The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-08
INTERESTING SERVICES.
The Methodist Preacher at Abbcvillc
Doing a Good Work.

Rev. P. B. Wells, pastor OF the Methodist
church at this place, held daily religious ser
vices morning and evening dusing asn last n week,
and pious sisters took an active part. Others
than members also attended.
Mr.. Wells Is an active worker, and his ear
nestness and sincerity Of purpose in the Mas.
Ier's cause impresses all those whose pleasure
It Ia TO know him. A good man is Mr.. Wells,
and the church ought 10 prosper under his
ministration. If he could awaken in our
people an interest In religious matters, he
would accomplish much. To judge from the
attendance Of our churches on Sunday, 1t
would seem that there is lack OF interest In
religious matters on the part OF our people.
There must be cause for the absenteesm.
Various reasons may lie assigned:
First-Lack Of a religious ant devout heart.
Second-Lack OF adaptability of the SER
vice In making II attractive
Third-Sermons which are intended more
for the head than for the heart.
Fourth-The splitting OF theological hairs.
and the declaration OF sectarian dogmas that
are non essential to salvation.
Firh-Finding fault with other denomina-
tions.
sIxtb-Crltcsing the TRANSLATION Of the BIZ
BILE, whereby an ignorant preacher shows
what the learned ira anslators did not know.
Seventh-Arguing with unbelievers, or at
tempting to show wherein inf1dels are wrong
We are com manded to preach the gospel.
churches OF asking lay men to say prayers at
public service may be set down as factor In
keeping people away from divine service on
Sunday. No reference Is had TO the conduct
of the prayer-meetipg, where 1t may be emil
nently proper for laymen TO pray, II the e n
eral public are not present.
These. we believe, are some OF the reasons
which may have something TO do with absen.
Further, we believe, the prayers which are
said in the pulpit are not OF a kind TO attract
the people generally.
morning services are attended by any num-
Der Of reprobates. To them, OF what interest
is q prayer whose heads may be something
like this:
l. One-half made up OF iattery and com.
pliments 10 the Lord for his In 6nite goodness
TO Gods people; In which complimentary Ie-
marks all the blessings are S enpme1sted nns1 spe,
select and immaculate few.
2. Asking blessing on Gods people. Gods
church, Gods missionaries, and naming
all the good things that may needed or want.
with the request that he do for Gods people
far more than We are able to ask-intimatipg
that they would take almost any old thing
that might be found on the bargain counter,
while no reference is had to those who most
s. Omission OF any hint that Gods people
come more profitable servants. more useful
TO the church or more beneficial TO man-
kind. in keeping the righteous in the paths OF
rectitude, or In raising up the fallen, or In
"
in giving convictions Of decision to those
who may be at the parting OF the ways. or
in calling back those who may possibly have
gone far down the road TO destruction.
4. Omission TO make any mention OF the
needs OF the poor creature who follows his
Lord long way of. No petition goes up for
his sin-sick soul. He is not invited to come
nearer to the foot OF the cross. and no kindly
word 10 offered to his famishing soul. No
petition 10 offered for him who, of all the
rest, 10 most in need Of the sustaining grace
and the helping hand.
Church are referred 10 at all, they are called
"sinners" in such way as to lead the honest
reprobate TO think that the petitioner believes
that others are not SINNERS" We have Holy
Writ as authority for saying that all men are
sinners by nature and by practice, and we
tion to convince "sinners" that some Of those
who are included among the saints are In
fact no better than they ought to be. At any
rate, II is ungraoious to draw the line between
the sheep and the goats, and 1t is not In good
form to class one whose soul is as dry as sum-
''sinner'' present may be tsmishing for the
bread Of life, and who may have in fact a
better heart than the aforesaid alleged saiut
The kiln-dried deacon or elder needs no
prayer. He may be as mean as the Prodigal's
brother, and observe the externals OF propri.
milk Of human kindness.
All men are more or less affected by prayer
II 1t be q sincere and honest duplication Ia
his behalf at the throne OF grace, the repro.
bate 10 lifted higher. his heart is touched, and
for the moment, at least, he Is nearer to bis God
repetitions and invidious distinctions be-
tween "sinners" and. Goods people," q spiri,
OF resentment is encouraged, and the ser.
vice 10 not interesting to the Skinner"