Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-17
NUMBER 27.

closed doors, and six days interreenum of
inactivity, can hardly be said to have its
prototype in the Church of the Old Jeru-
salem or its antitype in the Temple Of the
New Jerusalem for the first was certainly
organized for daily ministrations' Acts
vi, u and in the second, the gates shall
not De shut at all by day (Rev. xxi, 25).
1t is not the asseverations of the minister
on the first of the seven days, but the MIN
lstratlons OF the people during each of the
seven days, that make a church aggres-
sive, and in that sense n worthy sue
cessor of its Apostolic original. Such
church is neither controversial nor apollo
getic. 1t does not mistake the eleave-axe
of the sectarian for the sword Of the
Spirit. Itrefutes error by actualizing the
truth. 1t conquers man by helping him
to conquer himself. Ii defeats the world
by blessing 1t. Such a church, as the body
OF Christ, filled and inspired by the Spirit
OF Christ, stands Like the voiceful light on
the Damascus road, a resplendent contra
diction to the taunts and objections of the
scotier. 1t is in the cooperation of the
uptown and downtown churches that the
ideal church Of the future is to be realized;
and when it appears, it will be an Institu-
tional Church-that is, church with sew
eral pastors and other salaried workers,
and many well-organized departments Of
work. 1t is impossible for one man to dis
charge in satisfactory manner the multi
form duties of city pastorate. There are
differences of administrations and diversi-
ties of operations, and there should be
workers of differing gifts to carry them on.
The aggregate salaries need not much ex-
ceed the salary of the star preacher; and
church worked in this way. by men and
women of even ordinary ability, viii show
results that will far exceed any which can
come from mere brilliant preaching. The
pulpit is not to be neglected or belittled in
this coming church The preaching is to
be earnest, practical, evangelical and
frequent. The sermon, however, is not,
as is so often the case, to be the
only thing which is offered to attract the
people to the sanctuary. The chief atIrac-
tion is to be the worth.ship of God. Music,
that potent aid to worship, shall swell from
the many-throated organ, and blend with
the language Of praise ON the lips Of the
congregation, chorus, and choir, or with
the voice of the sweet singer in Israel,
whose sermon in song may perchance touch
the heart which the sermon in prose leaves
unaffected. The contribution plate, that
other important aid to worship shall have
its place, and shall be laden with the un-
grudged offerings of thankful people.
The seats shall be absolutely free, the doors
always open; and should the mysterious
mendicant who shared the crust with Sir
Launfal enter them, he would feel at home.
This church viii recognize the fact that
the Gospel is concerned with the body,
soul and spirit-with Sunday and all the
rest of the week-and to this end it will
emphasize the sacredness of many so-called
secular things, knowing that there IS not
half the danger of secularizing the church
that there is Of failing to spiritualize the
secular life"