The Religious Life of LondonRitchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
Religion
The Religious Life of London
Ritchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
London (England) -- Religion; Religious thought -- England -- London
As regards the service, any brother is at liberty to take a part. Of
course this is the defect of this system—as of all such, where the public
are concerned. As a rule, nothing can be more inedifying or dreary or
repelling than amateur preaching, and this is manifestly the weak point
of all the good people who find preachers so unprofitable, and who so
delight in the sound of their own voices. As evangelizing agencies they
are a failure. They produce no impression on the world. Men of sense
want something more thoughtful, more in accordance with the facts of
life, and the young are driven to the other extreme. I believe this
remark will hold good of most of these super-refined Christians. They
have a wonderful command of Scripture language. They can talk by the
hour, and they are intensely ignorant, as all people who shut themselves
to one book and ignore God’s Word in His works must be. They may edify
each other, they certainly have no power of edifying any one else.
The rules of their Sunday service are—Prayer, singing, comprehensive
prayer, offered up by one of the brethren at the instance of the
presiding brother on behalf of the members of the one body, the
administration of the Lord’s Supper, exhortation from or exposition of
the Word by any brother who wishes to respond to the invitation of the
presiding brother, and the Lord’s Prayer in conclusion. After the
communion, there is a box placed on the Lord’s table to receive, at the
close of the service, the free-will offering of the brethren for the
common good of the Ecclesia in every work of faith and labour of love.
Besides, there is a monthly charge made to each of the brethren which is
handed over to the brother responsible for its satisfaction on the last
Sunday of every month. I find I have omitted to state that one article
of faith is the restoration of the Jews, and the reign of Christ and His
saints upon the earth for a thousand years. Already there has been, as
was natural, division in the camp. The Christadelphians are an offshoot,
as I understand. They are very adventurous people, these
Christadelphians. They welcome strangers in their midst. The original
Ecclesias contend for the application of the principle of separation in
communion worship.
THE CHRISTADELPHIANS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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