Pacific Christian messenger., July 23, 1880, Page 2, Image 2

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' Our State Meetings.
PACIFIC CHRISTIAN MESSENGER, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1880.
Besides the matters here spoken of, Series of lesson papers is imperatively'
- - 1 l States, down to the smallest temper- ! All things whatsoever ye would that
ance and' benevolent society, .deter-1 others should do unto you, do ye even I would .have no objection, if indi-j demanded by all of our Sunday
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All the men of'the Jewish nation mine who shall, and who shall not be i so unto them.”
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viduals at these meetings or else-| schools.
Art. 4. It is essential that as ipany
■were required to meet three times members, just ..as every individual j We used to have our constitutions where, worild form'companies forpub-
every year, and remain together ¿even congregation does. In doing this it j and by-laWs in pamphlet form, and lishing papers, books,, tracts, keeping as can conveniently attend our State
days each- time'. The troryen were is not proposed to try any case, to ’ our board of managers Trom one year book and tract depositories,-.running meetings. <
Art. 5. Where God speaks we speak
not required to .attend these meet­ discipline any one, dr in any way to to another. Some brethren stumbled, schools and colleges, etc. Or if the
ings, though they often did attend. interfere with the.independence of the or were about to stumble at these, and ‘.meetings, or individuals will raise and where he is silqpt we arwsildht.
See I'Jeut. xvi. and Neh. viii. “ The congregations; but simply to learn we dropped them all, rather than funds, select and send out Sunday We are opposed to written creeds of
feast of unleavened bread, ‘ the feast enough-about each individual or dele- afford, or put a stumbling block in our school evangelists, or. general, mission­ I human origin. The New Testament
of weeks,"and the feast of the taber­ gation proposing to take part in- the j brother ’s : way. And now, if these aries, at home or abroad ; I will be glad, i contains our only creed.
nacles,’ ” were sacred and important meeting, to be aide to say “ we want committees, secretaries, etc., are offen- even if they should have a regular con­ I Art. G. '“None ■ but the greatest
* occasions—'* at the place which the you,” or “ we don’t ,want you." The sive, eVen to the weak, away with all stitution and by-laws, and a standing ' preachers on thy coast should be en-
/ Lord should choose.” • We might all necessity for. this cohrse io often abso­ of them. So’of tuning forks,'hymn board- ’of managers, provided good i couraged at our meetings, and even
profit by studying them, the reasons, lute. Certainly such a meeting would books, and all the’instruments in the people are not offended. If thëy are.' ■| th’ey shoiild not receive such remuner­
for them, the proper manner of con­ I not receive Methodists, Presbyterians, worhj 1 \way with them all at once or if the harmony of the meetings is ation .as would financially embarrass
ducting them, their abuses, and. their | or Mormons, as such, or persons- ex­ and forever rather than have ^ti»cord to be disturbed, J would* rather wait the churches. All our preachers
blessings. '
cluded or manifestly unworthy, or or wound a brother’s feeling. They or "waive any preference, and perhaps should, ¿earn to minister to their own
And in this connection it is well to worldlings To ko so would be to are not absolutely necessairy to the my rights in the interests o’f good necessities and not burden the church-
remember the typical nature of the abandon the ' idea of its being a worship - as eaijng of .meat is not— order and brotherly love. Bear with ies-.
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Jewish worship. This was, as a Christdin ’meeting.
and however desirable or important, the weak ones, and they will learn- I Art. 7. X"church government or
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. ' WlibTe, an example <jr type for us—
they cannot be Worth so much- as At least, do not “ sow discord among j polity, ranging anywhere from prelacy
2. WHAT SHOULD liE ATTEMPTED.
Gentiles as well as Jews,—and is
union, (f w ly ihic
(‘hristian lo ve— brethren,” and so destroy our state (to a democracy, wi.ll meet the wants
1. Here it may be well bo note
handed down for our admonition.
the love that -would enable us to un­ meetings, and hinder many good of all classes of our people.
again and distinctly, that this is not a
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1 Cor. x. 6, IL*
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Now then in reviewing the abov.e
derstand, “ In (honor preferring one work's.
body outside, or independent of the
If the Jews needed and could profit by
I would venture some other sug-r articles, we are Surprised to find tjO
another ;” " The strong ought t<? bear
church. Every member of it is pre­
three annual meetings’, should we'not
the infirmities of the weak, and hot to­ gestions, as that the committee-on «< ttclr that will be received as common
sumed to be a Christian; and account­
' profit at least by .one ? But if they
please themselves,” etc. When this general programme.be permanent, and i ground and so little that will be ex­
able to his home congregation.
mismanaged, abused, and made these
■' love abounds, wO shall have no afigry make out, and publish before each purgated and annuled.
