Зображення сторінки
PDF
ePub

pline. We would submit to the consideration of Friends, that another expedient might be tested, and if found to work favourably, and to commend itself generally, it might eventually supersede the membership as it now exists.

Of late years many hundreds, chiefly from among the humbler classes, have become attenders of our meetings for worship, or have been brought under the religious influence of Friends in our First-day schools, or mission-houses. Many of the latter have been converted through this instrumentality; and such naturally desire to ally themselves, in religious fellowship, with those by whom they have been so benefited.

In some of our mission centres, these feelings have been responded to in the following way. The Christian workers belonging to these mission-houses have formed themselves into an association, into which they admit, on application, those who are giving evidence of real change of heart, and whose lives are consistent with their profession. A meeting is held four times a year to consider such applications, and, if nothing transpire to show the applicants to be unsuitable, their names are enrolled as members of the Christian mission.*

Each new member is presented with a card, on which his name and the date of admission is written; good advice, exhortation, and prayer follow, and these are felt by them to be times of serious self-consecration. These cards are presented at subsequent "Quarterly

* The following are samples of the simple confessions made by the applicants for membership in the Shoreditch Christian Mission: "Dear Friends, I know I am a sinner, but I know Jesus died for me, and I feel I should like to join the mission." Signed,

"Dear Friends, having a strong desire to live in love and fear of the Lord and in His Son Jesus Christ, and fellowship with all good Christians, I beg to be accepted as a member, hoping that I may

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

Meetings" of the Association, and are again dated and returned to the holder, unless he or she have disgraced their profession by ill-conduct in the interim; in which case the membership is forfeited until such time as it may be regained by more watchfulness. Thus a certain amount of control is maintained over the members by one another, and the privilege of fellowship is felt to be of practical value.

Our object in giving these details is, that we may suggest whether a membership, of religious consecration or fellowship, might not be introduced with advantage among our congregations-members and attenders indiscriminately, but not necessarily on the same model.

Meetings for fellowship have of late years sprung up in many places among Friends, and they have been found to be profitable. These, where they exist, might form the nucleus for something further. We would propose that a Book of Fellowship should be made use of, in which any who have come to the point of wishing to confess their faith in Christ, or the peace they have obtained by believing in Him, or their desire to consecrate themselves to Him, &c., might, after conferring with one or two judicious friends, enrol themselves. The act would thus proceed from themselves as a free-will offering, and the only part taken by "the Church," would be to remove obstacles, and

be strengthened in my desires to love and serve God in all things."

Another writes: "I wish to become a member, &c. I feel it will be a great help to me, for I wish to be a true follower of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," &c.

Another: "Dear Friends, it is some time now since I first came to the meetings-they have been a great help to me. I would like to become a member of your mission, knowing at the same time being a member will be useless to the saving of my soul, unless I am one, in Christ, saved by His precious blood."

thus to give liberty for this public acknowledgment of Christ.

That such a spontaneous avowal would be of incalculable advantage to many we cannot doubt. When, owing to the dangerous superstitions that arose out of the continuance of the rite of water baptism, Friends considered themselves justified in setting it aside, it seems to us that they overlooked the importance to the individual believer of the confession of faith to which it gave occasion. Why not then adjust matters so that the latter may find an accepted place in our arrangements, whilst the rite that formerly accompanied it is still consigned to the past, together with the dispensation of types to which it properly belonged? We believe that it is the absence of this opportunity for public self-consecration that has compelled some Friends, when they experience the great vital change of passing from death unto life, to resort to water baptism as the only means open to them for avowing their newly-formed resolutions.

It may be that at first the loss alluded to was not felt, because active persecution put the test, and gave publicity to their Christian faith; and subsequently the adopting of a peculiar costume served, in the absence of other means, to express the adhesion, felt by the wearer, to the Christian faith of the community; but it had disadvantages, and we need not regret to see it passing away. Still the need is felt-felt very strongly by those recently converted-of some decided act, by which they may let it be known to others, that their resolution is taken; and it is thought that by some such method as has been hinted at, way would be made for it.

66

It may be objected, that such confession should be made with the tongue," rather than by the pen, from which we do not dissent, yet we think that an ordinary meeting for worship would hardly be the

m

It

P

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

right place, unless under a prompting of duty in the matter; but in a meeting for fellowship the avowal with the tongue, or the subscription with the pen, as felt by individuals to be best for them, would be alike in good ordering. Church government, like civil government, is most beneficial when the greatest amount of individual liberty is allowed consistent with the rights of others.

Perhaps it
it may

It may be further objected, that this encouragement offered to a public avowal of faith might prove discouraging to the diffident. But it is in order to open the way for the diffident that these suggestions are made; besides which there is a diffidence that would be the happier could it lose its self-consciousness in the humble avowal of its faith and love to Christ. be further objected, that it would lead to invidious distinctions between those who had thus come forward, and others who did not incline to do so; but this objection applies to anything that is originated to meet a special need; and, if admitted as a sound one, it would promote a lifeless stagnation, and hinder all progress. Augustine's motto must still be our watchword, as it was practically that of our forefathers in religious profession-" In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity." A. F. FOWLER.

P.S.-It may be well to state that the above was written before the recent Yearly Meeting, during which the subject of a personal avowal of faith was brought forward with much force by some of our American Friends, tending to confirm the views expressed in this paper.

WILLIAM ELLIS AND HIS FRIENDS.

"Blessed be the Lord that hath made His arm bare in our time, to bring us to the discovery of a most excellent situation, the glory of which cannot be told with the tongue of men; and it is intended by Him that we should grow steadfast in the faith which gives victory."-WILLIAM ELLIS.

Two remarkable ministers in the early days of the Society of Friends were the brothers John and Roger Haydock. The elder became a Friend at the age of twenty-seven, and soon after found himself a prisoner for conscience' sake in Lancaster Gaol. Thus began the "much persecution both of tongues and hands," borne with invincible patience, though often his lot, during fifty years of apostolic labour in Great Britain, Ireland and America. It was said of his ministry that it "tended to the building-up in the most holy faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, which gives victory over sin." He died a prisoner in Lancaster Castle; his friends, in a brief "testimony" about him, state that they "could not stand acquitted before God or man to have buried the corpse with a few short sighs, and to let his name go with him to the grave. We have raised no monument over his sepulchre (they add), but there is one due to his worth. His life was a sweet savour, and ought not to go under foot."

After he had become a Friend his mother one day induced his younger, but learned and talented brother, Roger, to reason with him on the course which he had taken; but as John Haydock proved the good ground he had for pursuing it, his brother soon became silent, much to the mother's disappointment and displeasure.

[merged small][ocr errors]
« НазадПродовжити »