Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-10

yond a vigofous and healthy middle life.
Her eyes are black, not sharp or piercing,
large and wide apart in forehead both
broad and high. They light up pleasantly
as she talks. but at times there comes into
them determined, may say stern, look,
which gives decided emphasis to her re-
marks, which always call forth chorus
of enthusiastic assent.
The symposium lasted about an hour, I
asking questions and occasionally mildly
arguing point for the sake Of calling out
fuller or clearer statement. 1t would be
impossible to give full report Of 1t. If that
were desirable. 1t covered pretty fully their
beliefs and ostensibly their practice. pur-
chased their Discipline" price % cents
to be had of deacon and Deaconess
Joseph b. Lynch and Sarah II. Collins"
1t swarms with evident mistakes some of
which have been corrected with a pen, two
lines in one instance being erased. yet
the doctrines and rules of this discipline
shall never be changed"
Their Peculiar Beliefs,
Its definitions and statements are, as
might be anticipated, very loose hazy and
sometimes contradictory, and set forth
with an appalling disregard OF the rules of
syntaN. 1 am unable to see, however,
either in their Discipline" which / have
carefully studied, or In their statements
to me, any good reason for the bitter feel
ing against them. The only doctrine at all
distinctive Is that OF sanctification, and
the distinction is rather in their applica-
ton of it. Mr.. Lynch pointed out, success
fully, 1 think. that this was held by Wes-
ley and the early Methodists, as 1t still is
in some sense by all evangelical denomina-
items. "We believe" said Mr.. Lynch. in
answer to my question, that a man must
keep the whole law of God or go to hell"
BY further exposition IL appears that the
carnal nature must be completely eradi-
Gated, "all evil tempers and sinful pro-
pensities being destroyed" To offend in the
least is to offend in all.
To my remark that this would be pretty
hard on some OF US. short, not very
mirthful laugh went round. Yes, they said
1t is hard, but there is no other way Hon
Is this state to be attained? BY submitting
wholly to the will of God. One must neither
seek nor desire Anything for himself Food
and clothing are, indeed, necessary, but
everything in the way of luxury ornament
superfiuity is forbidden. One may acquire
and hold no property beyond the supply of
the actual necessities of life. Any surplus
must be used for the spread of the gospel
or for the relief of needy brethren. With
these they say, they would share the last
crust, and their generosity to each other is
conceded by outsiders. "Oh. we're the
lovin'es people ever you did see,'' said an
old lady.
But, while they are sanctifed, perfect in
holiness, meaning that they have absolute
and mind, every thought and purpose and
have no will outside OF His, they do not
claim that they are NOT subject to tempta-
zion. In some ways 1t is harder for US
than anybody; We have to live peticklerer
and peticklerer,: said one. Practically they
hold that no one outside Of their little band
can be saved.
As to the Marriage Relation.
With all this arrogant assumption there
still seems no justification for the bitter
feeling on the part of outsiders. The appli-
cation of their principles. coupled with the
bluntness of speech in which they indulge,
helps to account for 1t. Why" asks the
catechism, ARE not the people converted
from the error of their way, which is in
bred SIM?
Because they have been taught by pro-
Tossing ministers that they are saved at
conversion" {
Q. who is the father Of them that say
they are saved. and say they sin every
day?"
Ans: HE that commstteth sin is of the
devil
@. Are people taught Of God who have
to study all the week to get up a sermon
Ans. NO; for God has said: Settle 1t in
your hearts not to premeditate before what
you shall say"
Q. Why are there so many denominations
In the world today?'
Ans. Because they have left the old paths,
which are Specification and holiness, and
they have every one got to find them and
get into themvthat is, to get sanctified and
made holy or go to hell
In their daily walk and conversation. too
this asperity of speech Is in no way soften
ed. -
But the serious charge against them and
the only one worth considering, is that they
hold loose views to the sanctity of mar
riage, and In practice are given over to I'M
restrained immortality. Nothing pointing TO
this can be found in their book of discipline
and they strenuously deny it. There shall
be no persons received into Christ's Sancti-
fled Holy Church as full members that have
left their wives or husbands except for for
nication. And unto the married / COM
mand. yet not 1, but the Lord, let not the
wife depart from her husband. but IL the
unbeliever depart let him depart"
But marriage in the sight of God, they
hold, can only be between the sanctified or
equals ANY minister joining unequal
persons together, holy and unholy or white
and black, the minister shall be expelled:
also the matrimony performed shall be
void" This is very curious. That a rjgor-
Gus race prejudice should survive among
those who have given up every vestige Of
self-will, all pride. vanity and stlf-saaking
is startling. But In what way they would
render such a marriage void IL ii had been
legally solemnized does not appear AR
Lynch himself has not for several years
lived with his own wife Even when he
lived at home he asserted that the marriage
was unlawful, in the sight of God ana tha.
his children were bastards-the term which
they apply to all children born to the I'M
sanctifed or unequals. But his wife nov IS
member of the sect and he does not re-
turn to her.
Always Man and Woman.
1t seems probable that they hold to some
doctrine of affinity between a man and
his watcher" for in this two and two"
ministry 1t is always a man and a woman
who are paired. If so. this is a sort of
esoteric doctrine of which no trace appears
in their book Of discipline or in their pub
lie utterances.
What they tell you down at the village
isn't true" said one who had beea Il men,
Der. but had backslidden. 'Of course" said
he, without any apparent feeling. I'm not
sanctified now; Eve got the devil n me: but
I know these brethren and 1 know what
they say isn't so'-meaning what The viii
layers say.
But the relation between a man and his
watcher Is I ocular. They are, by the
theory, spiritual scounterparts or compile
ments- Can the marriage relation be nearer
than that? Then the long and secret vigils
together must bring pefiious temptations.
We may remember, nevertheless, that the
early Christians Voluntarily and for the
purpose of subduing the flesh subjected
themselves to trials to which these are luke