2. Tlrat it ft not a court of appeals,
’ meetings a curse instead of a blessing
meeting, what is to be done—who is
uot'todiSTne
™ u"kind *ord]s’ no
Faith find repentance we Can retain
or a court at all; it is
. —as (hey evidently did Kpaetimea
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r-i sions, or hand hits, no “ bitterness, or to lecturg, the themes, time, etc., so as both are orthodox. Confessibn and
members of Congregations or decile • ’
.
,
..
' is there not danger of our erring and
• wrath, or anger, or. clamor, or evil, that all will know what to expect, ba^jsm will be so modbied as to not -
personal difficulties. .It disclaims
, suffering in the same way ? ■
This, if wisely done, will go far to­ be in the Way of a union.
speaking.”
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every thing of the kind.
... Iknce we need to consider
ward encouraging attendance, and
There will be no. objections Co Article
3. It is not a legislative body.> its “When love in one delightful stream,
promoting
business. But, if you have ’second, unless some of our old’fanatic
Through
every
bosonj
flows
;
1. HOW TU ORGANIZE THEM.
province is not to make laws. - .
.Whe.n^unioji sweet and dear esteem. .
patiently heard niy motion, I will brethren insist on Our meeting and
Anil here it may »be well to premise,
4. It does, hot propose to do any­
In,every action glows !■”
wait
fora second.
breakingbroad rr<jryLord’sday. Article
and clearly understand’, that these are thing for the congregations which it
tve.all have our opinions, our tasted
Very affectionately,
third is a creature, into Leo of the
(. Aia.sZui.j2. -unuftingj». . Otlwrs are. not would-jD<Jt/be lawful and pfoper for
and Our preferences-; but who of-us
C. K endrick .
‘‘grand union?’' anil will be retain«!
"’"‘counted in them, as ( ¡entiles, were not- them t<rdo—nor.any thing that belongs
values these moye than he values his
There would- lie-rrn trouble with i^sticle
in thé. Jewish meetings.' They are • especially to them—as - the ordaining
Are we a Sect.
Christian brother, and the union and
five, providing that a judtftous inter- __
not'made'up of the world and tilt of evangelists, or other church officers.
peace of the churjlti
church, or of .the "secta'rianS and-4he Occasionally, .persons,-—without due
That
---- - is, we - - churcheiTnfl'hrist,
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----- , in
— pretation be rendered by liberal mind­
That which cannot lie ddne in Jove
California, in contradistinction from! ed ecclesiastic». And in . regard to ar­
•' church ; but of Christiane in good consideration, look to these meetings
—that.is, ou the divine plan capfiut
standing at home, and of delegates to. ordain evangelists Ac. Scriptur-.
churches of Christ elsewhere. Aral ticle six, as the material interests of ,
be done at« all cannot be'done by,
from congregations ' of Cliristians in ally organized congregations do all
our practices different, and is our faith the churches’seem torCquire it: lienee'
man’s plan. We must ¿abandon it,
it would probably remain in tact' un­
good standing. Nor do they come by this. But
the same ?
however important and desirable. It
-------virtue n t a prier pnui for nicrnbeisliip.
, If so, and if not so, should we not I til this " contractive age,” when a
I Ave—lm'i't. and—get; acquainted,
is impossible, and we may as**well
but by virtue of being Christians. ¡"encouragt*,
,
have a written erere/,-net- because it-is-* o im . - m . i Z .-a.oif.7 may narabliab a. rip im-__
and are encouraged. “ As
admit it.
When assembled they are not a body iron- sbarpeneth iron so doth the
absolutely necessary, but because it sal creed, at which time, we shall start
“ Hole can two walk together unless
independent of the chtirahes, but a Countenance of a man his friend.-’ j tin ag," : and it might be added : might be a pleasant thing to have as a to live the life of Rome over again \
body composed of individuals who are “ As’ face answereth to face in water, t How can they agree unless thcy««love-. sort of written statement tor a memo­ with a plurality of, Topes instead.of . ,
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rial.. Something' to look back to, as a one.
accoi’intahle' to the churches where so doth the heart’ "of man to man.’ • each other ?
