The following article is in the book, A Plea for the Union of All Christians: A Collection of Articles by Barton W. Stone.
Barton W. Stone (1772-1844) wrote this near the end of his life after traveling to visit brethren in three different states. As we read about the conditions he observed, we may notice some parallels to the conditions we see today.
The senior editor B. W. Stone has just returned to his post after an absence of several months in Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. His health is greatly improved. He designs to continue in the faithful discharge of his editorial labors in future. He was greatly pleased to meet with many of his old Christian brethren; some, like himself, pressed down with the weight of years, and attendant infirmities, and standing on the eve of time, soon to hear the summons, “Come up hither.” He is happy to state that bigotry and party-spirit are fast receding and dying in the hearts of Christians of all denominations. In their brotherly embraces I was cordially received as a brother, and as cordially did we unite in worship without one hard speech, act, or thought. O that this temper and conduct might universally prevail amongst Christians! It would be a blessing indeed to themselves and to mankind—it would recommend religion to the acceptance of the world, and hurl the soul-destroying monster, sin, from his long-usurped throne in the human heart. God and his truth would be glorified, heaven would descend on earth, and shame, infidelity and skepticism, and smite them from existence. What but bigotry and party spirits prevent these glorious events?
Religion, where I have been, is onward in its march, but not so triumphant as I fondly anticipated to find it from the vast numbers who had recently professed the faith of Christ in those countries. Several things of a serious nature conspired to check its progress in my opinion. These I will expose in brotherly love, hoping that the exposure may be profitable to all.
1st, There has been more labor expended in reaping down the harvest than in preserving it when reaped—there has been more care to lengthen the cords than to strengthen the stakes—more zeal to proselyte than to build up in the faith and hope of the gospel. Without piety and devotion, religion can only be nominal—zeal for proselyting may exist where true piety cannot be found. Witness the Pharisees, who with great zeal compassed sea and land to make one proselyte, not a saint. Witness the great zeal of papists in every age of its existence, and especially at the present time, to gain proselytes—I have for more than a half a century observed that after a great religious excitement, those who braved it out and would not yield, became more hardened and callous against the force of truth, and more determined in their opposition to it. Such are among the last to embrace religion, if ever they do. This appears to be the case, especially in Kentucky, where such multitudes have lately made public profession of the faith.
It may be asked, Why has this great excitement measurably ceased? I will fearlessly answer, because the preachers have too much neglected to hold up the Christians’ duty, and to urge piety and devotion upon them—they have been more intent upon proselyting—in preaching the sinners’ duty, and urging them to obedience, than to teach them how they must live after they have made profession. The mother must be in a healthy state to have and to raise healthy children. No religious excitement, however great and good, will be of long duration unless professors are engaged in the spirit. I will here remark that it is easier to preach a proselyting discourse than one of Christian piety. It is irksome to a preacher to preach the latter without the spirit of piety in himself. He may speak eloquently, speak of the experience and piety of the old saints and apostles, but does he feel these in himself? Without this his preaching is vain to the hearers.
2nd, Another thing which checks the work of religion everywhere, but especially in Kentucky, is extravagance in worldly things. Thousands of brethren there are wasting the Lord’s goods. They seem to have forgotten, or have never been taught, that they themselves are living sacrifices to God; if they are Christians, their whole soul, body and spirit are his, and all the substance they possess. They are but the Lord’s stewards to manage to his interest and glory what he has entrusted to them, and to render a just account to him in the day of judgment. Dare we then waste it, or spend it in the pride of life, and to please the lusts of the flesh, and of the eye? O what an awful reckoning there will be at the last day! They who do such things, shall be turned out of the stewardship, and turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God. Their superb houses, and rich furniture—their pageantry and equipage—their super-abundance of viands and delicacies —all at the expense of the Lord’s money—for the want of which millions of men are dying for the lack of knowledge! Dreadful thought! are the preachers innocent of the charge of not instructing the people? Ah! how can they, when they do the same thing? There must be a reformation here, else all our labor will be lost, and the work put into more faithful hands.
3d, Another thing has, without doubt, checked the growth of religion, is that brethren have too greedily followed in the wake of the world by conforming to their spirit and practice. By this means many have involved themselves and friends in debt, and have failed to pay their lawful contracts to the ruin of themselves and others. This is a source of great distress in societies, and has almost destroyed confidence in one another.
4th. I will add another reason why the revival has been checked in Kentucky. There has been recently, and yet continues, a great political excitement throughout the country. The minds of the people have been turned from religion to politics. The spirit of religion and the spirit of noisy politics—or the spirit of God and the spirit of the world—cannot exist at the same time. “Water and fire maintain the fight until the weaker dies.”
5th. Another reason is that the preachers are almost solely engaged in working in the Lord’s vineyard, while the people and professors are gazing on without employment, without praying, without exhorting one another, without instructing, admonishing and comforting the young converts, and without building them up in the most holy faith. Until every member of the body be engaged in the work, it must fail—all can do something, however little—all are hired into the vineyard—all must labor or lose the reward.
6th. Another thing which seems to me to have checked the great excitement is the want of solemnity in the worship and in the house of God. When the people meet for worship, no one prays or exhorts till the preachers come. True, they sing, but too often with new theatrical or piano tunes applied to sacred songs without solemnity either in the tune or singer—only a few join, the rest being unacquainted with the tune or song, and before it is learned, another of the same class is introduced. To me it appeared to be a labored exhibition of skill in music (if music it be) rather than solemn worship. The preachers come—one preaches a long discourse—another immediately follows, then another, till the congregation becomes wearied and fatigued. This is evident; for as soon as they are dismissed, each flies to his hat, puts it on his head in the house of God, and makes a rush to the door like children dismissed from the disagreeable toil of learning in a school room. We uncover our heads, and keep uncovered with our hats off, out of respect to him; and should we not shew the same respect for the house of God and for him that dwells therein, and keep our hats off while we remain in it? If a number of men were to retire from a gentleman’s house, and should make a rush to the door, would not such conduct suggest the idea that his house had been to them a disagreeable prison from which they were glad to be released? I never saw a well-engaged congregation act thus. They were slow to leave a house where they had been feasting on heavenly food, or where their minds were solemnly impressed with truth. Reader, take notice whether I am not correct in my observations.
Let us behave ourselves wisely and modestly in the house of God. Some may reprove Paul for descending to so small a matter as to teach women to pray with their heads covered. Shall we not teach men also to avoid improprieties however small?