Nor knowest thou what argument
Thy life to thy neighbor's creed hath lent.
Emerson.
AN old and oft-urged argument against becoming a member of a church is, "I cannot see that church members are any better than other people," or "Their preaching is all right, but their practice!" This weak and fallacious reasoning is often a mantle of self-justification whereby the attempt is made to conceal a multitude of sins. It would be in a degree pertinent, if those outside the pale of the church afforded no opportunities for unprofitable associations, or if the majority within the church were examples of startling discrepancy between profession and practice. But this is not so.
While we recognize the folly that would permit the imperfect demonstration of others to rob us of the rich blessings of church association, we would not overlook our own responsibility to live so that we be not a stumbling-block in the way of our fellow-man. Loyalty to our Cause, our Leader, and our Church, demands that we manifest in every least particular a high standard of Christian character. In fact, any other course of conduct does not express Christian fellowship, whatever may be the bonds that seem to bind us, whatever outward signs and ceremonies we observe.
