The Globe-republican., 1894-11-23
Religious Department.
Western Horizon.

We are having wide run of definite
holiness work this summer. The meet
ings are so common rs hardly to be
thought of otherwise than in the ordi-
nary movement of religious lie. 1t is
well. We wish it were more SO i'm places
where the people edo not know Joseph -
The fact of this experience is so well
established by years of reformed and
spiritualized lives that the common pub
lie. in many communities, have no
question of its reality. Twenty five
years have come and gone and the facts
grow mere frequent and the years prove
up the claim. No longer can the OPP
poser succeed with trying to deny the
fact of a holy life. The people know
better. The opposer must now exercise
his ''gift" in some other direction. He
seeks to explain it away, or to slur it, by
saying mo cultured person or scholar
ever processes the grace But this re-
flutes itself. when the pages of history
are consulted, or the authorship of
books is examined. The declaration or
stating of things in that way, and the
relying on that as evidence that holiness
is not true, proves that the speaker is
not well informed, or that both himself
and his congregation are ignorant of
facts well known and verified by thous-
ands of we'll informed people.
In the Central West we are at time
when definite ground must be taken.
Laymen must do it, Ministers must do
it. In many congregations minister is
not acceptable who does not enjoy and
preach this grace. 1t will probably
bring on definite issue. The preachers
who try to discredit the work will make
extra effort to maintain themselves and
may make all the trouble they can with
pastors and evangelists who teach holt
ness. The trend of the times they are
in demand position on this matter.
There are those who are being threatened
now. All advantage will be taken of
any law that looks to the carrying of the
point, or any disparagement of the work
at the hands of some unwise worker.
But all this is neither strange nor with
out profit. The issues that crowd to the
front the great questions are the days Of
heroism and Advancement. The days of
ease and supineness are the times when
coming troubles are sOwn. Opposition
will bring out the true standard bearers.
1t will tell us whom to rely on. We are
prophesying no great persecution. We
are but dealing with the facts as they lie
in the undeveloped possibilities about us.
We are in perilous times of kind that
in some respects are alarming. When
the denominational spirit runs away
from the old standards, so that the new
generation, clinging to the old name
and insisting on inheriting the old estate
come to place where the doctrines and
life that gave the denomination birth
and present place can be openly set at
naught by high officials, and the old
standards trampled in the dust; when
professors in school of theology attack
the very centers of faith and defend
themselves in the highest courts of the
church; and when the large majority of
the denomination sympathize with them,
it is high time that people begin to
think.
When there is a tendancy to trifle with
the standards, and officials wink ut it;
and when there can be criticism of good
men because of their adherence to the
faith as once delivered to the saints
under cover of some trivial charge; and
when majorities love to have it that way,
it is an indication that there is sOme-
thing radically wrong somewhere at the
source Of efficiency and fidelity to that
which gave the denomination birth.
We continue to have inquiries about
the setting in order of bands aud holt
ness associations. Their need is more
and more recognized. 1t will continue
to be SO as the work advances. Itwould
not be SO, were all pastors prepared to
preach and push the truth and ex-
perience of holiness. When on the con-
trary there are thousands, not only
ignorant of such an experience, but
definitely opposed to IL, and their people
kept in ignorance, it is apparent that
God will have the people hear the truth
about holiness as an experience in some
other way and by some other agency.
The mission of the state association and
band is clearly indicated as the means
to fill this gap. 1t should therefore be
an INSTRUMENTATION work, like the
w. c. T. u, or the Y. NJ. C. A., so as to
accommodate all who desire the ex-
perience, and like these associations, be |
able. unmolested, to hold meetings in
any city, town or community without
being considered as encrOachinQ on the |