The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-18

vinely provided agencies fer the accom-
plisrment of her work; hf they can DE pre-
vaildt en- TO honor Cad in their households
as he requires. and to teach their chill 'ren
the great truths OF his word ans they lie
down md as they rise up, and as they go
tit and as they COME in" and 10 employ
all the hours OF the Lcrd's day for the
fIgh and sacred purposes for which Lney
were given: it MUST be clear that # cur
min 'sters and people can be prev tiled or
TO do these things. then no weapon formed
against CUR Zltn shall prosper; "falc IS
the moon, clear as the sun. and terrible as
an army with banners, she silail 50 forth
"conquering and to conquer.
G.. b. Stricken.
B. NJ. Palmer
j. B. Stratton.
Committee.
The signes OF this letter are men emil
nent in the church. They were deliberately
chosen by the last general assembly to
write in its name this pastoral letter. The
last named, DR.. Stratton, is far past 50
years OF age and has been pastor and pas
tor emeritus of the church for more than
sixty years. His is the gentlest, sweetest
soul | have ever known. The second is
Dr. Palmer. who has for more than forty
years been pastor of the strongest church
in the general assembly. He Is more than
so years OF age and his praise is in all
the churches. The first. DR.. Strickler. is
looked upon as one OF the ablest theo!ogianS
and most discriminating MINDS In the
whole church. He is In the maturity OF
his powers.
The significance of the warnings of this
letter is tremendously emphasized by these
facts The highest court OF the chu:cn
deemed 1t necessary to have TINS pastoral
warning prefaced and sent forth chcee
,nhl ncf M
In our communion to prepare H. ana or
dered 1t read to ALI our congregations; me
signature OF these strong men LENDS 10
the warnings OF the letter all the force
of their intellect and character
Surely this should make us pause ana
look calmly and honestly at the situation
In which we find ourselves
I have no fear that the word OF Goa
will be closed or that an lota OF its rs
sential truth will be sacrificed by the agi'
tati.'ns CT the present t!ne, ne;t"se Ne
lieye II is Gods word and that lie syno IN
spired holy men Of old to write IT VIII raise
nm holy men TO maintain IL in It's entire
integrity. Some views e. IT may aud doubt,
less viii be modified, but the truth ali
the truth, will remain urshaken foreve?' :.
o,r system OF doctrine Will bs maintained
hecause / believe that the system Is that
tnuqht In the woc OF Gcd, Whatever
notifications may come 10 certain phases,
the great and fundamental principles OF II
viii remain to ths end OF time, ana VIII
be In one form or other increasingly the
belief OF the church OF Jesus Christ
Ii,,i there are certain neresies OF life
and conduct which are coming into greater
prominence all the while because Christian
men and women are not living close
enough to Jesus Christ.
TOO much Of tho popular literature OF
tho day Is given TO the exploiting oil the
stain Of sin. but there Is little apparent
knowleige OF the guilt and power of sin.
society and sometimes fear the church,
sees only the stain OF sin. and sees that
| ZOO late,-''the stain which has dropped
from the wound after the throat of virtue
has been cut. IF II could only see the
mower and try to deal with that-try to
get Gods grace TO act on that' the woria
night be redeemed from destruction after
all"
The modern craze for numerous minute
organizations OF religious people to do
what God appointed the church to do VIII
run its course and the church as the d.
yipely equipped organization for the re-
demption OF the world will become oper-
alive TO that end and these unnecessary
organizations Will evaporate. Effort Is be-
| Ing made to build UP churches on religious
efferyerscence, on stupid ignorance OF the
laws OF spiritual action, and but for the
hurt that inevitably comes to those en-
gagged in such enterprises we might af-
ford To smile. These foolish movements
should be discouraged. and you who love
and believe In the church OF Jesus Christ
as divine organization Shouts refuse to
countenarce in any way the religious non-
sense of the fanatical. the fancifu and the
ignorant Like Jonah's gourd they sprAng