The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-27

| Dctn NlClOI oil oNOAlS the 1lilC-
''The whole number of conversions on
| the district was 1888, with more than
half that number of additions to the
| church on probation.
HINDRANCES.
az have already spoken of the fnan-
cial depression, but would mention in
| connection with that a lack on the part
of many TO recognize and real obligation
10 support the Gospel. Notwithstand-
/ ing the hard times 1 firmly believe that
! if the burden had been properly distrl-
| buted, and every one had done is well
/ in bearing the burden as many have
done, every claim placed upon the var
| ious charges on the district could and
would have been fully met.
"A feeling of unrest or fear that there
is something wrong with our church. its
! doctrine or policy. The feeling it not
widespread, but it exists in the minds
of some. L cannot define it as dissat-
! isfactiOn, but rather as a suspicion or
fear that all is not right. / have sought
/ the cause and believe l have found it,
Much of it comes from other church
es in some parts of the district some
! preachers of other churches will devote
| the whole time for a sermon 10 the ad-
verse criticism of our doctrine, and 70
the ridicule of our book Of discipline.
! Many Of our people hear it from time 10
/ time, while ii is very rare that a word
! is spoken from our pulpits in their de-
Tense.
Two years out of every four the col
umnS of our own church papers are
| thrown open for practically the same
! purpose. Criticisms are made freely.
| Every part of the machinery IS exam
! ined and nearly every part condemned
! by some one. Every defect both real
and imaginary, is not only pointed out,
! but greatly magnified. These things
are read by many of our people who
hear the public criticisms from other
pulpits, and l ask is it any wonder there
is a suspicion that there may be some
thing wrong? MOI the wonder is that
il is not more general than 1t is. 1t
seems almost a wonder that the system
holds together at all. For from our
own papers it would seem some times
| that it must soon go 70 pieces by its own
| weight and imperfectiOn. We have in
/ our own church a good many states
men of the Patrick Henry type-great to
/ tear down but not much 10 construct
No doubt many of these who are thus
! engaged in criticising and finding fault
| with our church machinery, do so for
| the purpose of setting right what they
really think is wrong. But, I have
! SUSPICION mat UluCH u II - llOl AOI NIidl
! purpose. There seem grounds for the
suspicion that some would not object 10
being brought to the notice of the
! church, and il is possible that they do
| this for that reason. And it Is possible
! some Of it is to shift responsibility for
/ failure. 1t is not every one who achieves
/ the greatest success in the Methodist
ministry, they don't seem adapted TO
our work. and they would probably do
/ better elsewhere and some men would
probably be unsuccessful in the minis
/ try of any church. And one seems will
! ing TO acknowledge that he is failure,
provided he has a fair chance and it is
! but human to look outside of ones self
! for the cause and lay the responsibility
! on another, or upon unavoidable condi-
tons. 1t has been so since the world
/ began. Adam said the woman you gave
/ me-yes, ate the fruit, but the woman.
/ Well, We are descendants Of his and
/ though several generations from him,
that disposition has come down along
! the line and reached the present age.
A man fails in the ministry, it is but
natural for him to look about to find
the reason. 1t is not hard for him to
say, and probably think, the fault is in
| the system under which he works. 1t is
| the bishop or the presiding elder. SO
|
would dfslocate him; some would either
! abolish entirely the office of presiding
| elder, or have it filled in some other
way, or some other person.
''The time limit seems in the way of
! some. If this were only removed they
could make it-when they probably
never staid five years in any pastoral
| charge in all their lives.
"Why, brethren, some men would fail
If there were not a bishop or presiding
! elder on earth, and II the time limit
had never been heard of; and all this
criticism and fault finding add nothing
to the efficiency nor would any change
the general conference could make, add
anything. Neither does il add anything
| TO the loyalty of our people. What diff
| ference so far as loyalty IS concerned,
how preacher gets to a charge; wheth-
| er he is appointed or elected; whether he
IS sent or called. What IS the difference
whether the limit is five years or fifty,
when he stays only two?
Another cause of this unrest in the
church is the disposition TO substitute
the adjustment of external conditions
for inward publication and power from
on high. It is possible to have both
a proper adjustment of external oondi-
tons and power from on high. Certain
" the former would not hinder the lat
! ter But 1 firmly believe that we as In
! GiViduals and as a church need spirit
of cOnsecratio to God, and loyalty 70
the church. much more than any ad-
! justment of the ma chinery the general
! conference can make. It isn't more
machinery, nor new arrangement OF ia
parts, that we need, as much as We need
more power and willingness TO operate
the machinery as it Is.
| "Our doctrines are all right. They
need no change; oud creed needs no
/ revision Our doctrines are revered and
I loved wherever they are faithfully
preached by our pastors; and think the
old ship and her rigging in pretty good
| condition. I say push her out; cut the
shore lines: turn on the steam and let
her drive; give her all the Roadway of
which she is capable in her present con-
dition and that will answer many per
picking questions that now seem 70
trouble the many thinkers-push her
out and she will polish her own keel
and wear off all the haTnaCles. Push
her out, a more beautiful and majestic
old ship was never seen on the waters
OF life. Uufurl her sails 70 the heavenly
breeze and let the breath Of God watt
her on her voyage till she lands her
millions in the port Of glory"
REPORTERS NOTEBOOK.
Mrs. Morris Brown Of Newton, was