AND TEMPERANCE
PLEDGES.
Rock (Cowley Coz, Kan,
August "a, 1891.

Rock (CowIey Coz, Kan,
4 August "a, 1891.
To the Editor Of the Eagle.
Some men write articles and editorial
on tariff Inconsistencies, but let US refe
to an ecclesiastical inconsistency from
which we may derive some instruction
and admonition.
Inotice that the Epworth League,
recent Christian organization especially
designed for the instruction and edifica
ton of the young, which is spreading
with unusual and remarkably rapidly
and doing vast amount of good, re
quires its candidate for membership t
subscribe to somewhat stringent oatl
or promise. binding themselves in sacred
solemnity TO read the Bible every day as
long as they live, unless prevented by
some cause that can be consclenciouslJ
| given to God and man. 1t does not take
the profound mind of philosopher tc
observe the lack of prudence, the utter
incongruity in such a requirement. as
this. Why make a promise that you
| know you will never keep? Why sub
scribe to lie? Why cast aside
the higher instincts Of your
soul and involve your conscience
IN an indefensible perdicament? Why
not expunge or modify this clause and
gain to membership q thousand youths
who would otherwise fail TO be Ieached
by redeeming grace.
There are pretenders of christianity
whose conduct is egotistical and who
hold themselves in high esteem and lofty
superiority and it was either one of this
class, or the dominant sentiment that
penned and formulated the Biblical
clause so prominent and conspicuous in
the membership oath of the Epworth
League. This class of christians are too
high TO stoop, too dignified and profound
to bend the pregnant hinges of their
knees. Arrayed in the stately approval
of their own superiority they imagine
themselves apart from life and exempt
from infrmity.
Human nature advances by degrees.
Progress in the spiritual world is seldom
otherwise than gradual. There are few
who ascend to heaven in chariots of
fire. 1t is hard to grasp the hapless
leader Of a downward career and sub
ject him to an instantaneous
renovation of heart and life. There
are those among US VINO are as degraded
in soul and mind as the most distant
pagans of antiquity upon whom civil
Zation seems to have expended its force
in vain. 1t bewilders them to compare
their sinful lives with the acts and deeds
and doings of some modest, unassuming
character OF the Testament. Then why
ask promise; why insist. upon a pledge
of an unregenerated soul that you can
not keep yourself.
Almost human perfection is of rare
and unusual occurrence. Think OF how
few in the ranks of christian endeavor
will preserve till death the promise they
make in carelessly appending their
names to this article of faith. A promise
less binding would have as good effect
upon the members of the organization
and yet bar out few or none of those who
would hesitate pledging themselves to
the requirements of the customary oath.
Then this clause should be exterpated
from your solemn promise for it retards
your progress, it weakens the sub
lime column of your accomplishments,
If sometimes you or l do not feel like
Tue DlDlcs are we going 70 doSdS-
sinate our desires and perform the irk
some task, and yet we may have no good
reason for not conforming to the re-
quirements Of our pledge? A slave is
poor source Of economy and an unwill-
ing Christian is no Christian at all. He
who reads from sacred writ with a
doubling mind and hating heart can
only supplement his topic and literary
He can gain by no addi-
ton of the sublime inculcationS of
Christ.
But reason is disregarded; sentiment
control; precedent brought into
effect; young man or young lady
goes into a hall where meeting is being
held whether they are professors of
it matters not; they are
asked to join the league and sign the
pledge; they read the requirements to
which they are required to subscribe and
they see one at least that seems too strict
to which they shake their heads; they
are urged to give their names; they are
shown the long list of those
who have already signed; appeals |
10 sentiment are made. Love and friend |
ship are brought into play. Flattery is |
resorted to, and if perhaps it proceeds |
from the lips of the one you adore it
mas irresistible power, until the baser |
Instincts of the human brain obtain con-
.rol of the will and in order to escape !
displeasure and the illwill of |
your companions your consent is reluc-
.antly given.
You may infer that would also have |
he common blue ribbon temperance |
pledge so often signed, so often broken /
md yet so often being the cause of such |
results you may conclude
hat would also have this consigned to |
lisuse and REORGANIZATION. l imagine |
rot. These two pledges differ greatly in
he promises they exact. They are dia-
opposed to each other. one is
legation the other affirmation. One /
avs l won't, the other saws l will.
WALT BIDWELL.