Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-01
OLD WAY
Evangelist Prsft Prefers the
Old Puritan Sabbath.
LOW STANDARD OF THE CHURCH
The Asmbsss Nesd Rsviving--M2ny Nc
Better than the Westiy-No De
fos Ice Cream Christians.

ference yesterday was rather larger
than usual. Ia the absence Of the
president yiee-P President Frye presided.
Secretary Ward. OF the y. n. c. A.
presented tho naastAr cf the Anuiver-
cary Of that body. aud invited the con.
ference 70 attend in body, the meet
INC to he held next Sunday night 1T
Harsman's ball. The insitation was
accepted.
The secretary announced that in the
failure al the Rev. A. N. Gould to pro-
vide the paper assigned to him, he had
asked Evangelist Frat to address the
conferences.
Mr.. Pratt said he had prepared no
paper, but wonid be glad 70 answer
any questions or speak upon any sub
,set the memtrrs present might suG-
gest. DIR. Campbell Fair asked him
20 define 70 the conference the leading
object IF his work, It's greatest aida and
its greatest hlndssnccs. In reply Mr..
Pratt said:
IL think there - . demand for evan.
gelistic work. The work broadens as
the years 60 by. believe there is
need Of revival Of the old doctrines
so as to convict sinners OF SIN aud make
them feel the need Of savior. ind
lack of . conviction of sin. Christ
| ahoGld be presented 10 = man until he
sees himself . sinner, and realizes him.
self lost. squestion IL man can be
brought to Christ without the preach
| ing of the law. But very few are CON-
| ing into tho churches today except
children. IL we would preach as john
athan Edwards did. we would see men
converted. 1t is urged that by means
of culture men will accept Christ with
less OF manifestation than fifty years
| afio. But culture has not done away
| with sin as far rs iiy observation goes
We are still stepped in sin. There must
be revival Of the old time preaching
to the sinner. and there must be
a revival OF Righteousness, OF
right living in the church its
self. / wish some of the ministers who
urge me to get people into the church.
would urge me TO & ct those out OF It
men are constantly pointing to men IN
business, some II their pillars of the
church, who live and act and do busi-
ness on lower plane than those whom
l we wish to reach. / am weary OF try.
L
OF men in tho church who are not liv-
ing pure Christian lives. plead for
righteousness in the church in order TO
preach righteousness to the world. The
unrighteousness in the church neutral
| the church. Then would plead for q
revival of discipline in the churches.
| am weary Of the present condition of
L oh rob Tn Ia Osk ;ra
| and hundreds Of church members 60 to
church in the morning, give feast to
| their friends at the close Of the service
pleasure drive.
Men are out with creeds that don't
| seem to make men and women any bet
| cut off those who misrepresent the
church. would also plead for = revi-
| val Of reverence. sometimes think it
has fled the church forever. By turn
| ing our churches into playhouses, the
| Young people have lost reverence for
the building. You can't sell peanuts
on your pulpit platform Saturday night
and have YOUR boys and girls think il Is
the house of God Sunday morning.
put reverence as the corner stune OF =
Christian hfe. Those men who first
cilied into question the Puritan man.
ner Of keeping the Sabbath have
brought q curse on all mankind. The
greatest hindrance ito the church today
is the church itself. Skepticism. liber-
alien, all forms of thinking that terrlfy
| us III this day, could be overcome il the
church itself were all right with God"
| Several of the members present
avalled themselves Of an opportunity
| to ask Mr.. Pratt for further statements
| of his views. Ills answers revealed that
he considered club life antagonistic
both to the church and the homo.
While he thinks there may possibly be
| some innocent amusements carried on
in some room connected with, and yet
apart from the church proper, he be-
iieves that the "kind Of entertainments
that churches are now running to" are
not fit to be allowed IN any part of the
bniIding. He said further: al believe
we should have . spiritual life that
wouldn't crave ice cream and cake in
connection with church. II q person
is brought into . church because IF
soma such entertainment, think we
would find il pretty expensive to get
| him 10 heaven. il would take . good
many dollars worth Of ice cream and
cake"
At tho close of the discussion DR..
Fair moved thata hearty vote OF thanks
be rendered Mr.. Pratt for his heart.
searching address, with which he said
he had agreed from first 10 last. A
standing vote OF thanks was gwen Mr..