The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-11

makes his books and pictures 10 serve the
minds and Tastes of his neigh ors. If. aft
er long illness, IL IL announced that
some ones carriage has come TO your door
to take you for an airing in the country.
you know wDo sent II; he is known In
the sending OF his carriage. Ii your
child. after q long aud painful illness,
Is convalesciDg. and few flowers. pleas
ant to the weak eyes and cheering to the
faint heart, have been cent in TO her, YOU
know who sent them without being told;
he is known by the sending of flowers. Ii
you hear of man who stopped his wo-k
and listened patiently to heightened
story of misfortune and distress and then
gave ungrudgingly the wise counsel and
help the case needed, you know who 1t was
The soul of q man is as clearly revealed by
such deeds as it can be by the preaching OF
sermon or the Offering of prayer.
If you were to read this story OF the
Christ as we read the stories of other
men, unconventionally, naturally, with
unbiased minds and wakeful imaginatlons,
we would readily see that He who began
His life in q manger, and had not after
wards where to lay His head, did more to
make the bodies and homes of men healthy
and happy than He did directly for the
souls of men. he preached and prayed In
such q way that those who heard Him could
never forget it; but the larger part OF the
story of His years of ministry is of the
kindly deeds He did TO the suffering bodies
and the sorrowlng minds of men. The
most emphatic argument that he ever
made concerning the nature of His mission
In the world was: The blind receive their
sight. the lame walk. the lepers are cleansed.
the deaf hear. the poor have the glad tidings
heralded unto them"
The religion of Christ has TO do with our
whole nature, and with our whole life in
this world. 1t has TO do with all our needs,
physical, mental, spiritual, social. and
with all our relations, temporal and eter-
nal. It's aim is to help us make our life
worth living in this present world. and
then worth living in the world beyond.
The religion that does not help men in
their earthly condition. they Will be slow to
believe can be any of worthy help to them
In heavenly condition. The awful death
of Christ and His burial had been to the
disciples q great shock and agony. 1t bad
utterly exhausted and demoralized them
Three days of terrible darkness and grief
had worn and dulled their bodies,
their minds and hearts. In the
city of their calamities and walked to-
wards their country home, eight miles
away. Jesus Joined them along the way
and talked with them about the great
things in the Scriptures. But their exceed.
ing WEAKNESS and faintness of body and
heaviness of mind and heart were such
that they could not take His meaning IN
and could not see that He was himself the
Christ, alive again. IL was when they
were little quieted and rested. and were
refreshed by food. that they recognized the
Christ in the manner of His hospitality,
and, looking back. remembered that
strange warmth had been in their hearts
when he talked with them along the way.
Through the gateway of bread, in kindly
hospitality given, was quickened IN them
the faculties and opened to them the ave-
nues of spiritual recognition.
Ii you will supply some mans barren
abundant table, IL will become easy for
him to see and believe the spiritual things
you love to tell him and the real goodness
that is in your own heart. When you
men IN the earthly needs that pinch and
pain them, 1t will be easy for them
to believe that you are messenger of God
TO them. Always truly Christian people
are known by their helpfulness.
There are men who have bread enough
and to spare. Their troubles are of the
mind and heart. To them we must 60 with
helpful ideas and inspirations. with our
arguments and our persuasions. The good
aim OF Christianity is not limited to prep
aration for future state. but includes the
formation and fostering of righteous
and loving characters in this world,
and the upbuilding and orderly shap-
ing of society on the earth.
Our appeals must sometimes be to tho con-
sclence, but often to the other parts of
mans complex nature. There Is sometimes
more of Christianity carried to man by
loaf of bread, by the payment of little
able employment to an adequate wage, to
an honest living. than can be conveyed TO
him by all the sermons and ali the eXhOrta-
tons. The men who would be known as
heavenly Father must practically represent
the great commandments. Thou shalt love
thy neighbOr as thyself."
Christian people must con Germ themselves
thoughtfully. earnestly. helpfully in the
problems and troubles of wOrkingmen, if
they are to have influence with them, and
get themselves believed in regard to spirit
ual things. You remove a mans greatest
temptations when you remove the poverty
that pinches and confuses him and that
fills him with many pains and many fears.
THAT is first which Is natural. afterwards
that which is spiritual" Helpfulness to-
wards all sorts and conditions of men is
the note by which we are to be known as
the children of the Christ.
DIR. McNairs Meetings.
Rev. j. L. McNair, d. d., an eloquent
evangelist, pastor of the Chestnut-street
Presbyterian Church, in Louisville, began
q series of meetings at Memorial Presby-
terrain Church yesterday morning. preach
ing very impressive sermon from the text
found in Luke xiii, "a: Father, forgive
them, for they know not what they don
The topic chosen for his evening discourse
was Eternity" DR.. McNair is a very en-
tertaining speaker. and never fails to hold
the attention OF his audience. His powers
of description and reasoning. together with
his easy flow of language. peculiarly fit
him for the great work 40 dear to him. The
topic chosen for his discourse tonight will
be also one word, Separation"
Evangelistio Services.
The Rev. Charles III. Little, of Illinois.
will begin this Monday evening series
of evangelistIc services in the First Pres
byterian Church. TO continue every night
during the week Mr.. Little is speaker
of exceptional ability and eloquence. Last
year his addresses at series of services
held in Charlottesville won for him q high
place in the esteem of professors and I'M
dergraduates, and were remarkably effect