The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-05-13
miscellaneous.
COMMON SENSE.
The Necessity Of 1t In RelIglOn-Ap Application Of
Business Principles to Church MStters-Ser-
men Of DR.. Talmage In Brooklyn, Sun
day NAV Cd.

full report of Rev. DR.. Talmage's sermon,
preached in the Tabernacle, on Sunday,
May %, to very large audience:
sUBJECT-"CoMMoN SENSE IN RELIGION"
Text: St. Luke 1863 "The children
of this world are in their generation wi
ser than the children of light"
That is to say that Christians are not
so firm and skilfull and anxious in the
manipulation of their spiritual affairs as
worldlings in the management of their
temporalities. l see men all around
about me sharp and forCeful in Sc ular
toll and secular engagements, who are
laggards in the church of God and ca.
pacit es which might take hold Of stu
pendous work for Christ become inane
and inert. In other words, the great
want of the world is more common sense
in matters of religion. The fact is, if
the people of God used as much skill
and enthusiasm in the spreading of
Christ's Gospel and in the betterment of
the worlds condition, as men EN-.
ployed in monetary affairs, in ten years
the last juggernaut would fall, and the
last throne of oppression he upset, and
the last iniquity tumble, and the song
which burst over Bethlehem on the
Christmas night would echo and re.echo
through all lands and kingdoms and
people: "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will to men p
One night on the train going west, as he
porter was making up the berths in the
sleeping car, man knelt down to pray.
Tie car was full of people, and men of
the world looked up as much as to say
"What does that mean ?" and people
whispered all through the car, and in a
few moments all eyes were turued upon
that man. Some, l suppose, thought he
was insane; others may have thought
him fanatic; but without disturbing
anybody he knelt down, and without
disturbing anybody he rose. l found
out afterward in conversation with him,
he was Christian man belonging to this
city "a Christian sailor on his way to
New Orleans to take command of ves
sci. thought then as l now think that
a few such men as that would take this
world for God. Is there any one with a
doubt in his mind as to his succeeding
in spiritual affairs?
Carrying out the proposition l laid |
down, Say in the first place, we want
more common sense in the building and
conduct of our churches. When secular
buildings are put up, the question of ad
aptation is paramount. This question is
not always dominant in churches. In
many Of them we want more light, more
room, more air, more comfort. Vast
Gums of money are expended, and men
sit down under the shadow of Gothic
architecture and say the church pleases
them very much, with one exception
they can not hear The speakers voice
dashed to pieces against the pillars. Peo.
pie 60 home complaining of their lack
OF devotion, when it is no fault of heir
hearts, but Of the church veItilators.
Why should there be a lack of light
when the heavens are full ofitP In this
day when 30 many churches are being
built, and 30 many old ones are being {
reconstructed, l think these theories
ought to be disseminated. 1t ought not
only to be an expression of our spiritual
happiness, but of our physical comfort {
when we say; IF l forget thee, G, Je.
let my right hand forget her
cunning. How amiable are thy taberna. {
cles, 0 Lord of Hosts" i
Again, We want more common sense a
n obtaining religion. We all know very /
we'll our common sense teaches us there [
8 no achievement in worldly direction /
lnless We concentrate. You decide what f
,Ou would like to achieve in a worldly i
Erection; you put all your energy in that b
Erection, and you succeed. A miller in t
california picked up a sparkle of gold e
rom the bed Of the stream that turned f
zig mill, and he lifted that sparkle of u
old until it bewitChed the whole eartk. d
Tens of thousands Of men took their il
blankets and pickaxe, and went out in d
he Nilds. Cities grew up suddenly on C
he Pacific coast. Everybody talked e
bout gold. Gold in the eye; gold in the d
ar; gold in the wake of ships; gold in a
he streets. But, my brethren, do we r.
ave the same enthusiasm in regard to il
he discovery of religion, or to the at. r
alnment of eternal riches2 Word has c
ONE to US that the mountain of Gods d
ove is full of gold. We have been told e
hat men have dug there and brought up II
old and diamonds, and all the precious d
Jones out of which the wall of heaven "
builded. In one hour men have got d
ut OF that mine treasures worth more il
nan this whole world. We have been 81
Did that treasure obtained there will n
urchase us mansion in a city where "
old is the pavement and the gates are II
Winging pearl. Is there any doubt v
bout itP Is it bogus company formed? n
"a, mol There are thousands of men o.
nd women in this house who could get n
p and testify that they have discovered ct
lese eternal riches, and have them in Il
leir souls now. Well, then, il it is Ger. Il
Yin all these treasures are to be had, of "
purse there will be great excitement 10
nong the people-they will be rushing "
p and down the streets to tell the story di
the bells will ring out at midnight, nd tt
le people will come to your door and in
y; Where is this treasure; want it, Of
I'd want it nowP" The whole land bl
i'll be shaken with the excitement, and CO
le priests Of God will not be able to CI
our fast enough the wine of the sacra. pl
lent, and there will not be room to con. til
in the people at the Lords supper as W
icy come in--the halt, the lame, the be