p. 195 | SPIRITUALLY DEAD

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 5, 1881

SPIRITUALLY DEAD.

MR. BEECHER is continuing his attempt to get up a revival in his church that will cure the cancer that ails it. The pastor and the deacons admit a want of spiritual life in the great congregation, and the former, at a recent prayer-meeting, said:—

"The good Lord of Heaven, is he not here, and what am I when he is present? It seems to me that you try to make me God—Father, Son and Holy Ghost—whereas I am nothing but what I am." Those present discussed the situation, Mr. Beecher having requested a free expression of opinion. It is stated that several members of the church, in good standing, of both sexes, frankly avowed that they feared that one cause of the "spiritual death" was that too many people had come to the conclusion that Mrs. Tilton's confession was true, after all. Other members advanced various other theories to account for the lack of spirituality. There was no denial that something was wrong. All felt that effort was needed to revive the drooping faith and courage of the church. Mr. Beecher is now making such an effort. How far his revival shall be a success is still uncertain. Mr. Moody should hurry to the rescue of the great Brooklyn preacher. A little hard common sense and some plain gospel talk would do the Plymouth congregation a power of good.—S. F. Alta.