s and barbarous massacres and bloody
persecutions that once were, and by hasty external view of political
governments and educational interest one may conclude that the world is
growing better. But where matters are growing worse and things becoming
more deceivable is to be found in "mystery Babylon the great" and her
harlot daughters; namely, Catholicism and the Protestant sects. They are
becoming more worldly and covetous, more proud and popularity-loving. They
are denying much of the Bible, turning their meeting-houses into concert
halls and opera-houses. In a village where we resided until recently the
Methodist meeting-house was called by the community in general the
Methodist theater.

The paper by Mr. Cadman as quoted above is a specimen of how they deny the
Bible. They almost unanimously deny the unity of the Bible, divine
healing, holiness and some of the ordinances. But in the decade to come
you will see much more astonishing things. The sectarian world is now just
setting sail upon such a sea of revelry, banqueting, money getting,
lewdness, and idolatry, as we have not seen before. Her awful sins will
reach unto heaven, yea, for some years past have been crying out against
her, but each year growing worse. Where is the aged man or woman but who
remembers the day when Methodists had a plain, unassuming, consecrated
ministry? The laity went plainly and modestly dressed. They had real Holy
Ghost revivals, but those days are gone. To-day she is intoxicated with
the spirit of worldliness. Every effort is being put forth, every nerve
strained, the power and energy of intellect used to dazzle the world by
oratory, and pompous show. O God, as we behold the awful sins of
sectarianism we feel in our soul like Jeremiah when he wrote his
Lamentation.

"Mine eyes do fail with tears, my bowels are troubled, ... because the
children and the sucklings swoon in the streets of the city." "How is the
gold become dim! how is the fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary
are poured out in the top of every street." "The kings of the earth, and
all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the
adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have
shed the blood of the just in the midst of her, they have wandered as
blind men in the streets, they have polluted themselves with blood, so
that men could not touch their g