Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1899-01-25
,"cUr dRANo SAILS"

The Methodist revival which has
been in progress for the past two
weeks appears to be success, so far
as interest is concerned, the edifice
always being filled to the doors. Rev.
Porter and Pastor Everett are the con-
ductors and evidently know how to
draw the people. The private address
"for men only" by Mr.. Porter, on
Sunday afternoon, has been the sub
ject of much discussion since, and the
writer regrets that he was unable to
attend the meeting. While we are in
favor OF Christian influences and more
church steeples, we believe that there
are certain limits that even a minis
ter of the gospel should rot cross
some things he should not say even
though they be the truth-and in
stead Of picking the evil things from
the good, gather the good things from
the evil. Too much OF anything is
not desirable--even religion, and we
venture the assertion that the Bible
says somewhere between its covers
"Be We not over righteous" or words
to that effect. In our opinion the
excitement incident to meetings of
this nature are not always for the best
All important changes in our views
should be made during quiet moments
and then only after the most careful
thought and mature deliberation. If
there ever was time in the history
of the world when the people should
be seriously sober, it is now. If there
are those who cannot restrain or con-
troll themselves when listening to elo-
quent oratory from an evangelist
they should remain away until ena-
bled to do so.
In this connection we also believe
that what is sometimes said from the
pulpit in reference to the fraternal
and benevolent societies, which is not
always complimentary, is wholly I'M
warranted, uncalled for, and is re
ceived with general disfavor. These
organizations are not endeavoring to
supplant the church. Political and
sectarian matters are never known
within the lodge room walls of the
leading secret orders of the world; but
the church, through its agents, or
some of them,a ARE continually firing in
to the ranks of an institution which has
the purest of principles and is today
doing so much for humanity that it
has the attention and practically the
approval of all civilized peoples. Their
mission is for good, and no sensible
man will deny it. They do their
charitable work without show. They
visit the sick, relieve the distressed,
bury the dead, educate the orphan
and protect the widow and children.
What is more commendable? Will
the church do more than this? Why
not let these great benefactors alone
instead of getting jealous of them
because the men and women of our
land find that they are what we need
that they are friends who comfort
us in sorrow and rejoice with us in
our prosperity. Any human institu-
ton which brings men nearer to each
other, making them more social and
humane should have aught but praise
from every dignitary on earth. The
church and the lodge are simply dif-
ferent elements warning against vice
in all its forms, and there is no reason
why they should be made to appear
as antagonistic to each other, and
in our opinion such statements are in
tended to be taken CUM GRANo SAILS.
We do not unerstand that there is cause
to apprehend that by and by there
may be drawn battle between them,
for neither can be well dispensed with.