p. 207 | Is it Right? by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 13, 1870

Is it Right?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Is it right for our churches to neglect the ordinances month after month, quarter after quarter, and even year after year? Are the ordinances of any use, virtue, or authority? or are they not? Can God bless us as members, or as churches, where the holy ordinances of his house are thus habitually disregarded and neglected?

This subject was brought forcibly to my mind at our late meeting at Monroe. On inquiry, I found that there were old brethren and sisters who had been in the truth from five to twelve years, belonging to organized churches, and yet who had never taken part in the ordinances more than once or twice, and some not at all. I could hardly believe it. The elders of our churches have the authority to attend to this, though no minister should visit them. Monthly meetings also are good occasions for this, which should not be neglected. As often as ye do this, says Paul, “ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Cor. 11: 26. Solemn occasion! The emblems of our dying Lord before us! Thoughts of Gethsemane, the last supper in the upper chamber, and of Calvary, fill our minds. All this our Master suffered for us, for our sins. It is good for the soul that we should often meditate upon these scenes. Our Lord has left us a solemn and appropriate memorial of them. Should we not carefully observe it?

D. M. CANRIGHT.