The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-24

appears the most inviting prospects In the
whole matter, In TO me the most unplesent-
aud yet for all that believe my duty calls me
my duty shalt yet nnd the very opportu.
nifty most desire-the very field Of work TO
which believe God has called me.
In regard 70 certain features OF my work hsIe
In the past. II the tenor OF the sermons which
I have preached here during tho timo OF my
Rectorship have appeared 70 shy Of you some
II, In other words, have dwslt upon certain
themes which TO the mind OF those Of you
long grounded in the faith, appealed 70 nave
been Irrelevant To the real emo ana purposeS,
tnis knowingly md Win Intent oecaeso, rtSnt
or wrong ~ the case L,as be. am neSerthe-
less fully persusI ID In my own MIND snat ne
times demand tas swak sring OF the Christian
Church 70 cer ain unQ fashionable dangers
lhat surround Ger-dsnHers that ere becom'
Ing moro ana more prcaounced every Gay oe.
cause OF the Indifferent attitude wnlcn
|churchmen. Ministers and Lay alike stsadfsst. :.
IL per.ist Ia maintaining toward the Burning
aue estious OF the hour. Who has not witness.
I'd the lamsntaole falling off, not only IN
SS. ssrs.i. zeal and infiuencs thought the entire
country, not only In our own church. l mean.
bot In ali the churches; aud TO come yet near.
or home Who ofyou Episoopalians mere present
ings concerning the wide spread indinorenco
70 church matters 90 palpabiy evident In your
own good Diocese OF South Carolina. How
trivial !. Il 70 waste time 10 assEnaos .nm ,, OF
20 many OF your church papers resointeiy
shat your eyes 70 the enormity OF tho siiua.
ation. JeGting aud making light OF the remarks
every leading periodicai and publication OF
the day, every great iustltotion Of Tearing
that scaiters It's tnou iands VI disciple broad
cast through the land, is ringing with the
message OF the hon. II - woridliness and
frivoliiy you say-c..rtainiy, bot what IL 20.
mind aii this vorldIIuess ant frivoIity: On.
bnL Il ia imp pssibie you say, for ita only these
few that think. that are affected oy such mat
ing thousands. aud I answer yes. hut
you forget. that these same unthin king thous-
auds do but follow mechanically their lceters
and l1stty tnsir Wa 0y poans%s ~ 20 an ane
riorA do not hesitate 70 say that ihe Christian
Church II on the eve Ofa mighty transhrma.
ton. and n sure m stand hero today and
" or community who nv. DOT the allotted
days OF man will feel ana experience this
change. Bot for sil that. do not regard me a.
o, fearful 9, the ability Of cssrss ,rss
OF The Living God has nothing to fear from
foes without The enemies abe has 70 fear are
within her folds-the Thousands who Idle on
changes and upheavais that are Soing on
about thsm,-who are weakening The In
nuences Of their church by substituting for the
commandments OF God the doctrine OF mep
that cannot stand the teal OF trutb.-and the
slumbering watchmau on the tower who shall
be coguizsnt OF the truth. but who cannot
zee them nor the havoc that Ia being commit
ed thereby. or rouae tbeir comrades 70 tne
peril OF their situ alton II the Church, minis-
tors and the people together does not rouse 70
tho situauon-does not meet the demands
that are now being made upon her by the
outside world, then the same outside world ~
going to fall away from her influence moro
and more untll the weak meas Of her situation
both In numbers and In influence force her 10
respond. When that time comes she VIII IN.
deed arise iu all her msjesty-but only the
storms OF diversity will bring u about, only
the furnace OF sfi,ction will effect her saliva.
ton, by consuming her dross aud refining the
the Minia,ers and Stewards OF her mysteries.
Ihcse watcbnsu on the towers TAIL In giving
| the alarm. and arousing her TO this impor.
tance OF Immediate aod decisive action. SO
much then for my motives In saying what
| have said along that line. Alter this. ! be-
| lisve the next greatest danger which wa have
| 70 encounter 10 our owu unhappy divisions.
| for with you my fellow Episcopalians m well
| O. with my brother chuIchmen OF ali denomi.
nstions. q Is United chIistendom-on
Esiis one New In nnasssssnd ae; me one have
never advocated, and do not now advo'
cate union for unions sake alone. l have
| hever ~ sympathixed with and do not now ~ m
pathise with that Dovement-very strong 10
certain quarter that 10 endeavoring to bring
| about unity OF worship and organization at
the expense of doctrine, dogma and consci.
entious opin loo aut belief which Is at the ex
pense OF Moral Principle.
| have too much respect for the principles
/ OF other Denominations. n well m those OF
| my own, to think that they don't mean any
| thing to the hearts and consciences OF tneif
respective followers. and that the men Who
/ Trained them, and who would. " necessary.
have died TO defend them lin many Instances
did die to defend them) we're bigots and hypo'
crites-actuRted only by acknowledgement
ces and aninosities. III am an + piscopailan
| N m becsuss there are certain doctrines and
teachings OF that body which are very near
/ and dear TO me which cannot honestly and
| lconscientiousIy Ir. 'nder- and " you are
| ..rexbyterian.I 5 .ietho is,, u Baptist or wha
| not, take 10 J., becau 3 you too have consoi
/ entious Hcrupl = which ire likewise as dear Y
1 you again, and which nave no right 70 ash
4 YOU Ia sacrifice and riake u ght OF simply De
i cnnas I cannot understand and sec those
i thinxs m you. In short my Brethren Il hon
4 or and respect Dsnomiuationai differences