The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-11

my pew I don't want them near my
pew doo't want them in the
church." IN another paryer-meeting.
a member said, II want your prayers
for a man who has been a slave to
drink. Pray for him he's a gentle
man ; he's DO bum. he is q gentleman
worth 5000, 900, aud is worth saving"
The pastor Of a church in Mississippi
discouraged certain working girls who
wanted to join his church by telling
them they had better 60 elsewhere as
they would not 6od it congenial With
his people. A reformed drunkard
offered himself for membership in that
same church, and one of the officers
told him there were 100 vacancies in
the membership" at that time. OF
course, all of us will at once deny that
any of this applies to us. Probably so;
and yet this spirit may exist within US,
aud be a hindering cause, without our
being conscious of it.
9. The church people lack drawing
power. The world says to a man,
'.Have you got religion? If SO, | don't
want it." 1t is like saying to a
merchant that his goods are not desir-
able if the samples are to be the critic
rion. This is the truth in many cases,
though there are exceptions everywhere.
I read recently Of a set of "sick pearls"
The very title aroused my wonder.
How can pearls be sick ? The writer
explained by saying they had been kept
from the light for many years, and lost
all their lustre. To restore the lustre
was the task. At length a
specialist recommended that they
be buried for a long time deep
under the sea. So there they are DOW,
waiting till the old light returns In a
like manner, Christians often lose their
shine, their l~ustre, and are not attrac-
tive. The world sees nothing beautiful
in them, nothing in their deeds or
doctrines, and if any n is brought
into the church, be is dragged in over
the opposing force of members like
these. A man who lives in vital union
With God will always have a shine on
his face and a sweet attractiveness about
his life. But where religion is merely
%perfuocsory, all this is wanting, and
hence Isay Christians often lack drawing
power. On the other hand, the world
does not take naturally to religion. and
will pass on and away if not drawn in
and influenced to a better life.
2. The meet cause Of this drifting
aaoay IS found IN the people ~ho are
drifting:
l.. In the towns especially, the
multitades are continually shifting,
and seem to have no abiding homes =
They stay everywhere. and live no.
where. Hone is an unknown luxury,
except 10 a rented house where they
spend a little time until a better
place for work is opened to them.
This shifting habit becomes a part
of their nature. and is practiced
With reference to their church. Many
persons seem to care for no church
except the one into which they we're
baptized. When they joined, they
joined the church, but not the Christ,
and pow to leave or pay no attep-
sion to the church that is nearest
to them, is not regarded as a sin. |
beard but lately of a woman 10 this
sown, 10 well-to-do circumstances.
who was asked to go to church. She
said no, that when she was at home
she used to go regularly but she did
not know any persons in the Bap-
list Church here, and felt no desire
to 60 By and by, this sister will
be found drifting away with the great
mass, and some one will wonder at
the fact that one with her sense and
surroundings should so wander into the
ways OF sin.