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The fact is, the exigency an 1 • tnei-
they hold membership, and who, on Hence, in separating, each one is more .
1 suppose thi-K fore that any one sort ofliistory, to tell what we once,
the;r return *home( would be dealt determined; and better prepared for ' who woHld say a fretting ■word, or do were, and to enable us by contrast to gency.-of these times demand a change,
with, if they should do anything un­ the great work before him. He.knows , ¡’‘anything manifestly not necessary to |ell, or know what we now are, arid and it appears to be coming pretty
worthy of the ( ¡ospel, or the < .’hristiair his co-workers better, loves thrim 1 the worship, or to obedience ; any one are to be. The signs of the times in­ fast. The stahTard of piety is alarm- •
name.
more, and is better able to cooperate ' who "is upkind, unforbearing, un-. dicate that a great secret power is at ingly low. A „vital union with Christ"
The rule laid down by Paul, and with them. This is a great g<x»d, and • brotherly ; any one whp would dis work to effect a grand union and co- is not now urged as essential. A tide
.. approved by all exjwrience and would well repay all it costs.
| turb the meeting, or wound the feel­ operation of all I’rotesfant churches of worldliness is .sweeping over’the
.observation, that, “ all things should
2. He knows the field, of^his labors ' pings svt-his brother, by word or deed, upon the common points of their fath. churches:’ the perilous time of the
The great religious cyclono .is ex- J last days is come; men profess the .
be1 done dec, ntly and • <> order} would rLetter,
,
and-can better determine where | unnecessarily, should be 1 eproved, and
' seem to require 1, a chairman; 2, a and how to Avork Thi>\- too, is a I" j if he persists, disowned, and put pected to move on silently, but sure­ Christian name, and refuse to obey any
secretary—if not jnore than one; 3, a great advantage. Less labor may away, and 1 suppose thwt every mem­ ly, with the steady gait of destiny, of Christ’s «commands; a-sptr-ft of law­
corresponding secretary, if it is de- yield more happy results now.
ber, from the chairman to the farthest exhibiting great powers of elasticity . lessness prevails, and every body seems
. signed to-continue and make the most
3. fie barns something of. impor­ off and the least, should see to this: atyirst,>and then equal powers ofron-1 to love gains and pleasure more than
of these meetings ; 4, a treasurer ; for tance .about flie Bible, about preach­ I note this and dwell on it, and w'ouhf dractiaa gtlcricaa'd,, each denoa>ina- anything else. A. universal lapse of
means are necessary to the work. ThC ing,' duties of evangelists, kc., and make it nftire clear and forcible if I tion will be. permitted to retain this spirituality seems to call for a “ uni­
meeting being called to order, and thes’e lessons are of great importance. could,^beetuse- I have .seen, so much creed, providing that all of its distinc­ versal church,” every way compatible '
these officers appointed;
4. A general programme for the evil result from lack of attention to it tive features are forever neutral, with the present condition of things.
would foilq’w another -one of Paufs next year’s work is laij out, and car­ —in our statexmeetings and else­ inert ^.a-nd inoperative, Hence, our
Process Verbal Ppo itnnoria,.
rules, “ Lbu all be done to edifying, ”, ried home by each one, and all energies where. I havxr attended at least a Presbyterian friends can retain that’
the chair, with’ the approbation of the are directed that way—togethef. dozen state meetings, jind many clause of their creed that says,‘‘By
—Loud talkers, and those wjho'
meeting, may appoint
Thus, if a paper shoujd be sustained, others, where this unbrotherly spirit the decree df^God, for the manifesta­
think that jt-isrthe thunder that kills
■' 1. A committee on cr -dentials.
one more than another; if books, and manner so prevailed as tosdestroy tion of his glo’fy, some men and angels
J and not the lightning, will do well to
2. A committee on ‘.general pro­ tracts, kc., are to be circulated ; if a »almost entirely .the good that might ase predestinated unto everlasting life,'
’ read the following :
gramme.
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Sunday school work is to be done; if have been done. And many have and others preordained to everlasting
The less your fluent ministers have
3. A committee on finance., .
a school or college is to be sustained ; gone home discouragedr J-eeling they death.”
