The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-12-01
DIR. MAHON URGES
DEEPER SPIRITUALITY
REVIVAL OF CLASS MEETING
AND LOVE FEAST SOUGHT
Makes Report to Memphis Conference
as Chairman of Committee on Spir-
itual Interests-Declares this
Should be Chief Interest

The following report written by DR.
R. H. Mahon as chairman of the COM
mittee on spiritual interests of the
church was made at recent meeting
Of the Memphis annual conference and
it was considered Of such practical
worth and possessed of such deep spir-
itual truth as to call forth a resolu-
tion requesting thatitbe read before lal
the congregations of the conference
The resolution was as follows:
ITO the Bishop and Members of the
Memphis Annual Conference in Ses-
sion at Union City, Tenn, Nov. Is
to 20, 1916:
Dear Brethren-We, of your COM
mittee, beg leave to report as follows:
'It is needless to say that the spirit
uel interests are paramount to all 9TH
er interests. Everything should be
made subsidiary to this and to contrib
ute to it. It is gratifying to see the
people make large expenditures to the
erection of costly churches and to the
promotion of enterprises for the extern
sion of the kingdom of God and for the
support of the ministry, but unless this
is made to contribute to the spiritual
upbuilding Of the church Of God it will
se vain and friitless ia the end. we
believe that the Methodist people were
raised up of God to spread scriptural
holiness over the lands, and it should
be our chief aim never to lose sight of
our calling After careful considera-
tion of all the lights before us, we re-
joice to believe that the standard of
morals among the church and people
at large is much higher today than
perhaps at any former period. There
is less drunkenness and drinking of
spirituous liquors, less profanity, less
outbreaking wickedness, at least of the
grosser type, than ever before, and we
may add that in commercial and busi-
ness life there is higher regard for
truth and righteousness than ever be-
fore.
"We are happy to report that the
contributions of our people for the sup
port of the gospel in every depart
ment exceed by far the contributions
made at any former time. While there
has been no great revival wave to
come over the people, there have been
many good meetings held in the
churches. The custom of holding revi-
walls still prevails among US and we
trust it will never die out.
"We are gratifed to learn that some
thing over 5000 persons have joined
the church this year on profession of
faith. Whether there is. an increase
in the aggregate membership we can
not say. The attendance on the regu-
lar services of the church is reasona-
bly, good, and our members wait on the
ordinances whenever administered. In
some places, however, we fear there
has been some neglect on the part Of
the preachers as to administration of |
the Supper of the Lord. This blessed
institution should be offered to the peo-
pie in every church at least quarterly. |
We are not disposed to indulge in Sc
we're criticism of the church or speak |
disparagingly of its condition. The
church has never been idle in its spir-
itual attainments. The church at Cor !
inth was in measure carnal. The,
churches of Asia were in a deplorable .
condition as to their inner life even
under apostolic ministry, typical per-
haps of some churches of the present
day. But it should be our aim, espe-
cially the aim Of those who have the
care of souls, to lift the church to the
highest possible standard of spiritual
excellence.
I'VE confess that it is we'll nigh i'm
possible to make a careful, true and
correct diagnosis of the real spiritual
state of the church. Spiritual things
are spiritually discerned. We say this,
there is great danger Of taking mere
intellectual and moral culture as a
substitute for vital godliness. Many
do not distinguish between civilization
and morality and true religion. If
people are moral and ordinarily up
right, and contribute and attend the
Sunday services, and show a pretty
good degree of self-righteousness, we
are likely to regard them as spiritual.
We must remember that except man
be born again he cannot see nor enter
the kingdom Of God. No degree Of
culture or self-righteousness can atone
for the lack Of this. It is the consen- I