The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-05-27
o1SUNDAY TH0UGHTSDc
#ONE
MORALSG MANNERS
#ONE
By A CLERGYMAN


made upon the church, none goes deeper
or contains more truth than this: That
while it is working for the spiritual ad-
vantage OF man, it is neglecting other ele-
ments OF life which contribute to his well
fare and happiness. The physical, social
and intellectual natures are ignored. In
so far as the well-to-do classes are con-
cerned the result is not serious. They
can and do get what they need outside.
Travel, books, and social intercourse fill
the void.
Those. however, who are less happily sit
uated, the children of toll and MOL, whose
lives are barren as the desert of Sahara.
are the real sufferers from this mistaken
policy. Necessitated to find pleasure
somewhere, and deprived OF it in decent
and elevating places, they too often be-
take themselves to low and animal recrea-
ton, and frequent questionable and shady
resorts.
Is it not time for the church to enlarge
its purview? Should it not undertake an
all-round salvation? Is it not under obi
CATION to the poor and miserable to pro-
vide amusement and education and sani-
tary environment? 1t has the means and
il has the ability; are not these the
measure of Obligation
1t is our belief that the church
Of the future will be many
sided institution. Its aim Will
be to get people into heaven here on
earth. 1t will make itself the friend and
helper of the outlying multitude, and
minister, as Jesus did, to both body and
soul-will try to reach and renOvate the
soul through a sound and clean body.
Already in the East and here in the
West local churches begin to appear
which wear this aspect. Recognizing the
fact that a secondhand cabinet organ and
few dilapidated hymn books have no at
traction to the crowd, they provide ample
accommodations and open an expensive
parish house. This is hOney-cOmbed with
gracious agents and agencies. tits always
open 1t appeals to every grade. 1t sup
plies every Want-mental, moral, sanitary,
recreational. Both body and soul are
thus minIstered unto. A score OF paid
helpers reinforce the pastor and multiply
his personality, so that he is let free from
details to do his special work OF superin-
dence and preaching The whole church
is trained, disciplined and posted like an
army in the field. Such a church adver-
tises itself. Better yet, 1t advertlses
Christianity. Its benefciarles rise up and
cali it blessed. The community, which
profits by it's presence, echoes the bene-
diction. The Divine Spirit is in 1t and
over il. Why should not every church
be such a one?
One Of the most important utterances
OF the day is the papal encyclical upon
social questions 1t is entitled de Con-
ditione Opifcum," and is divided into
three parts, viz: An historical review Of
the past attitude of the Roman church
toward the working classes, a sketch OF
the present prominence OF matters con-
corning labor and formulation of the
socialistic policy OF the vatican.
Leo refutes the heresies of the socialists
touching private property, emphasizes
the need of Sunday rest, cOmmends
workingmen's unions as securing mutual
aid and sick funds, urges technical educa-
ton and insists that the only true solution
OF existing difficulties betwixt capital and
labor can be alone found In the gospel,
which, if rightly studied and applied,
would teach employers and employees to
come together and keep together, fulfill
ing their respective duties. At the same
time ne recommends the Intervention of
the state to CIRCULATE disputes and to insure
peace and promote the welfare OF the
labOring classes.
1t cannot be said that the encyclical
contributed any novel suggestions. 1t
does place the great ecclesiastical organi-
zation of the papaey in line with the for
ward movement of the age by indorsing
the reasonable complaints of labor and by
urging Roman catholics to cooperate in
all consistent WAYS with the effort to bet
ter what is bad in the existing situation.
The workingmen are to be congratulated
upon this new and powerful ally who has
come into the arena TO champion their
cause
An item in q recent letter from China
illustrates the well-known yet often for
gotten fact that charity as it exists in
Christian countries is due TO the influence,
direct OF indirect, of religion. Among
the heather it is scarcely known and GER
tainly very rarely practiced. Men are
given up to selfishness, against which the
gospel by precept and example wages
deadly war. Here is the statement which
we quote, not as a novelty. but a fresh
and recent illustration of what Is we'll
nigh universal beyond the bounds of
chrlsIendOm: a lew weeks ago the
steamship Shanghai, with 400 passengers
on board, was burned to the waters
edge on the Yang-tse river. Over
200 were drowned. Those who
climbed up the river bank were robbed of
valuables, stripped of their clothing and
thrown back into the river by their tax
aciOus fellow cOuntrymen. Boats sailing
down the stream made no effort to save
the drowning people, but busted them
selves with gathering up the plumber.
Even the men on near-lying Chinese
gunboat either looked on indiferentiy or
sailed down only to share in the spoils. !"
Yet some folks think foreign missions
are entirely uncalled for.
When a man dies and is buried we say
there is the end of him. Oh, no, the
essential part of him walks back with the
mourners and refuses to be buried, viz,
character.
The church today has extension rather
than Charles MartJm.
The heart never grows better with age /;
fear rather worse, always harder. A
young liar will be an old one, and young
knave will only be greater knave as he
grows older.-LOrd Chesterfield.
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