Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-19
GOING TO THE BAD
A Rancorous Discussion Of
Church Wrong Ooings
IN DIVISION STREET CHURCH
A Private Prsyes Meeting Transformed
Into . Lively and Rzcy Debate
Over Sin and Wezidhnsss.


A full and verbatim report of last
nights informal meeting Of the Official
board OF the Division street Methodist
church would probably prove very rAcy
and interesting rsadinE TO many Of the
members of that congregation. The
meeting MAS supposed 10 be OF . secret
nature. Inquiries st the pastoral resi-
dence on Bare lay street elected few
anu very unsatisfactory details. A
woman IA lew terse bus elegant sem
teaees expressed herself To the follow
ing effect: The Official board Are
holding an informal meeting ~ the
church and the proceedings are not OF
. nature to make them worty of publi-
cation. In fact 10 Is nothing more tnsn
q prayer anu conference meeting be-
tween the past or and the board"
la the meeting. however, . few
minutes were devoted to the discussion
OF some needing repairs and renova-
tons in the lecture room (f the ehurcn
aud the cleaning Of the class rooms.
The board then went into executive
session and the presence OF the ladies'
was quietly dispensed with.
tst@s DctfAt1~hs @AN@4'0.ss
The pastor, the Rev. Gould, opened
the discussion or prayer meeting"
with a long and vigorous speech IN
which he severely scored individual
members OF his flock for deIlnquencies
IN religious duties. He was frequently
interrupted by deep Amens from the
brethren present. He was followed by
Others VINO handled the actions and
. 81
members III a very unconventional
manner. Names were freely mentioned
and seversi of the speakers whose
intirmltles required the use OF canes,
punctuated their remarks with vigor-
ous poundings Of their sticks.
Among the many gems OF truth
which sparkled IN the Rev. Gould dis
cou.se, the following have been pre-.
served IN the interest OF public moral
ity:
This church, along spiritual and
moral lines has no backbone or cour-
age"
al believe that . spirit of reckless
and lrreligious worldliness is the
predominant characteristic of this
church"
"Extravagance in dress. cards,
theater-going and dancing are the
folhes and sins that are bllghting and
stunting the spiritual life of this
church"
Every Sunday look over the Sab
bath school and there l see open and
unrebuked evidences Of irrelIgiou in
the costly and snowy fabrics with
winch the members of this church clad
their children"
'The churchis is inactive and slothful
in Christian work"
Pedro Players Poksd Up.
al do not believe that any member
of this church can be a member of q
pedro clup and still remain u good and
consistent member OF the church Of
the Lord Jesus. Some time ago read
IN the papers that Miss c. had been
elected president of pedro CLUB.
She IS q member of one of our young
peoples societies, and do not believe
this church should sanction such serv-
ing OF God and satan by allowing her
To MAINTAIN her connection with the
church."
Here one of the trustees said:
"Brother Gould. there are worse things
than cardDlaying and dancing going
on IN this church."
Another trustee: "Yes, before I got
converted | used To swear dreadfully,
every tenth word | uttered was
swear, and / know that trere are
members OF this church who are no
more tit to belong TO II than | was be-
fore got Jesus in my heart. What
we need IS n revival OF religion"
Another trustee, I've can never have
n revivsl OF religion In this church as
u now -. A young woman who was
converted in another town, and is now
n member of TINS church, said to me a
little while ago, brother. you will
never have a revival in this church
while u remsIns ss woIl lily.as IT 10
now What We want 10 better exam
pie set for our young members. The
leading members of this church are
engaged In wrong duing. Tney pay
their money and let the preacher and
q few christians do the praying for
them"
On the side OF the World
Another member of the board said,
"The oiviroa Street Methodist church
IL IA unmetnodlstic ss the Copgrega-
tional church 10 matters of discipline.
NJ. A says to himself III Mr.. Il. will let
church Is on The eide of the world.
There is no spirit Of Brotherhood. If
the members will play cards and at
tend dances. we should make them
QUIT u or make them get out. The pres
ent spirit of worldliness must be
crushed out. The members cannot
play pedo and be faithful servants of
Christ"
H. !. .S~osh.v,no.,.rcI a. go ~ .sbar
ther. had ever been anything IN the
nature OF pastoral or Official letter
dealing with the vices of card playing,
theatsr going or dancing.
One of the trustees replied. "No, my
brother. there has not been such .
in twenty-five years. The rules have
members of the church have come to
think they need not be-"
The pastor then made another speech
in which be emphasized aud enlarged
upon hrs former remsrks, Illustrating
"reminiscences.
Tee prayer meeting" lasted two long
hours and closed with prayers hy the
that "sonetnlnx must be done.
Al the close Of TIE session q reporter
interviewed the Rev. Gould Oh the
meeting. eve did nothing WORTH pub
Hcstcn, = ne said. "ls vac only . prayer
meeting between the psstor and the
official rosrd. Ns business was trsne-
acted. We incidentally talked ever the
spiritual needs OF the church"
"rhe spiritual condition Of the
church is bright and hopeful. then -
was asked.
"Oh. yee." answered the pastor.
"very promising indeed. very, ineeed-'