The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-23


oiiphant. on THE Faults of the
Church as Seen by Those outside the
Church" The speaker held that the
faults complained OF were attributable
to the church people. and not to the in
sutution itself, which was divine. The
sermon was the result OF Inquiries made
by Rev. Mr.. olphant. by writing letters
to many persons In the city. asking
them to state what to them, are the
faults of the church.
said Rev. Mr. oliphant: The purpose
Of the church is to reflect the light OF
Christ. She is commissioned to reno
vate mankind. and TO do this she is to
be in subsection to Christ. wish to
discuss the faults as seen by those OUT
side the church.
one says: II have no fault to find
with the church" This is a compll.
ment to the church. One man said to
me recently: The church could ind
fault with me"
There Is distinction to be made be.
tween the church which Christ found
cd and the people in the church. The
people fall short There is a spiritual
deadness among too many church pco-
pie. Often there are dead peopue in the
pulpit, in charge OF the Sunday school.
Christian Endeavor. and other depart
ments OF the church,
There is too often i lack Of sociablllty
in the church's local congregations. Too
often there are stragglers from the
church Not a few are not willing 10
endure the sacrifice required in the con-
sistent Christian life. Yet all this Is
not an argument against the church It.
self as an institution.
Another fault mentioned is that there
is among church people want of sin
ccrity. This is true of too many who
prefer to follow Christ The indi1er-
encc and carelessncss, the lack OF moral
and financial support of the church. the
Irregular and non-attendance at public
services, the assuming Of the right to
dictate the policy OF church work aud
unwilllngness to help the cause among
many of the church-poers is full proof
that there is in ma ) quarters want
Of sincerity. The sincere man, even
though he may be mistaken and mis-
guided, who speaks as he thinks, who
lives as he processes, who makes good
his promises, who is what he would
appear to be. Is the man who impressss
men favorably. They have confidence
in him. at least in his sincerity. They
believe him TO be In earnest. The fact
that he talks as though he believes
what he says carries weight
Want OF honesty among many
church members" Evadlng the pay
ment of just debts, protesting to be be-
fore the world what they are not, lack
OF. truthfuIness, careIessness as to tho
reputation OF fellow Christians, are
evidences that there is among many
want of honesty.
Many do not want to hear honesty
discussed. A slave master. in olden
time, said to his chattel. "Pompey, I
hear you are a great preacher" Yes,
massa, de Lawd do help me powerful
sometimes" We'll, Pompey, don't you
think the negroes steal little things on
the plantatlon?" Use might 'fraid deg
does, massa." Then. Pompey, want
you to preach sermon to the negroes
against stealing" After a brief rehec-
ton Pompey replied. You see, massai
dat would never do, 'twould throw such
a GOODNESS over de meetin'."
-. No. n =
and man. Religion governs it. lie
that is not religious is not fully honest.
He may be but little better than mas.
tin dog; so long as you stroke him he
will play with you as kindly as posi-
bic: he is n very good moral mastitt,
but IL you hurt him he will fly in your
face The truly honest man is homes:
with his nelghbor and his God.
Another says that the church has
become ffty-two day institution seer
only in Sunday clothes" 1t is fact
that there arc too many whose bust
ness and religious lives do not cores
pond. Their lives should work TO-
gether in harmony, the one an inspra-
ton to the other. Too many people
use their religion, what little they have,
as a piece OF cake. when company
comes. rather than rs a piece OF bread.
the good substantial bread to sustain
and strengthen them. by their fruits
ye shall know them"
Another says that there is a failure
to stoutly uphold certain tenets OF
faith important to the Christian" This
IS true OF many. Many. instead OF be.
ing governed by Bible truth, "the will
Of Christ" are controlled by their own
selfish desires. Hence. the liberalism
among many church people which has
been converted into n license to do as
one pleases. This liz n very irreveren.
spirit. and shows that the heart and
life are not in subsection to the VIII Of
the Master. You could find n little
lnddellty among the professad follow
ers OF Christ with the aid OF a telescope
or magnifylng glass.
There are many people, who, instead
OF looking to tn. good Of the church.
look to their own pleasure Hence they
demand that there be prophesIcd
smooth things unto them. This spirit,
too strongly developed, lowers the dig
nifty OF the Christian religion. and dls.
regards fundamental principles which
should be made very plain in pulpit
and among church peopIa that the
world may know that the religion OF the
Christ has firm foundation.