St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-11
Last Of the Sermons of the
Series Preached by Rev.
S. G. Smith.
Suggestions Of Numerous Let
teps Received Are Briefly
Answered.
Usual Question Of the Sunday
Saloon and Sunday The
alter.
There Is No Need to Fear Our
Future as a Munich
pality.

OH the needs of st. Paul, Rev. 5. q.
Smith, of the Peoples church, yester-
day morning took his text from John
vi, u: Gather up the broken pieces
that remain over that nothing may be
LOST
1t would be impossible that such a
series of letters should have been pre-
scented and such themes be discussed
without awakening questions, sugges-
tions and criticism in the minds OF
many people, some of whom would
doubtless think that they could have
performed the task better themselves.
Nor would ii be possible that in the
comparatively brief compass of three
discussions the subject could be eX-
hauStively treated. 1 had no idea that
/ addressed my inquiries to all the peo-
pie in the city who might have some
thing valuable to say, nor do | think
now that I'VE are the people and Wis
dom will perish with us" In answer
10 my general invitation to the public l
have received a large number Of addi-
ti0nal letters. some of them Of great
value, and we will consider these addi-
tiOnal reflections, gathering up the frag-
lentS that nothing be lost. Many of
the points made by my correspondents
have already been treated, and since it
Is impossible to read the entire CORE
SpOndence, / intend this morning to
discuss the additional points which
seem TO have been overlooked and to
refer TO the structures on the positions
which have been taken.
Duty Of a Minister.
One correspondent inquiries: lis it
not the duty of minister to simply
preach the gospel of Christ, and to visit
the sick and afflicted?' There is much
misrepresentation in the minds of many
people as to the nature Of the gospel of
Christ. This seems singular after all
the study and teaching of the Christian
centuries. A large number of the peO-
pie in the churches identify the message
of Jesus with the theories which they
have been accustomed to hold with ref
erence to the person and work of Christ.
Jesus was the broadcast of all teachers;
his message was ethical and practical.
ile dealt with duties and not with alb
stractiOns. He believed that good
world might be made better. He set
himself 10 work to teach the way. The
gospel of Christ has to do with the
whole conduct of human life and with
man in all Lis relations. | conceive
that the Christian minister has much
broader message than many people sup
pose. One reason why the pulpit does
not have its rightful share of influence
upon public and private life has been in
its failure to meet living questions.
There is no theme which touches the
Well-being of man which is not legiti-
mate to the pulpit. Whatever will deepen
the spiritual, broaden the intellectual,
or dealiZe the physical life of man, the
preacher should attempt. Besides, the
Christian minister is not limited to
strictly professional duties any more
than the lawyer eXhauStS his poSSibili-
ties in briefs, or the physician expresses
himself in prescriptions. 1t is the duty
OF every man. including the minister, to
De as useful as possible.
Some of our correspondents think we
have been too hard Oh the foreigner. and
one Of them has written a letter to show
that all native-born Americans are ras-
Gals. and the salt of the country is its
foreign blood. do not need to apollo
glZe to foreigners for anything | have
10 say with reference to the value of
American institutions; | was born my
self in foreign country. When it is
insisted that America should be Ameri-
can there is simply stated the principal
recognized by all statesmen. Germany
proposes 10 make AlSaceLorraine Ger
man in order that it may become real
part OF the empire. Russia seeks the con-
SolidatOn OF all its races in order TO attain
national stability. England would have
no Irish question if all the British Isles
had been nodded by the same insttu-
tons and given the same rights. Every
unassimilated and alien population III
every nation is political menace. We
need one language, one flag, one citi-
ZenShip, one civilization. That the
American character stands in need of
great lnnTOVPmlnt fhnTQ 90 hn
question, but it will not be improved by
covering the country with an ill-as-
sorted patchwork of people.
The school question has furnished
fruitful theme. One correspondent in
SiSts that the work is poorly done; an
other thinks that we ought to have old
fashioned oral examination by an out
side committee. The mother of four
children says there are
Too Iany Lady Teachers,
and still another criticises the makeup
of the new school board The facts are
we have excellent, though not perfect.
schools. The abundance OF lady teach
ers Is accounted for on principles of sex
III business which cannot be considered
this morning. The new school board
has up to this time done no work and
made no record. The public can af-
know them" There are those who
think that the women should have been
represented on the school board. and
there seems to be a growing and
influential opinion in that direction.
1t requires a great deal of sense for
intelligent criticism. We have nOright
10 expect perfection in the schools until
we have perfection in the churches.
perfection III business. perfection in So
ciety. What the schools need is a hearty
support and intelligent suggestions.
There are many things abOut,themwhich
should be better, but there is no uues-
ton but that they have broadly and
wisely developed within the past few
years. Speaking of women on the
school board reminds me that some
correspondents think that this series
has ignored the value of woman's work
for charity, churches. and reform. Let
Inc plead in eXtenuation that the women
cannot possibly be ignored: thew con-
finually speak for themselves, and as
the conspicuous and regenerating force
of humanity, they are living epistles
known and read of all sensible men.
Many earnest writers have dealt with
various moral problems. One writer
points the evils resulting from the wor-
ship of mammOn in social life, and is
particularly severe upon the absence of
real culture and refinement as classify
ing principles. Another declares that
the newspapers, on account of their
publication of criminal detail and their
constant pandering to the worst pas
sions of men, seek TO increase circula-
ton by becoming ministers of vice. The
saloons and brothels are properly treat
ed as dangers to social order, and it is
alleged that influential members of the
favored resorts, while they themselves
share in the profits which arise from