The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-23
IN HIGH STEEplE CHURCH .
Bishop a. G. Haygood, of the
NJ. E. Church, South,
breaches a Powerful Sermon, w,,cs
pp'ArS IN rho Quarterly Review on
hish steeple ana Its omoial Starr
hethodism the Purest Form of Re,,~-
'h-hTeaking Down the Fences

iHe Following extract from a oontr;.
ou1ion TO the current number n, ~,
Quarterfy Review OF the Mathoai..
Episcopal Church, South. from tha 80.
OF bishop A. @. Haygood, is rep-oducad
by request.
FROM the tinne of John Wesley and
the other fathers there has always haen
just complaint that some Methodists
would violate the general Rple. ;,
Iney were never violated without ~.
W ene gooo cause as we'll as to those who
.orgoU or Gid not esteem their solemn
VOWS. Ihere were always some co cav
soese methodist. views about conforn,.
10y 10 the world are eyerstrictn
ntaong these objectors have bean few
erns, Mure noted 10, for daaAh ~s teligiom.
have not been the real helpers in the
great oonqnests OF Methodism; thew
nave not, by their SUCCESS in doing good.
deserved we'll of tn eChu,ch Surelv With.
out intending it, certainly without com
pretending the evil results wrapped up
IN their attitude toward tho law OF the
Church and their Influence upon its
development, these objectors to the
rules they vowed to keep and these
'vlolators OF vows they meant to be sim
cere nave, from the beginning, been
hurtful to the Cause of Methodism. and
6y consequence, to the cause of God.
Ihey have, without knowing it, intro
duced subtle blood poison into the
body OF Christ" which is the church.
1t is one of the mysteries OF self.
deceived men and women that thew do
not honorably Withdraw" from q
church whose rules they do not intend
10 Keep. Had the majority of Metho.
aises ioilo"ed their example, the church
would have been undone and Methodisn
would already BIO numbered among re-
forms that have exhausted their vital
force and that are now, at least, ready
Tor burial. But the most optimistic os
men mustknow and admit that within
the last two decades there has b.eu. in
our cities and in smaller towns initial.
ing city ways, great and grievous in
crease in the number OF Methodists who
not only claim tho right to do as tho
unregenerate world does, but actually
go with it in tho pursuit OF gratifica-
LIONS that arc of The earth ear,hv"
and that, in their influence upon reliq
ious life, are blighting as the frost is
pllgntlng to the tender flowers.
IL Is not uncommon in many city
churches for Methodist to attend cir
cuses, theaters. card parties, public and
private dancing, and to do these things
without apology, shame, or apparent
pangs Of conscience. These things are
mentioned as illustrative Of prevalent
disposition to break down all the fences
that separate the church and the world
1t is not meant that city Methodists are
naturally worse than their village and
country brethren, but fashion has her
seat IN the city, and there is more in
large and wealthy populations to stimu-
late desire for pleasures that, in the
very nature of things, antagonize and
ultimately destroy spiritual life anu
more opportunities and facilities for in.
diligence.
The great body of our membership
STANDS last IN its integrity; the majority
OF our people keep the VOWS solemnly
assumed upon joining the Church. But
the increase in the number OF those
who deliberately break their vows or
explain them away as OF little signifl-
canoe or moment is as notable and un-
mistakable as it is deplorabe and por-
tentous OF greater evils yet to come
Every general conference for gem
GRAFTON has delivered itself upon these
unmethodistic tendencies and habits in
unmistakable terms. The annual con-
ferences have added their testimony; SO
have tho district conferences; 80 has the
some cowardly exceptions. From time
to time the general superintendent
nave issued pastoral adore sses warming,
rebuking, exhorting, beseecbing our
people to keep their solemn vows. But
with The class of people under discus
sion these things go for nothing. That
the things mplained of are not done
by our best people goes without saying.
The new rich," uncertain of their
social status and eager for recognition,
arc most addicted to these unmethodis-
tic practices. The half-educated are
easily drawn into these forbidden prac-
tees. 1t is always the unspiritual part
OF the mem bership that is found with
ings OF tho worlds children. There
may seem 10 be exceptions, but they
are not; official position in the church
does not prove spirituality.
What is the church doing TO vindicate
ner law, her honor, her purity and her
health against these careless, some
times hooking, violators OF her laws?
Next to nothing. Some illustrate lions
may DC given. Within year leading
daily, published in one OF our chief
cities-where Methodism Is conspicu-
ously strong in members told the
world, in column OF details concern
ing decorations, swell company, wo-
mems dresses and such like vani-
ties, how prominent citizen and.
so far as Offices go, head man of
| connection, gave german" at his
homo. He is man amiable in dis
position, popular, influential, with
thousands OF friends, reliable in bust
ness, a loader of public enterprise, a
| glver OF large money to the church. q