Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-02-16
2Relieio,ts Department..
SOCIAL LINES AND CHRISTIAN
WORK.
BY K. CORDLEY,

There is very common feeling, ''ut-
tered or unexpressed. that every church
has its own stratum of society on which
to work, and must not expect to cut the
planes of social qualification. We are
told, by actions oftener than by words,
that people of similar culture, similar
position, and similar tastes, will go to-
gether, and that it is a waste of time to
attempt to override this great law of
human association. Churches often ex-
plain their want of growth by referring
to the character of the people about
them. There are none of our kind of
people around Us. So it is no uncom-
mon thing to see refined and cultivat-
ed church membership, enough, one
would think, to leaven whole commu-
nifty, in the midst of large non-church
going population, and yet scarcely max
ing a convert year. And they seem
perfectly satisfied about it, and are sur
prised that any should expect them to
grow, if the truth were known, they do
not rant to grOto ait Of such Materials
This feeling, cherished, perhaps, un-
consciously, has more to do with their
lack of growth than the character of the
community itself. They long to grow.
and pray for growth; but they are hop
ing for an imported growth. They pray
that God will send them some good,
live Christians to settle among them
and strengthen their hands. And they
will write to the Eastern papers urging
Christian families to come and settle
among them. Their longing for growth
does not include longing for the saliva
ton of these masses among whom God
has thrown them and whom he expects
them to leaven. These are the Gentiles
who, at best, can only be ''hewers of
wood and drawers of water These
are the Samaritans, with whom no good
Jew has any dealings.
But these church members ought to
remember that if God had anything to
do with their location. he sent them
there for some other purpose than to form
mutual admiration society, and to con-
graduate each other on having ''all the
best families in our church" He did
not send them merely to attract others
like themselves to the same place, but
that they mig hit transform that very
people among whom their lot is cast.
If they were as anxious to give Christ's
salvation TO those about them as they
are to attract kindred spirits to come
among them. they would not long re-
main barren and unfruitful. When
Pauls's soul was stirred within him on
seeing the whole city given to idolatry.
he did not send to Jerusalem for a colo.
ny of saints to come and settle in Athens.
but he went out upon Mars Hill and
preached Jesus and the resurrection to
those idolaters, and the church of Athens
was the result. Let such a church as
we are describing feel that they have a
mission to that very people by whom
they are surrounded, and use their re-
fnement and talent and social power in
opening their hearts to the Gospel, and
there would soon be a transformation
that would astonish and startle them.
Social distinctions are very strong.
and the barriers of diverging tastes are
very high and hard to cross. But to
allow them to set limits to Christian
work and bounds to the proclamation
Of the Gospel is to make them stronger
than the love of Christ The Cath
Ole puts his church above all things
else, and there are no social distinctions
In Catholic churches. When we place
Christ where he ought to be. at the head
of all the objects of our thought, then
"the rich and the poor will meet togeth-
er, and we shall lose sight of every
thing but the fact that 1.-The Lord is the
maker Of them both Men blend ioy-
fully together when the leading DUR.
pose of their spirits is the same. II
wealth, or culture, or social standing is
first in our hearts, then ON this basis
shall we select our companions. But If
Christ be first, then Christ and his work
will determine our associates.