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I to sayi the bigger they scream and the
4 A committee on preaching and if a mission is to be inaugurated oF
But the above scrap of creed, will
might never attend another state
louder they shout. Lyman Beecher,
the morning worship ; the bishops of sustained—-it is understood ami agreed
be
dead, historic creed-lumber, so far
meeting; that they certainly would
on returning home from church one
the church with which we meet being on, and all work the same way. If
not if they could- be assured they as the new Catholic church is con­ Sunday, said that he felt that he hail
left to manage thp Lord’s day worship. certain persons or things are not to-be
wouftl find again the same unpleasant­ cerned, her elasticity would permit • done very poorly. Said one of the
5. A committee on Loyd’s daÿ commended, or approved—it'is under­
ness. “ My brethren, these things them to retain it-axan heir-loom but ' boys: “ Why, father, I thought you
schools.
stood. Of course this ft not a legisla­ ought not so to be.”
not as common faith material. And
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were never in better trim; you just
6. A committee on missions, and tive, or a judicial agreement; but it is
of all other denomi-
It is very discouraging ¿o find this • will be true
,
/ « , shouted it out to ’em.” “ Aye, aye,”
missionary or evangelical work.
a brotherly, a Christian agreement ; members discussing, like politicians, national peculiarities.
j
replied Mr. Beecher, “ that’s it exact­
Perhaps other Committees may be and the love anti respect we have for
for the accomplishment of personal
Now the grand question lyith us
ly; when I am not prepared I always
appointed ; and the -committees on each other will, to say the least, go
-erids ; in the interests of our sanctified churches of Christ is, if we are irre-
holler at the top of my voice.”
finance and missions might be, like far to secure i unity of action. 1^ selfishness ;
__ ___ ; for the promotion of sistably drawn into this great religi-
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the corresponding secretary, made per­ inpovatiomrcoine in or causes of dis-
favorites or the crushing of opponents ; ious malstroom' what of our frith and
manent ; that i& remain and act from ,eord, and ¿he spirit of love and peace
—Among recent additions to the
or introducing matters that belong not practice can we be permitted to retain
' one meeting to- another ; make their abounds, wd-^will know how to manage
Central Park Museum of Natural His­
to a convention of this kind, and and what musZ we surrender ’
. reports (o the annual meeting, next, them, and will manage them as we
Perhaps-a written statement of out tory are some enormous bones found
which would inevitably disturb and
after their appointment, and hot be could not by separate tad__individual
discourage its best friends. To pre­ present religious status would enable in the ancient seas of Colorado and
discharged till their reports are ap­ action. “ Iri smtiltitade of counselors
Kansas. The sterile lands of Colorado
vent these evils, brethren have been us to determines—
> -r
proved-
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there is safety,” ___
Art.l. Faith, repentence, confession and the chalky deserts of Kansas arc'
compelled to stand constantly on the
___The • duties of the committee on
watch-tower, and by prudent sug­ and baptism arc essential to salva­ the beds of tho«e ancient sMs, and the
credentials would be to determine who '3. HOW TO MANAGE THESE CONVEN­
gestions
prevent such evils. And tion.
discovery of innumerable bones and
TIONS.
should be member* ofahe convention ‘ •.
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Art..
2.
Two
protracted
meetings
a
skeletons-in them was originally made
Perhaps it is rather late to call at­ after all that the most thoughtful and
This is on thp principle, that every
year
are
essential,
at
which
time
the
by Professor Marsh and by the late
wye could do, our state meetings have
body of people has a right to deter- tention to this headline« Perhaps »it
Lord
’
s
supper
wray
be
celebrated
and
Professor Mudge. Crocodile-like rep­
mine its own m'embcra. There ft, of- da .not. the .best. But I desire some been more or less injured, till now, and
for some years pastj, many have not popular preachers remunerated, pro tiles, from one hundred anti fifty to
timn
to
intensify
the
rule
given
by
course, and necessarily, a primary
attended, and are-^ot inclined to vided they come from a distant, are two hundred feet long, must have
organization which is -somewhat in­ Paul .to this effect: “ Let all your
attend, unless
'tour havi some, well dressed, are of commanding pres­ swarmed in those great inland seas,
formal. But after permanent organ - things be done with love.” ‘‘Ixive
assurance that more of wisdom and ence, and don’t stay too long. ,
for monster bones which have bcetk-
ization, all bodies of men, from the works no ill to one’s neighbor. There­
Art 3. The use of the International found reveal their size.
'the divine spirit will prevail.
fore
love
ft
the
fulfilling
oi
the
law.
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Senate and Congress of the United
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