THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF PUBLIC WORSHIP

The Great Commission delivered to the Apostles was that they should go into all the world and do 3 things. First, they were to preach the Gospel to every creature. Second, they were to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost." And, third, they were to teach them to observe "all things" Christ had commanded. Obedience is the lost chord in modern-day Bible teaching; nevertheless obedience constitutes the very essence of the Gospel. The man of God cries, "I delight to do Thy will, O God." What is the will of God regarding public worship?

According to Matthew 16:18 it was our blessed Lord who instituted the church. It takes little brilliance to deduce that 1.) He desired a church. 2.) The affections of our Lord for the church are duly expressed: "I will build MY church." 3.) Note that He declares that He will be both the Builder and the Defender of the church, for He said, "I will build MY church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." He gives the "keys" of the church not to Peter, but to the Apostles generally that by the faithful preaching of His Word and by the faithful administration of discipline, His church would remain unbroken by the forces of darkness.

The Lord makes provision for what He orders, and in Ephesians chapter 4 we are given the offices of this institution. The Apostles and prophets are said to be the foundation of His church, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. (Ephesians 2:20). The superstructure consists of evangelists, pastors, and teachers. To these offices, God calls men like us-- men laden with foibles, inconsistencies, and misunderstandings. "Can we not be good Christians and not subject ourselves to such a presently imperfect institution?" The answer from Heaven is a resounding "No." Our Lord has more sense than institute a church we can do just as well without.

In Ephesians chapter 4 we are also given the purpose of the church. The church is instituted first, "for the perfecting of the saints." (Verse 12) "But cannot I become a mature, perfected Christian without attending public worship?"

Unequivocally, "No!" and there is no need for discussion because the Lord in infinite wisdom designed the church for "the perfecting of the saints." Second, the church is instituted "for the work of the ministry." (Verse 12) God has ordained that through His church He would carry on the work of the ministry. To attempt to do the work of the ministry "along side of" the local church is contrary to the design of our Lord. The third reason stated is for the "edifying of the body of Christ." (Verse 12) This explains why there are so many weak and immature Christians in our generation. There is an independent spirit that is rooted in pride and that is highly offensive to Christ. Fourth, the church is instituted "that we henceforth be no more children tested to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine." (Verse 14) The reason for so many Christians being confused by every peculiar doctrine they hear is that they are not faithful in public worship.

The Apostle declares believers should "provoke one another to love and good works" and to "exhort one another", and that the way they are to do it is by "not forsaking the assembling" of themselves together. (Hebrews 10:24,25) Every time Christians assemble for worship they take a public stand for right by their very attendance they exhort others to do the same, while delivering a rebuke to them who have no desire to attend. It is admitted in this passage there are some who are given to forsake public worship, but believers are exhorted not to be of their number.

"There is no sound assembly here." What do you mean by "sound assembly?" Are you being overly critical? "The best of men are only men at best," said one Puritan. "The best of men have feet of clay," said another. If you have a hypercritical attitude it is the result of sinful pride. But, if in fact there is no true Godly assembly, you are not excused from complying with the Biblical injunction found in Hebrews l0:25. In such a case, you are left with no other option than to start an assembly. To argue a right to disobey a Biblical command on

account of your circumstances is to argue in favor of "situation ethics."

"There are too many hypocrites in the church." Will Christ "understand" if you choose to disobey any of the commands He has set forth in Scripture?

"The church has not fulfilled her function so we have established our own organization." Be careful that you do not "blaspheme that worthy name by which you are called." Our Lord instituted the church. Better think twice or thrice before you speak of it in a disparaging manner.

What was the habit of our Lord? In Luke 4:16 we read, "And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day...." What should be your custom? And, can you truly be called a "Christian" --a follower of Christ if such is not your custom?

What was the habit of the early Christians? "And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them...and continued his speech until midnight." (Acts 20:7) Consider Anna the prophetess who "was of a great age" but who "departed not from the Temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day." (Luke 2:36,37) Are these things recorded here with no purpose? Is it not rather for our imitation? What should our habit be? Should it not be "go thou and do likewise?"

