St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-08
CURSE OF THE CHURCH.
Ritualism, Says Samuel Sherin, Is
Parody on the GospeI.

rev. Dr. Smith, pastor OF the Central
Park Methodist Episcopal church, being
absent on vacation, the pulpit was oc-
cupied last evening by Samuel Sherin,
who took Romans W, 4: Experience
worketh hope" as the topic of his dis
course. Mr.. Sherin's remarks were in
the nature of surprise to the congre-
CATION, but his earnest words carried
great weight and will do much toward
enhancing the religious awakening re-
sulting from the recent criticism of
church methods in this city by the
clergy and laity. In substance Mr..
Sherin said:
There is nothing that inspires and
promotes faith, courage and usefulness
in Christian character more than eXpe-
rience. Our contract with the furni-
ture of this world ought to make us
smoother and brighter as Christians.
The apostle begins this fifth chapter to
the Romans by describing how the re-
ligion Of Jesus Christ can keep a
man sweet, happy, and hopeful
in life's darkest hours and hardest bat
ties. Experience is the most valuable
stock in trade man can have in either
business or in religion. For instance.
when you apply for a position in life,
about the first question that is put to
The candidate for teachers position is
asked, What evidence have you to
show that you are competent to perform
the duties of the position you seek?"
Suppose you present your diploma.
That merely certifieS that you read GER
tain books, and had a standing in
certain intellectualities so many
years ago, You would againlbe asked
tWhat experience have you? What
have you done in this profession? and
where did you do it," And according to
your record of experience you would be
measured. The diploma is all right in
its own place, and it is well that many
professional people always keep the
diploma in sight. as they never would
be suspected of being educated were it
not for such certificate. Many pro-
fesSed Christians are continually tell
ing of the time and place of their con-
version, and it is we'll that they do so,
as some of them would never be
suspected of being followers of the
meek and lowly Jesus by their daily
conduct; but the great and ail-import-
tant question to every Christian is:
what do l possess in character and
what am doing now" When the world
is so full of sin and sorrow, weeping
and death on every hand, the true
exhibiting time-worn diploma. With
out experience we have very erroneous
ideas of the world. To be soldier in
the army of ones country means more
than your name on the enlistment roll
and to be dressed in uniform. To be
true soldier means the most rigid disci-
pline, long marches and hard battles.
TO be full-grown Christian means
more than to sit an houl or so weekin
elegant churches and
DO NOTHING BUT BREATHE.
Experience worketh hope in refer
ence to our own Christian life if we are
actuated by love of God and man. The
sadder the experiences that we pass
through the more hope of final triumph
we have in godly life. The pastor
knows best how to sympathiZe with the
Borrowing, who himself has walked
through the vale and shadow of death.
The mother can best cheer the gloom of
the bereaved home, who herself stands
with empty arms outstretched from
this world to the other. The more we
sacrifice and suffer ourselves, the better
fitted are we to aid in saving the lost
and giving succor to the feeble.
Many Christians have never learned
the Sweetness, joy and hope that arise
from life of unselfish Christian activ-
ity. My brother, what self-denial or
sacrifice have you ever made for the
sake of Christ? You say you helped to
build an elegant church and support an
eloquent preacher. There is no self
sacrifice about that any more than to
buy furniture for your parIor.
You pay your minister to try
and keep you from going to he'll,
and need not expect the Lord will
credit you with unSelfish sacrifice
Journalism is the curse of the church to-
day as much as in the days Of Luther or
John Wesley. The earnest and conse-
Grated ministers and Christians who are
fully awake to the great needs of the
cause of Christ are hindered and en-
barrassed on every hand by the corpse
of ecleSiaSticism, and the cry goes up:
Who shall deliver me from this body of
death?' The reading of moss-covered rit-
uals and homilies, the singing of lifeless
quartettes, while all about us are sor.
row, tears, and dying people, is a
PARODY ON THE GOSPEL
of the Divine Jesus, who said: $50 We
to all the world" The army of true
Christians to-day is, like the Blessed
Master. doing good. not only by trying
to redeem the lost, but preventing the
young from falling into the he'll on
earth that is so full of the best people
of the land. We want to try and save
mems and women's bodies as we'll as
their souls. There is not much chance
for a soul in an impure and ruined body.