WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 15, 1878

WHAT IS TO BE DONE?

THE question here propounded is pre-eminently important, and the facts that cause us to introduce it are sadly abundant. It will be very likely remarked, If there be such facts, name the persons and places identified therewith. This we have done more than once, and the same result has been reached. It has not pleased those “at ease in Zion.” We choose for the present our own methods of performing our duty, and hope we have lived long enough to be considered able to decide such questions intelligently and correctly. At any rate, we certainly know how to do the best we can with our present capabilities. We are fully persuaded that there must be a reform. We mention a few facts which lead us to this conclusion.

A responsible brother, a pastor well known in our denomination, says that a prominent official in his church, a Sunday-school superintendent, and a steward, and a trustee, publishes a Sunday paper, and the boys in the school are out till 8 A. M. on Sunday, selling the same. Another is a politician, and plays cards in saloons for beer, but don't attend prayer-meeting or class-meeting. The most wealthy and aristocratic member of the same church, whose house is the home of the bishops when they visit the place, plays cards, but for fifteen years has not been in a class or prayer-meeting. These three men are stewards and trustees, and using a common mode of expression, “run the church.”

We are informed of another person who is known to have more to do with fixing the appointments in a prominent city than any other one man in it, that is largely interested in the rum-selling interest. In the same city, the wife of a leading member of the church was sick, and the sickness it was feared would be “unto death.” But God in mercy restored her, and the first place she went to after her restoration was the theater. The reason for this was, the daughter was to take part in some private parlor readings, and it was deemed desirable she should have an opportunity of hearing some distinguished performer on the stage. This, of course, is the result of “parlor readings,” etc.

Another case in the same locality is that of a local preacher who accompanies his sons to the theater, they having contracted a taste for theatrical performances by “parlor readings,” and Sunday-school exhibitions. The father says he can't restrain them from going, and goes to watch over them, and keep them from being harmed.

Two superintendents of Sunday-schools in the neighborhood can say nothing to the boys in their schools against the use of tobacco and rum, because they themselves are addicted thereto. The cases we refer to include the “better class,” as they are designated. They are the men who serve on church committees, and select pastors whom the bishops are expected to appoint.

We do not pretend that such matters are general or common. But we aver they are by no means rare or uncommon.

We quote a declaration made by one of our chief pastors, Bishop Peck. In a recent discourse, published over his own signature in Zion's Herald, he says: “There is, for instance, a general impression that many members are not useful, not holy in life, not worthy representatives of practical Christianity, really a burden, and not a help to the church. But the extent of this sad fact is not seen, that the cold, worldly, or indifferent in our midst are really a large majority, and that the church is compelled to bear the reproach of a vast multitude of sinful men. Nor is the peril of these brethren fully appreciated. It comes to be considered so much a matter of course, that the evil is looked upon as irremediable; and the few go on to bear the burdens and do the work which belongs to the many, and charity becomes indifference. Discipline is hence rare, and finally impossible. An attempt to expel even the incorrigible awakens surprise, and even bitter opposition. Crimes, ‘sufficient to exclude a man from the kingdom of grace and glory,’ come to be considered venial, and the pastors and members who attempt a godly discipline, become the accused, persecuted criminals. Let me distinctly, but with tender concern, say, that this represents a fact so large as to explain, to a great extent, our failures in church reforms and Christian power, and to call for the most rousing, pathetic, and persistent appeals from the pulpit and the press.”

The reader will please remember that this sad picture is drawn by a bishop of our church. To us, if true, it would be no more significant than if uttered by the humblest individual connected with the body. But most of people deem Bishop Peck of much greater importance than Jesse T. Peck, and for their consideration, we wish to emphasize the fact that it is Bishop Peck who makes these fearful declarations. It is not the extreme and enthusiastic individual who happens to be the editor of this journal, that says these strong things, but a man sufficiently conservative to be called to the office of a bishop in the church. Doubtless the words were well considered, and the facts were thoroughly canvassed, before they were made public. The good bishop certainly knows what he affirms. Of the correctness of his representation no candid and intelligent person will have the slightest doubt. In this state of things, we repeat the inquiry with which we started, “What is to be done?”—Methodist Paper.

If we might be allowed to answer the question proposed at the head of the foregoing article, we should say, in view of its statements, that about the only thing to be done is to obey the prophetic injunction of the Scriptures, and proclaim, “Babylon is fallen; come out of her, my people;” thus endeavoring to save some from the wreck that is inevitable in the near future.