"For where two or three are gathered together in MY name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20) Popularity is bad and not a good thing. The saints of God should value the Truth of God as it involves both creed as well as conduct, and they should hold it in greater esteem than "fellowship." Nowhere in Scripture are the people of God encouraged to assemble for "fellowship." The purpose is for worship, instruction and service.

Is the church out of date? The apostle Paul declares the church to be the pillar and ground of truth "till we all come in the unity of faith; till we all come in the unity of the knowledge of the Son of God; till we all come unto a perfect man and unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Is God through with the church? You judge.

The issue of public worship is the simple issue of obedience.

Our Lord established only two institutions: the home and the church. Can a man be a good Christian and despise the home? Neither can he be a good Christian and despise the local assembling of the saints.

In John 20:24, our blessed Saviour appeared to the disciples as they were assembled on the first day of the week, "but Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came." Where was he? He must have known the believers would assemble. What was the reason he was not among them? His absence revealed his unbelief and his obstinacy, for even after 8 days the disciples were unable to persuade him they had seen the Lord.

Thomas lost forever this opportunity to see the Lord. What blessings, what comforts, what encouragements have you lost-- forever lost on account of unfaithfulness in public worship? "Repent, and pray God if perhaps even the thought may be forgiven.

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A HISTORY OF BANKING IN THE UNITED STATES

Part II --An Economic History of the War Between the States

Section Two --The Union (cont.)

Since the suspension of specie payments for paper currency in 1861, coins were hoarded. Merchants either charged to make change for paper money, or altogether refused to give change. In Hartford Connecticut, $20,000 in state bank notes was halved and quartered for use as change. Many merchants began printing their own fractional currency, or paper change. Public contempt for them can be seen by the name that was attached to them: they were called "shinplasters." Merchants often refused the paper issued by another merchant. State laws prohibited the practice, but banks themselves got into the act. In order to protect their citizens against unreliable paper money, many municipalities issued their own fractional currency.

In New York City, the daily sale of postage stamps rose from $3000 to $16,000. President Abraham Lincoln signed an act authorizing the Treasury to use stamps in lieu of the absence of coins in circulation. By the same act, he prohibited the private sector from further issuing fractional currency.

Stamps posed a real problem; the gum on their reverse easily soiled and tore. Some companies therefore printed small envelopes stating the sum of stamps inside. But Americans are well known for their ingenuity. John Gault, a Boston sewing machine salesman designed a brass case to house a stamp, and sealed it behind the transparent protection of eisenglass, or mica. He patented his idea on August 12, 1862. These "encased postage stamps" carried advertisements on the reverse of the metal planchet. Over 30 kinds are known. When the post office refused to provide enough stamps for use as currency, after operating only 2 months, the manufacture of the metal cases ceased. The government had its own plans!

Congress authorized the printing of $50,000,000 in fractional currency, called "Postage Currency." The first issue was printed between August 21, 1862 and May 27, l863. A Second issue was circulated between October 10, 1863 and February 23, 1867. Then followed a Third issue from December 5, 1864 to August 16, 1869. The Fourth and last issue was printed in 1876. A total of $368,720,079.45 was issued. And, like the private issues of fractional currency, these too were known as "shinplasters."

The silver 3 cent coin was guardedly minted, and hoarded whenever available. Therefore the appearance of the 5-cent paper allowed the purchase of 8-cent stamps. But in 1885, the nickel 8-cent coin halted the printing of the paper note. The depreciated content value made it undesirable to hoard.

The only coin that had not been replaced by paper money in 1862 was the cent. On account of its every day use it was doubled in mintage --from 28,000,000 coined annually to 49,000,000. The cents contained 88 percent copper and 12 percent nickel, but because nickel was at the time very desirable, the cents were either hoarded, or melted, and vanished from circulation.

