The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-10-26
Question.
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does not teach limitation, or exclusiveness,
in the benefits OF the Apostolic benedic-
tion, where do so many A. r. P. preachers
get authority for limiting the Apostolic
benediction to Goods people ?" In one
sense, this tinkering with, or altering, Of
the Word makes very little difference, but
In another sense it is Of some importance.
1t may be that such little matters, and the
neglect to pray for sinners, while so pro-
nouncedly praying for Goods people," has
something to do with the non-growth Of
the A. r. P. Church, Where is the value Of
public service, where visitors, strangers,
and sinners are totally neglected or entire
ly ignored2 Why the Lords prayer in
public worship is tabood is another thing
that has not been well explained, except in
the consciousness that such prayer cannot
be said without asking condemnation in
particular instances.
The singing, which is usually done by
the choir in an unknown tongue, is accept
ed by all without objection The sermon
possibly may have something in it. If 80,
it is an appeal to the head or to the under
standing, and is intended to entertain the
hearer, if not to contribute to his under
standing. But the prayer is quite another
thing. Good manners, il nothing higher,
it seems, should prompt the preacher not
to exclude specifically and definitely any
hearer from the consolation or the benefit
Of his prayer in the holy temple, and ten
fold more rude and vulgar is the exclusion
Of anybody from the benefit Of the Apos-
tolic benediction.
What we should like to know is, does the
Theological Seminary at Due West teach
its graduates to ignore visitors, friends and
sinners from the consolation and ben.
eft Of participation in the preachers
prayer, and especially would we like to
know If it teaches Limitation of the Apos-
toilc benediction to Goods people" alone.
IL The Apostolic benediction is in the sim
plest and the plainest Of words, and it
seems to us that simple uninspired grad
uate from Ershne might learn It's spirit, as
well as its words, In one year at the Sem
mary. Certainly the student that the
Lord picks out for his own special service,
might learn the Apostolic benedlction in
two years, or before he Is licensed to bless
one class only. Even If such Of the Lord's
chosen ambassadors did not learn it in
two years, the Synod by committee IT
least might examine all proposed mission
aries before authorizing them to represent
the church abroad. The Synod could then
determine If any one Of the Lords own
choosing was person OF proper intelli-
gence to represent the Synod in foreign
land. What do you think an intelligent
Mexican you'd think Of missionary from
this land OF Bibles, this land Of holy tenn
pies, this land Of Christian family affairs,
who did not know or did not regard the
plain teaching of the Apostolic benedic-
tion In this country Is 1t not a desecra-
tion Of the temple to ignore sinners In the
prayers to Him who was the friend Of sin
ners2 What shall we think of the ambas-
Sador who, year in and year out, neglects
or refuses to pray for the sinners to whom
our Saviour was friendly?
These remarks are induced because Of
the action Of missionary who Is careering
around In this country at our expense,
abusing Catholics and speaking Ill Of Mex
leans generally A travelled man, return
ing, usually tells Of the scenes and the men
with whom he associated abroad. And to
some extent he Is judged by what he saw
and the men with whom he associated. If
this itinerant saw and heard anything
but evil while in the profession Of highly
paid missionary, he did not bring out the
facts very conspicuously. His recitalmight
teach US lesson Of the importance of
Sc ending men Of such culture and refine
ment as would enable them to associate
with good people abroad. Anybody who
sees no good in anybody, may associate
with vile characters, but to associate with
the pure in heart and 10 be admitted into
the councils Of polite society some refine
ment Is necessary,
While we are not authorized to speak for
anybody, yet we believe at least some of
our good people, while too polite to say 30,
are thoroughly disgusted with constant
reiteration of evil things against the peo-
pie to whom we send missionaries. That
old story has become long-haired chest
nut, Why should our missionaries cast
down those whom they are presumed to
raise up and to teach to be pure in heart
that they may become beloved children
Of the heavenly Father? Why allow mis-,
sionaries to speak evil increasingly OF those
whom the Synod seeks to benefit?