Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-04-16

in his vineyard, III is all rlgnO DIS iOHS
as YOU do not work for another. You
may sit on the fence, or under
shade tree during the afternoon,
even though the harvest fields are
white and the laborers are few, and
you have promised to devote your
powers and time to the Lord of 1ar-
vest. There is no sin in these things"
Would not such teaching concerning
our relations to an earthly master be
accounted preposterous? So God has
no approval for the idler Or waster OF
His gifts. The amusement question,
which includes what many are pleased
to call s'border line indulgences," is
often the link uniting the church and
the world. Am | wrong in saying that
little by little the church has played
into the hands of the world, and so
far surrendered to it's encroachments,
that now the distinctions between the
two are not easily discovered? The
Methodist church, for instance, does
not take the stand against these things
it did fifty years ago. With but rare
exceptions it's attitude on all these
questions was then clear and decided.
This is no longer the rule. 1t may be
recorded in little book to which we
sometimes refer, but which is fast be-
coming ancient history, what the
Methodist church once taught, but
which it no longer considers rule
for practice, but simply a statement
of fact and truth. Members Of the
Methodist church to day dance, play
games Of chance attend theaters, visit
the agricultural horse trot, enter the
attached as trap to the
circus, and while resting on the seats
are not to blame if the ballot girls
perform. Do the ministry consistent
ly refrain from attendance upon each
and all of these? I wish I could feel
sure that we were a unit in our atti-
tude toward those things which Gods
word and the highest Christian expe-
rience everywhere condemns. 1t is
said"We agree on the evils, but not
as to the methods Of dealing with
them" Is not such a reply often only
an evasion? On this point / am liable
to be misunderstood. / am met at the
with the declaration, "You
cannot be a conscience for your
brother. You must not condemn an
other for what his Christian con-
science allows. His judgment, knowl-
edge and spiritual insight may equal
or exceed yours" l grant this. Still
[ am troubled to find the Christian
conscience of one minister allowing
him so do what the Christian con-
science of another forbids. Does
God command one TO declare the in
nocency of Il certain course, or to
agree to it by consent Of silence, while
he says to another Cory aloud and
spare not, tell my people their sim"
Who can set us right on this question?
Has the Christian conscience become
demoralized? Docs it play fast and
loose, now into the hands OF God and
now into the hands of the world?
Must we be content TO stumble along
In uncertainty? Is one brother called
ed to pull down or nullify what an
other sought to build up or overcome?
For instance I for conscience sake
take my stand against the encroach-
ments of the world, the flesh and the
devil, in some prevailing form, then
my brother pastor by his attitude on
the same matter says, "It is naught,
1t is naught; He is a good brother,
but mistaken" viii the one having
received a new revelation on the in
Gods word and Christian experience
please let in the light? What once
we're called vices many unconverted
people declare to be not vices a6 all.
Really good people will excuse and
apologize for those who participate
IN them. They say it is not the thing
itself, but the excessive Indulgence
which is evil; and because the thing
itself is not BADLY bad, they will Sc
cretly indulge in it. Is it not true that
here has been either no teaching on
these points, or, at least, false teach
ng. The place of the preacher ought
20 be unquestioned. He is under com
mission from the Great Head of the
church. His responsibility is TO his
Master. Some wish to be popular.
The NeeD York Tribune says: "The
popular preacher now is not the one
who stir mems hearts, but one who
draws money. Whether Or not his
show any advance in
spirituality under his exhortations, or
ais people learn to adorn their daily
ives with simplicity, earnestness and
ruth, are questions which trouble the