The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-02-10
The Devoted Methodist in Society.

The devoted Methodist has insisted
from the beginning that society shall
remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy. The discipline of our church
for6ids the going to theaters, the
playing of cards, and dancing. Con-
sequently the thoroughly devoted
Methodist is expected not to do any
of these things. Some of them refrain
from doing them because, like Wesley,
they cannot do them with clear con-
science;" while others, believing
them to be innocent diversions, yet
refrain from them because the Church
has placed the seal Of it's disapproba-
ton upon them. 1t is All interesting
fact that Thackeray, who was some
thing of man of the world; says in
one of his essays that "a man who
loves dancing may be set down. to be
an ass and that the fashion is greatly
going. out with the increasing good
sense of the age" And that Emer-
sou, in speaking of Archimedes and
Newton, says that "if these had been
good fellows, fond of dancing, port,
and clubs, we should have no Theory
of the Sphere, no Principal Men
who take life seriously and who feel
that they have O work to.do have, as
o rule, little time and less inclination
for such things. They feel rather. the
necessity for isolation.
The devoted Methodist in society
never forgets to turn down his wine
glasses, being assured that for him up
side down is always right side up.
And noble and gracious lady of our
faith, when she became ''the first lady
of the land" carried her principles in
to the White House, defied the prece-
dents of nearly hundred years, and
set an example that did her hon
or.
There was one thing that seemed es-
pecially to have grleved Wesley's
heart the Methodist in society, not
withstanding fifty years Of exhorta-
tiou on the subject, always persisted
in being as fashionably dressed as his
brother in the Anglican or Presbyte-
rian churches. Poor Goldsmith, strut
ting down Fleet Street with his plum
coIored velvet coat and gold-embroid-
cred pocket, although not a Metho-
dist was sight to stir the righteous
wrath and contempt of Wesley. He
insisted that his followers ought to be
as plainly dressed as the Quakers or
Moravians; ribbons, gold ornaments,
and all finery he condemned. He re-
buked q preacher for wearing ruffies
on his shirt. In one Of his last SER
mons he says: "Let me see, before /
die, Methodist congregation full as
plainly dressed as Quaker congrega-
tion. Only be more consistent with
yourselves. Let your dress be cheap
as we'll as plain otherwise you do
but trif1e with God and me and your
own souls. I pray let there be no cost.
Iy silks among you, how grace soever
they may be. Let there be no Quaker
linen, proverbially so called for its ex-
quisite fineness no Brussels lace; no
elephantine hats or bonnets, those
scandals of female modesty. Be all Of
q piece, dressed from head to foot as
persons protesting godliness, profess
ing to do every thing, small and great,
with the single view of pleasing God.n
take it that Wesley is nearer right
than is the fashionable Methodist in
society. At any rate ! am decidedly
of the opinion that SO long as Albion
College and the Wesleyan guild of the
University af Michigan are in need Of
the necessaries of life, it would be well
for the fashionable Methodist in
Michigan society to scrupulously econ
omize in matters of dress