Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-02
AIMS OF THE LEAGUE
DR.. Steel Discusses This Great MoYe-
ment IN the Methodist Church.
USE AND ABUSE OF CEREMONY.
Rev. Mr. scaton breaches an Inter-
csting Sermon from This Theme
Class Mt Monumental.

Rev. pr. s. A. Steel. general secretary
OF the Epworth Leagues OF the Memo
dist Episcopal Church, South. spent sun
day In Richmond, preaching at Cen'e-
nary church In the forenoon on "The
Crucinxion Of Christ" and at Park
Place church 81 the evening on "Th'
Final Judgment" lie was heard with
pleasure by large congregations.
At4P. ". he addressed n mass-meet-
ing Of Epworth Leaguers and others az
Broad Street church. Many OF the most
prominent Methodlsts OF this city ana
Manchester were present besides good
" number from the other denominations
Among the ministers present were Rev
George C. Vanderslice. j. D.. Rev I'd
ward l.. Pcll, Rev. A. G. Bergman Rev.
X. y. Sledd.. ID. d.. Rev Il. 7. Wilson,
Rev. w. j. Young. u. d.. Rev. ". W.
Lear, and Rev. James W. Moore.
The pastor OF the church. Rev j. 7.
whitley. presided. and the Introductory
devotional exercises were conducted by
Drs. Young and Sledd The music was
led by the chorus choir OF Broad-Stree''
with Mr. George l.. Bidgood as leader,
and Mr. Manly Il. Ramos. organist.
YOUNG CHRISTIAN WORKERS.
DIR. Steel. being introduced. began his
address by expressing his pleasure at
being present. especially with such
theme to discuss. God. he said. always
brings forward new agencies to meet
now demands in the onward progress OF
His Kingdom. In these latter days
there is a great and growing disposition
upon the part Of young people to engage
raised up a number OF new organizations
TO give direction and effect to this spirit
ual movement. Such are the Christian
EndcaVOr. the EpWorth League, and
other societies
The speaker briefly sketched the rise o:
the Epworth League movement-hrst in
the Methodist Episcopal Church (North,
and then i'm the Southern Methodist
Church. In the latter Church It has cx-
listed now nearly five years. and tho
last General Conference incorporated ii
as an integral part of the Church organ
izatiOn. 1t is placed under the control
of the pastor and the quarterly confer
ence. and is designed to bring the young
people in closer touch with the Church
and all its work-
BY a vivid and amusing instance Of
dude preacher, who went TO a back,
woods circuit and wrought wonders
through his use OF the Epworth League
causing the people TO forget his fine
clothes and dudish outfit in the wise
work he did. the speaker showed OF
what service the Leagu" may be. even
in country districts.
SOME OF ITS ADVANTAGES.
Some Of the advantages accruing to
the Church from the Epworth League
were then set forth and happily illus
trated. For one thing, the League de-
T.lOnC
Of the young people. Formerly the con-
duct Of religious services was left entire
ly to persons advanced i'm life Thu.
League trains the young TO DO their part
and to do II well. 1t also encourages
them to bear witness for Christ and
give a reason for the hope that Is in
them. II teaches them to sing the Cos
pei. Methodism was Graded In song.
and II has sung it's way into every CLINE
When it ceases 10 sing it will cease 10
thrive. The League Is n place of sacred
song. In THIS connection the speaker
touched up" fashionable choirs in uuitn
an amusing way.
The League, DR. Steel continued. trains
the young people 10 do every sort Of
church work. Ii is. in fact the pastor.
aid society Here Dr. Steel drew vivid
and interesting word-pictures Of an OLD
style ladies' aid society. and then sketch,
cd the experiences Of the pastor VIII,
has no Epworth League to aid him in
ministering to the destitute. and the pas
tor who has n vigorous League to helm
him bear his burdens
The League aims to cultivate Christian
soclability among the church members
TO provide innocent entertainment for
them, and to put i'm their hands good
literature, including the special literature
Of the Methodist Church.
nDn,r
1.-THE League" said Dr. Steel. "aims
also to promote a true, broad. denomina-
tional life. with nothing Of sectariauiern
about it. We are sometimes charged
with unwillingness to affiliate with oihcN
Christians; but more than a hundred
years before any Of these modern organ.
cations came into being the motto Of
Methodlsm was: Il desire a league. or
fensive and defensive with every soldie,
or Jesus Christ" But we wish to direct
the culture OF our own young peoplc
They need TO be indoctrinated in our
theology and history and polity."
bringing his address TO a close DIR
steel said that there are now a million
or more of Epworth Leaguers on this
continent, and the work is spreading with
amazing rapidity. In Texas and Mis-
souri,, especially. is rapid progress being
Made. A great international Conference
CHATTANOOGA
June 27-30. Of this year. and 10000 dele
gates will be there. Addresses will be,
made by the Premier of Canada. hr
bishops Hendrix. Vincent, FITZGERALD
and other eminent men,
FINALLY the Epworth Era, the League
paper was spoken of. and the address
was concluded with a stirring appeal for
WORK IN behaf or the League movement,
under the power OF the Holy Shirt
l)r. Steel left the Cifxt
State.
Use and Abuse of Ceremony i'm Re-
IigiOn.
rev. Joseph NJ. Seaton, the Unitarian
minister, preached at Belvidere Hall sun
day morning on The Use and Abuse Of
ceremony in Religion" His text was
Psalm xXXiii., and 3. PRAISE the Lord
with harp; sing unto Him with the
PSa'ery and an instrument WITH ten
Strings. Sing unto Him with a ew
song play skilfully with a loud noise"
Prom the beginning of the history of
the Christian Church." said the speaker
there has been difference Of opinion
In regard To the use Of externals in re-
lgious worship. But 1t has been only
within the past half dozen centuries that
the contest has really touched our church
customs IN Such way as to become q
HlNt'ti W IttSpiidl interest 10 us. To-day
much Is being spoken and written upon
this subject, and men are everywhere
inquiring how far ritual and ceremony
can be used In worship without de-
generating into Il mere observance Of
the form and of the letter and a loss of
the spirit which is alone the centre Of
true worship Everywhere the tendency
Is 10 forsake the barren simplicity OF the
Puritanism of two centuries ago. and
10 come out into the warmth and glow of
more sensuous form. That hatred
which characterized the more rigid sects
for forms and book prayers Is dying
out. and the attempt is being made TO
substitute for 1t more human and rea-
sonable feeling. But. still the question
remains 10 be answered-How far can
ritual and ceremony be used without
abuse?
TO GUARD AGAINST ABUSE.
In order TO form an intelligent opinion
on the tendency of the present day
churches 10 adopt methods of enrich
ment OF their church service. a short
investigation of the use of ritual and
ceremonies in religious services by the
ancients must be undertaken. There are
three theories which might no advocated.