The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-21
MATERIAL OR HAND SERVICE.

MATERIAL UR HAND SERVlUE,
We read in Gods word that he is a
spirit, and they that worship him must
worship in spirit and in truth; that
communion with the Father of our
spirits, the one great source of light
and life, is essential to our growth in
divine life; and, further, that we should
love the Lord our God with all the
mind, heart and strength. Yet we find
much Of our service Of a material ma
ture. In Sunday school we teach the
children geography, history and biogra-
ply. For this purpose we have maps,
charts, blocks, cards and pictures.
With the spiritual condition of most of
our teachers we succeed in impressing
material things upon the minds of the
children, and when older those who
come into church work at all are ready
to do with their hands in fairs, festi-
walls and suppers, or help in concerts or
entertainments with singing, recita-
tions and readings. We come into the
church service among the older ones,
and we find them, ready to attend
church on Sunday, willing to pay the
minister and listen respectfully to
what he says, while he too often speaks
in learned way of the false religion of
the Jews, the tyranny Of Rome, or the
PHILOSOPHERS of the ancients. All this
may be done without the devout spirit
Of true worshipper Of God and too
often is. This is not as the people
would like to have it or as the minister
wants it, and we are all the while de-
vising ways and means by which it
may be changed for the better. We
see the tendency to materialism and
deplore it, but as yet have not stayed
it. All churches of whatever name are
exercised over these facts. There are
those who are teaching and preaching
about the spiritual nature OF man, and
the spirit of God, but the people do not
comprehend their meaning. Why?
Could make you know the beauty of
the rainbow by talking about it, if you
had never seen it? Could l make you
know the harmony of music if you had
never heard it? or the fragrance of
rose if you had never breathed it? And
yet you may have the sense of recogni-
tion for each one of these. If I would
have you know the beauty of the
rainbow, 1 must show you one. If 1
would have you know the sweet har-
mony of music, l must let you hear the
chords. If 1 would have you know the
fragrance Of the rose, must let you
breathe it. So, il 1 would have you
feel the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
l must bring to you that spirit. The
spirit knoweth the things of the spirit.
Only in this way can we reach the end
for which we strive. We want the
hand service and the head service, but
we must have the heart-the soul SER
vice, else we come short of the full SER
vice required by our Father. Brother or
sister in the faith of Universalism,
wherever you may be, in church with
Others of like faith, or entirely alone so
far as you may know, will you not seek
the Holy Spirit at the throne of grace,
so that your life may become a power
for good-so that you may comprehend
the depth and breadth and height of
our precious faith, and living it all
who take note of you may know that
you have been with the Master. You
may not be with those who can give
you of the water of life, but there is
One to whom, if we go, we shall never
be turned away empty. God has given
you the most blessed faith that ever
cheered the heart Of man. Will you
carry it in an unholy vessel? And you
who teach the children in our Sunday
schools. God grant that you may have
baptism of this Holy Spirit, so that
the most impressive part of the lesson
shall not be seen but felt. And to us
who preach, may such an abundance
Of this spirit be given, that the people |
10 whom we minister may know the