The Methodist Conference at Leeds on the 9th July last was addressed by the Rev. John L. Wynne of Wolverhampton. He declared, that beetle drives, jumble sales, bazaars, sales of work, and pantomimes were ruining the spiritual life of the Church. People, he said, had come to think of these things as being the work of the Church. He further said, “My experience is that all over our connection, these things are leading Methodism into spiritual eclipse. God has raised us up for the saving of souls, not the raising of money.” This is a voice in the wilderness indeed, as practically every Church to-day allows at least sales of work to be carried on for the raising of Church funds. We know of no Church in Scotland which condemns Church bazaars and sales of work, but the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland.
This Methodist minister, far removed from the so-called austerity and severity of Scottish Presbyterianism, has seen for himself in England and in his denomination, the worldly, baneful, undesirable, and unscriptural atmosphere and effects of these activities in the Church. It is common knowledge that even in connection with the organising and holding of sales of work (one of the evils brought into the Church by worldly persons), there is a deal of unnecessary labour and work, and talk, gossip and jealousies. As for the holding of pantomimes (one of the greater evils) by and in supposed Christian Churches, this has taken place more than once even in the North of Scotland. The darkness is great in the minds of thousands of so-called Christians to-day in England and Scotland. Multitudes will not tolerate their Christianity to include a separation from the world, and the exclusion of worldly practices from the Church. But the Word of God exposes them as such as profess to know God, but in works deny Him.