Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06

Christians at all, and have never been bap
tized, because we have not been baptized &C
cording to certain peculiar ritual. Now j
is o particular musical instrument which
makes discord in the Christian oongrega
tion. Again, it is the necessity OF inserting
certain word in the Constitution OF thu
United States. Shall the Christian man be
long to a secret society? After what pat
organized and governed? In our way, say
the Anglicans; in our way, say the Roman
lists; in our way, say the Presbyterians;, II
our way, say the Baptists, Down In ths
southern counties of this State
THE NUMBER OF BUTTONS
which man shall wear upon his coat is .
matter of religion. Over in Russia the
number of fingers which the priest shall
hold up when he pronounces the benedle'
tion is a matter Of religion. Mint, anise
and eummin These are the things about
which we can't agree. We are atone in the
essentials. We can say the Apostles Greed
together. But we fight each other when we
ought to be fighting the enemy, because our
different regiments wear different regiment
ais. Blind blind
The Christian Church is q mighty giant.
There is no end to its strength and its
| power, anu no llIult 10 Ine possibilities OF
its victory over the world, the flesh and the
devil. But the giant is blind, and cannot
tell the difference between man and tree,
between the little and the big. And the
giant is breaking twigs, when he ought to
be uplifting nations.
| Christ healed great many people in the
years of his blessed ministry, but the writer's
of the gospels seem especially fond of tell
ing us how he opened the eyes of the blind.
For that is one of
THE SAORAMENTAL MIRACLES.
Beneath the outward gesture and deed
lies the spiritual meaning. We are all
more or less blind. We are all feeling our
way about in the haze, not seeing every.
| thing clearly, and often making blunders,
taking men for trees And Christ came to
be the light of the world. He came to
| open our blind eyes, and to show us what
things are-to teach us the eternal difference
between trees and men.
1t is all very well to talk about the short
comings of society and the faults of the
Church, but we must. remember that there is
no such thing as abstract society, nor an alb
stract Church. These names mean us. So
clety means all of US considered socially.
The Church means all of US considered ec-
clesiastically. Every time we are counted
in. Society is blind, and the Church is
blind, because you and do not see as clear
ly as we might.
Look once more at Shis mistaken blind
man. Is there not certain familiarity in
the features of his face? Where have we
looked into his blind eyes before? All,
yes; in our own mirror.
know great many people, and could
set down their names and residences upon q
sheet of paper, and would only hesitate
about the stopping place, who are as blind
as that blind man was at .Bethsaida. They
are taking the small things of life to be the
great things
CHURCH-GoING AS 4 TEST
They are very busy, day after day, in car
ing for what concerns their bodily comfort;
they are neglecting their souls. I would
not say that church-going is an essential
duty of the Christian life. There is scarcely
anything about it in the Christian Script
ures. But churoh-going is a pretty sure
test Of the Christian life. I have never
knoYn anybody about whose real Christian
ity was certain, who did not want to 90
to church. And when see people busy
and interested on Saturday, and busy and
interested on Monday, and invisible and
asleep on Sunday, I take it that that means
something. And know not what it means
unless it is that these Sunday sleepers are
4OIScII1uS tndI Cney nave any SOUL.
My friends, if there are any of you with
in reach of these words-honestly now,
what are you doing for your souls? Iknow
pretty well what you are doing for your
minds, and what you are doing for your
business, and what you are doing for yonr
pleasure. But you have soul; you know
that And your soul is
THE MOST VALUABLE POSSESSION
that you have, isn't 1t? This alone, of all
that makes up your life, will determine
your eternal future. And your soul needs
care, doesn't it? Your body does, your
business does, your mind does. The soul
won't grow, left to itself. like tree. If
you don't care for your soul, your soul will
simply go on in the way of all things that
are uncared for; it will die. And you will
lose your soul.
There is big difference between a man
and tree, and the biggest part of the diff
ference is in the fact that man has q soul,
while tree has only trunk and branches.
But there are always people blind enough
to miss that. Somehow, it takes pretty
clear sight on the part of all of us to see
that distinctly, and really to get it into our
understanding. To set the emphasis on
great things rather than on small things, to
value the spiritual side of life at its right
valuation, to keep the Kingdom of God and
His righteousness first and foremost every
day we live, is the order of things with all
people who know man from tree.
GEORGE HODGES