The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1896-02-01
THE PROGRESS.


upon few ears.
On all sides iniquity coupled with
indifference abounds, and because OF
this, the love of many shall wax cold"
Few indeed in any chnrch take an IN
tsrest in the Sabbath school, not even
parents deeming it worthy of attend
snce. and many neither know nor
care who teaches their children, while
the utter Indifference manifested by
the members to the work Of the
church is positively astounding. The
midweek prayermeetlng IS bore
some" and not ten per cent OF the
members are ever in attendance there
on. With the churches relation to
the individual members matters are
even worse In every church are
many whose lives are open violations
of the Ten Commandments, and
whose sins are SO open that no denial
or extenua,ion is made Of, or for them,
vet their names are carried on
the church roll Is members, when
they are naught, but tares to hinder
and choke the growth Of the wheat
Why do not our churches eradicate
them Simply because they dare
not enforce the strict discipline which
they pledge themselves to do. Dare
any mau act in a lodge as
church members do III violation OF
their vows, and suspension is the
penalty. but our churches carry these
dead weights year after year bringing
ruin to themselves and others. 10
day one may be drinking man, he
} NAV let ont his houses for gambling
or immoral purposes; he may be the
| object Of contempt of every man IN
the community who hates hypocrisy
} vet his money is contributed regular
{ " to tie church he need not fear the
r discipline and letters showing his good
! standing will be given commencing
| him to sister churches. The Bible, that
0 infalliDle rule of faith and practice
3 is no longer the source Of joy 1t tor
y merly was to the church, fox little at
9 tento;, is paid to its teaching by tn'
9 mass Of it's members, and on Sunday
b the newspaper is a more welcome
II visitor and CT greater enjoyment thar
V David psalms. What with formal
70 ism in worship-a Journalism II
IS which the Holy Ghost has no place 0
a part; people Of notorious wicked live
* singing III the church "holf; the stud
re led Difference and partially pad t
in the rich and the indifference show
n to the poor, no wonder that the con
So mon people look upon the Gospel 4
ell preached to-day as gigantic farce
ID What worIdllness exists IN tn
is daily lives of church members
of there a ball or dance, we have bit
,ir to glance at the list of those presel
Of and See the great numbers Of pr
pc fessed followers of Jesus Christ WI
bq were in attendance. Is there &
in opera? Whom do the world say WI
of there but protested Christians. VIII
,dl with card playing with which the
ne amuse the patients in institute us
st9 feeble minded and other forms
to worldly amusements It's no wond
us that the church is powerless to col
be with evil, and impossible for Il
us, world to detect any difference in u
le- outward life between a memb
ers of the church and a man Of .ordlna
ID; morality.
ny Again IN apostolic times it was t
l3 custom and injunction ''to let eve
ent man give as the Lord prosper
es? him." but to-day owing to the c.
out rupting elements IN the church,
IN has been deemed expedient to i
nd prove upon the methods inaugural
ak by the Holy Ghost, and not alone
nes people asked to give according
o." their means, but special attraction
7he way of entertainments are offered
self order to coax the mighty dollar il
IKE the Lords treasury. No matter
pse the money is the price of shame,
end matter whether it was gotten at
all expense Of another's soul, no mat
rue whether it was the price of blood,
also church accepts it all and lays it
pity Gods feet for an Offering, not knc
# L IL