Merchants needing a coin cent began issuing tokens. Most were struck in copper and became known as "copperheads." They were for the most part struck on hand screw presses. While they first appeared in Cincinnati, Ohio, they soon flooded the country, everywhere they were accepted as a cent. More than 20,000,000 were struck during the War years, and about 9300 varieties are known. Basically they were of 2 types. About 1300 "patriotic" tokens are known. These carried a patriotic design or slogan on both sides. "Storecard" tokens number about 8000 different varieties. These carried advertisements of either a store or a product. Congress in 1864 changed the content of the cent to bronze, as well as the content of the now 2-cent coin. The depreciated content lessened its value. In an attempt to make them acceptable to the people, Congress passed a law prohibiting private money issues.

Thaddaeus Stevens had lobbied to attach a third amendment to the Legal Tender Act that would have required the army and navy as well as the contractors furnishing supplies to the government to be paid in coin. The amendment was rejected. Thus the Union had chosen a way that "Seemeth right unto a man," but one that is contrary to the order of God. It was a New World order. Inflated paper money led people to speculate or seek profit without earning it. They purchased foodstuffs, wool and other necessary items intending to sell them at a higher price. Such speculation never produced an honest day’s work. What was written by one Confederate newspaper in Richmond, Virginia was true of the Union as well: "Everybody is swindling everybody else." 16

Late in 1861, Secretary Chase had designed a plan for a national banking system. On account of the chaos in the banking industry –chaos that resulted from his economic policies, he decided to implement his plan. The Act of February 25, 1863, and "National Currency Act" of June 5, 1864, the banking system was nationalized. After a bitter fight that carried the majority of the House by a singly vote and the Senate by 2 votes a 10 percent tax on state bank notes was added. In the following year, the notes had been forced out of circulation.

"The tax brought about a new state of things," wrote Horace White. 17 For the first time the banking industry of 40 states was under the authority, and, to use the words of Mr. White, "within the grasp of one set of administrative officials." 18 A similar bill by Samuel Hooper and Elbridge Spalding had been tabled in July 1862 and again in 1863. John Sherman introduced a bill into the Senate where it passed by the narrow margin of 23 to 21. It cleared the House and became law February 28, 1863. The National Banking system continued its existence until it was gradually supplanted by the Federal Reserve Act on December 23, 1913. National Bank Notes continued to be printed, until 1929.

According to law, banks that were members of the National Banking system purchased United States bonds to ease the money crisis experienced by the government. The bonds had to be deposited with the Treasury as a reserve for the paper money they were permitted to issue. The notes issued by each branch carried its own charter’ number, name, signatures of its officials and the state’s coat-of-arms. Since 90 percent of its value in bonds could be issued in the form of paper money, the value of its currency rested upon the value of other paper. Remember, the redemption of currency in gold and silver was not resumed until 1879.

A National bank was required to have a minimum capital of $50,000. Sixty percent of its capital had to be invested in United States bonds. According to Fred Reinfeld, banks in 16 leading cities had to keep on hand a reserve of lawful money equal only to 25 percent of their deposits and circulating currency. Smaller banks had to maintain a 15 percent reserve. 19 Each bank had to deposit in the Treasury only 5 percent of its circulating paper money! "The Righteous Lord loveth righteousness," (Psalm 11:7) and He it was Who commanded, "Thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have." The National Banking system chartered its banks for 20 years, but it ignored the eternal principles behind banking.

It is a bit ironic that in the midst of this economic maelstrom the motto "In God We Trust" was born. On November 30, 1861, Secretary Chase wrote Mr. Pollock, director of the Philadelphia mint to submit a design for a coin to include a motto "expressing in fewest and tersest words (the) trust of our people in God." "No nation can be strong except in the strength of God; or safe except in His defense." Accordingly, in 1864, the 2-cent coin appeared bearing the now familiar motto. If Mr. Chase indeed trusted God by establishing a "just weight and measure" as the foundation of this country’s banking practices, what heartache and hardship would have been spared the American people!

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