The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-20

An unusually interesting session Of the
Seattle Methodist Episcopal ersacners
was he'd in the First Methodist Episcopal
church last Monday morn.ng. D.. ". g.
Harrington. pastor OF Tr.nssy church.
read . paper win the unique title. rs
There Need Of q Backward Movement in
Msshod.smr' which provoked CONSIDER
abis discussion. The paper - herewith
given fr full.
Ir the beautiful .'sod.s Acre. Of Z sAr.v-
sag rss,e city in Northern Illinois lies the
sacred duss Of my parents and two Of my
grandparents In early nfs they commit
ted thar rays into the keeping OF tho
Lord and became members OF the Metho-
dist Episcopal church They kept the
faith and Died In the Lord. OF course
their works do follow them- Ny father.
when q boz. heard the apostolic As5ury
only q few months before that ysnerated
presate passed TO his reward The church
membership Of the aforementioned an
eesfors O. the second generation dates
back to Q period before the death OF John
Wesley have love feast tickets that
have been preserved for many years. but
do not know their date.
I state these things to show taat a.
Timothy was greatly debtor to the un-
fs.gned faith which dws.t In his grand
uQkHef l<t&S d-k8 ~ H3ot0EK EsGEztS. ~ =
have been greatly blessed In the rich re-
Hgieus experience and wise instructions
OF my sain;ed mother and Of my grand
mother. Paul. considering the nation OF
which he was a member and especially
his tribal relations. declared himself to be
"a Hebrew Of the Hebrews" 90, when
mediate on my ancestral tree and recall
the fact OF continuous and overlapping
membership from the beginnings Of our
-. ~ AL
that I should Be Methodist OF Metho-
dls.s.
I'm Methodist bred. ana Methodist born,
and Methodist till de-
I am q Methodist, not alone by birth
right. bu; from choice first joined the
church, In the days Of my boyhood. be-
cause IL was the church Of my parents.
AS the years went by. and knowledge In
creased. as my outlook enlarged and study
and matured Judgment brought my pow
ers OF penetration 70 their best. our be-
loved church was and stan Is the choice
OF my intellect and Of my heart. In doc
trina she is sound: her authorized usages
are In conformity with the Word Of God.
and her polity Is clearly Impressed with
the stamp OF the Divine approval. She il
the greatest evangel.x.ng agency, at home
and abroad. In th.s missionary age: her
great benevolent organizations are models
AsA wv EatBSf3sS VI AoauS, al touCt4AS t+tE
great needs Of the various classes of cur
fellow men. and IN carrying the Gospel 40
the peoples who sit In darkness. am yet
q Methodist by choice.
Yet. there are dangers. Danger in null
tiplied forms h ever about the earthly pill
grim. but l have no thought OF enlarging
upon, or even naming them Next to the
Word. Pilgrims Progress depicts the
spiritual foes that lie N wait for the
srte
reason to fear, with Paul. lest after hav-
ing preached the good tidings OF great
Joy to others. he shall become q casta-
way. God forbid that cad result In the
case Of any Of u. But are there not
churchly perils?
First--we have been successful, and
success II In itself per1ous. Nebuched-
gratulations brought ruin. When we are
rich and full there Is great danger that
We shall congratulate ourselves. and for
get God.
Second-we are no longer prosecuted.
but great popularity II our portion. The
fact OF persecution more firmly cemented
the bonds which united the early Meth
odis,s together. and kept them closa TO the
Lord. They could rest only as they felt
that Underneath was the everlasting
arm" While We are not ungratefui that
the lines have fallen TO Va In pleasant
places, We should recognize the conse-
ouent danger. and exhort one another.
that with purpose u heart, We oieavs TO
the Lord.
ThIrd-ws are rich Perhaps. In this pc
Rod OF financial distress. some would put
an Interrogation point after this state
ment Although some Methodists are IN
very moderate circumstances. and al
though some Methodist societies are en-
barrassed BY debt. and by inability 70
support q pastor. II II true that this con-
dillon In many places has come because
OF a spirit of speculation, or at least be-
cause of unwise financial management
II Is true that our great church. -
whole. has vast wealth Our church pre-
cecessors wershiped In Gods first tenn
pie" or in some humble private home, or
in the log schoolhouse. or IN a plain eds-
ecs free from debt AL this has changed.
We have our hospitals. universities. ex-
psn~,ve churches, pipe organs, paid choirs
and big debts Ambition has ousrun the
power 10 pay, or II rot the power. the dis
position 80 10 do Money-lots of .t-has
become a necessity. Although we do not
ike the highwayman. resort 70 hoid-ups.
we Sc, our machinery a. work and 90
great deal Of squeezing THAI We may get
r,orsy Costly churches. etc. are ali right
ana pleasing to God. Il paid for. How u
IL IL not paid fort
BEING In such q condition. we must. OF
course get out While getting out. the
energies that should DC devoted 10 spirit
mai work are largely occupied In ether di-
reefions the army called 10 Worldwide
evangelism remains IN camp instead OF
marching 10 new con1uesss for the
Master.
worlsl,ness threatens when wealth
comes. Worldly conformity eznaseulates
Christian experiences ard ssps Christian
influence. 'sIf any man loves the world
the love OF the Father 10 10; In him."
What nas.cr OF experience does not knew
Of hose once hunsSle spiritual followers
O, Christ, who ~ risaes increased set their
hearts on them. yielded 20 temptations. to
wor,Sliness. ard soon had left oniy q name
20 1--we while they were dead. How hard
for a rich grsn 20 enter the kingdom Of
God" Yet I, IL possible. II they cling 70
Cos Oh. that Mesnodists who become
rlrs, naay avail themselves Of THAI posi-
esity.
Fnur-s,-we have vast numbers Small
nosses struggling for existence. are likely
20 he pure. compact. energetic and aim At
a common object II IL difficult 10 con-
,,ru. those qusss-sss IN their perfection
whs- they attain ia-re numbers. Tire
hae