Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-11-20
DO YOU ATTEND CHURCH ?
Was the Subject at the Presby-
terrain Church Last Night.

/ be spent in sleep, We should still have one
hundred and twelve hours to attend to
business and other duties, and to secure
recreation. The church is open for wor-
ship usually. not more than three hours
on the Sabbath and two hours during
the week. The most faithful, then, give
not more than six hours out Of the one
hundred and sixty eight to the public
worship of God When we come to look
at the time God has given us and the
time we spend in his service, il must be
apparent to every one that we give very
little to God. Put IT is only few who
give this amount Of service to a kind
heavenly Father A great many give
less than two hours a week TO public
worship. The great multitude give not
a single hour and never enter the house
of God.
We think the condition of many parts
of our country deplorable because they
are without churches A man came back
from Arizona few weeks ago. and said:
There is wealth enough out there, but
] do not want my children to grow up
heathens | must come where there are
christian influences" Men do not know
what they lose until they go into portions
OF the country where a church has not
been built Our lives and our homes are
safer because the church is exerting its
halowing influence in the community
For that reason, every man in the com
munity should give il his presence and
encouragement Observing men every
where see that a neglected church means
a well-filled prison. 1t means a low
grade of schools, lack of family govern
ment, intemperance, RIGHTEOUSNESS and
all forms OF disorder Weaken the church
in any community, and we may soon
have the scenes witnessed in communi-
ties where the church has never existed.
As good citizens we are all interested in
whatever viii elevate the standard of
morality and the church can do this
more eirectually than anything else.
In other days DR. Togueville, distin-
guished Frenchman, wrote as follows
about our country: I'm the United States,
on every seventh day, the solemn calm
of meditation succeeds the turmoil Of
the week. Every member of the com
munity, accompanied by his children
goes TO church, where he is told of the
countless evils caused by pride and COW
etousness lie is reminded of the neces-
sity of checking his desires. of the finer
pleasures which belong to virtue alone,
and of the true happiness which attends
it," The whole community is inn
proved by the work of the church.
Infidelity and scepticism, with all their
trouble consequence, can make no pro-
gress where the church is advancing.
Said Valtaire, the famous infidel; "Ide-
spair of destroying christianity in any
country so long as millions of human
beings meet on Sunday to worship God.
And the advancement of the individual
is great under the influence of the ord
nances of religion. Said sea captain,
Il like to see my men 60 to the Bethel
on Sabbath morning There is no ques-
ton that il steadies them
Jerry McAuley tells of some who came
to his mission, who had the appearance
''of walking rag shop" In a short
time after they were as well dressed as a
Wall street broker. Said distinguished
Judge of New England when l was
in the practice of the law and had stu
dents in my office, | required that they
should attend church at least once on
Sunday for the advantage it would be to
them in their professional studies. The
church is the great intellectual and edu-
cational school of New England 1t has
made her what she is" Izaak Walton
says he goes, to church Ito adore and
worship God who both made me of moth
ing. and preserved me from being worse
than nothing go to praise Him for
my creation to redemption, and to con
fess my sins, and to beg pardon for the
same Examples of regularity in atten-
dance upon the services of Gods house
are found among the lowly and the most
distinguished. Many poor people walk
long distances to meet with Gods peo-
pie on the Sabbath day. 1t is said of
distinguished William Cullen Bryant,
that mo one was more regular in his
attendance upon public worship, in wet
and dry, cold and heat, morning and
evening. until the very last month-of his
life. OF Queen Victoria and Presby
terrain church near her summer house in
Scotland, it is said cit was cold, wet,
stormy day, but the weather which kept
less earnest worshippers at home did not
deter her from showing her love TO her
Redeemer in the way of His appoint
ment" Going in the right spirit we may
expect a blessing, and feel that we are
giving encouragement to one of the
mightiest agencies for our good. Leave
not the house of God without one pray
er for myself. for those who minister
and for those who worship there" and
the service will be q benefit TO you.
New Postmaster for Chesterfield.