Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1900-02-15
THE SOCIAL EVIL THAT MOST "
" AFFECTS THE CHURCH

the rOOJ or all Inh evils WIN winch
The modern church has to contend
ha, not been touched. And the
modern church. As it is today,
is u disgrace to the church that
was es ablishel by Jesus Christ.
Smart men may write about so
cial evils aud show them up in all
their degrading practices and in
nucnces, and preachers may classi-
~ and arrange the different kind,
of social evils AMI their con.e-
quences until doomsday and the
social evils with all their contain
mating and degrading influences
will continue to flourish like
green bay tree.
If we were asked the question,
what is the cause of so many social
evils creeping into the church and
DESTROYING all the religious in
tlucnccs that may b. exercised by
the gospel, we would answer the
entire question III two words, I'm
converted Membership. What do
we mean by uncOnverted member
hip? Allow us to illustrate by
giving two instances, that came un-
der our own observation. Last fall
we had the pleasure of attending
two revivals, or protractel meet
ings. We were well acquainted
with both of the preachers. One
cl sd his meeting wi h 20 Access
IONS to his church, $50 rcportcd) IL
by baptism and three by letter;
(none by cOnversion.) We were
present when five united with the
church, and near enough to hear
the questions asked which were as
follows: "Do You feel trat you
have renowned the world?, An
swer very frcbly. eyes, "Do You
feel that You are willing to trust
CHRISTI "Ycs.' Pre- chcr." W uar
is your pie rSurc, brethren" Some
brother moved he or she BE- ac.
copied. Vote taken, member le.
rcNcd. The sam questions to all
five and all received into the
church, awaiting baptism. We now
20 t. the other meeting. Tn"
Or achrr laborcd hard tor two
weeks, and five united with the
church. We saw three received
i ITO the church, one young m N.
one young lady and one little CIR.
The first WAS the young man.
Question: "Do you feel tht God
for ChGst'S sake has pardoucd
Your snS! II so stand up and tc1
the brethren what the Lord has
done for you And as he young
man arcs, he turned and faced the
audience. No mistake there. One
could see the Joy of a redeemed
soul he ming from his countcnance,
II, he cxcIa med, 30, | thank God
accepted Christ Il, il pers ma Sa-
viur, and now my Soul IS happy,
filled full OF love, peace aud joy"
Ihe next was the young lady.
On stion: "Ruth. do YOU feel that
the l. ri for Christ S SAKE has pa
d)ned your sins?' 20, Yes, know
now what the bIrS ,ed Master meant
when he said, We must be bora OF
the spirit. | am happy in II Sa-
vior's love- The preacher turned
to the little girl and said, Bessie.
has the Lord answered your prayer,
| know You have been praying"
'O,yeS, Brother --, the blessed Je.
SuS is with me all the time. Now |
am prepared to go where dear
mamma is While looking at the
,onntenance OF that happy child
We felt that we were in the pres.
nee of God, revealing his spirits .
power in the countenance Of that
'oung and tender believer in Christ
md the feeling seemed to pervadc
he whole congregation.
After the little girls testimony
he preacher said if there was one
n the honse who felt he was n sin
Ter and wanted the kind of rci-
ZION little Bessie had to come and
;neel ut the altar. Six came for.
ward for prayer.
Is it necessary for us TO ask the
question, which Of these preachers
vas doing the acceptable work for
he Master. and which one will
lear that welcome pludlt, swell /
lone. than uool an fnlthful .nr-