The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-21
Some Join Who Have nc Religion
and Are not Seeking
Any.
Some Regard II as a Mutual Bene-
At Association for the FASH
ionablo
Rev.. .. u. Prios Turns the senroh Light
or Truth on the Hidden
PLACES. @

which causes a trembling among heP hAr-
isees, andssounds out In nc uncertain tones
the lofty mission of the organization
founded by the lowly Nazarene. "The
Lost Sheep Of the House Of 1srasl'' formed
part Of the theme Of Rev. Prices sermon
yesterday at the Grand street Methodist
church: America Ia chief among the ma
tiona, but all her inhabitants are not Amer
leans, nor are they In accord with her con-
stitution. The church is q wonderful
organization. Her machinery Is massive,
her influence far reaching. and the result
of her operations u%nequalled by that OF
any organized body. She has wise regu-
lAtionB, a sound government and one spe-
.cifc object in view-lifting humanity God
ward. The spirit Of the church should be
like the spirit Of her Rrent founder, and her
conduct toward the hayward should 20
the same. The church is a place Of discl-
pline and drill, from whence men go out in
search Of the lost. Our churches should be
as SO many lighthouses and rescuing sta
tions for the safety Of the wrecked. disabled
and lost. The spirit Of the church should
abused. Some have regarded her M q
mere society without disciplinary powers,
BY aid OF which they could throw around
themselves respectability and yet continue
in thoir sins; others regard her 40 q kind q
mutual benefit association for the delecta-
ton Of the more fashionable, and still
there is another class who regard them
selves as el~eemosynaries Of the church, e1-
peoting large patronage, and IN tact the
furnishing Of many loaves and fishes. me
church is an organization having vital
parts whose beauty and glory is only seen
in the efficient, constant and regular opera
ton Of all her functions. The church IS
not to sit in Judgment alone and ~ronounc
sentence, but to observe the maynard and
guilty and then seek by word and llfa to
lead them back into the fold.
Who are the lost sheep? Every church
has them, every community and almost
every family. they are those who are not
in love and charity with their ~ne1ghbors,
not in fellowship with their brethren; those
living in open violation ct Coos law. some
are more intensely bewildered h others,
vet they are all in a lost condition. Our
accommodating terms are really synon-
yms Of lost. We say disaffected, cold, in
different, lukewarm, weak, wayward, &C.
centric, does not like the preacher or some
Of the members. All these belong to those
who are going IN the way Of the lost. Their
state is expressed in one word-lost. Rsa-
con lost. eyesight gone ears stopped. They
contrast their wrong with some ones else
and because they think it less Justify their
own sin.
1T is a poor apology for your defcien-
cies to say that you are as good as some :
BODY else. The assertion may be true; but
what does it amount to? Is there any CON-
fort or satisfaction in the thought that one
Of your fellow-creatures has been even
move recreant to duty than you? Your
business ia to offer a perfect service to
God"
Two wrongs do not make a right. They
are self concoited because they do belong
to the church and are respected. They ab-
Rent themselves from the services OF the
church. desist from the discharge OF those
duties SO essential to the development OF
Christian character and the progress of the
church. Ali are not Israel that are Of Is
rael. All do not possess the spirit OF the
Gospel who profess it. The Gospel is a
life rather than q SCIENCE" Some JOIN the
church who have no religion. are not seek
ing any, have a form but no power. Ihey
are in a state of decay-atrophy, deatn ana
ruin. Poo Jerusalem!
The duty of the church. III a brother
be overtaken in a fault, ye who are spirit
ual restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness." The strong must prepare the
way for the weak. Wherefore lift up the
hands which hang down, and the feeble
kU0e6; anu Wdk6 6GrdlkHb patuo lOI JOuE
feet lest that which is lame be turned out
of the way; but let it rather be healed"
Persistent effort is your duty. See how
Christ endeavored to save the Jews and
wept over the city. Through the purity,
simplicity and openness of your life
they are to become followers Of the
Lord Jesus. Paul says: And We became
followers of us, and of the Lord, having re-
ceiyed the word in much afaiotion, with
Joy of the Holy Ghost" You raise the cry,
. what is the matter with the church? Too
many lost sheep within her pales and sou
are to blame. How many of the wayH ard
have you tried to rescue this year? Simply
Aecause some one makes a mistake we are
hot to cast their names ont as evil, but We
are to gather them and Welcome them back
to the fold in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Self preservation is the first law of nature,
but we must know how best to preserve OUT
own life before VIC can act intelligently and
helpfully in saving others. The duty OF
the church is to save herself. How? BY
saving Others. The church that does no
soul saving, resoues no perishing, will
perish. This principle of philosophy is
recognized everywhere but in the church.
Assisting and providing for tho needy pre-
vents You from coming to want. Christ
did not come to the whole and those in the
fold, but to tho sick ind the lost. Brother,
you owe the world a good life and if you do
not pay the debt your life will be a failure.
> Lot our very first work be to save the lost
sheep Of the House of Israel.