St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-09
new environment of sweetness and

ncW cuFlIOHHleHl Vi SWccLDeSS anu
light.
Industrial rooms and kitchen gardens
become under this law the best method
OF teaching the gospel, for many man
would be open to lessons of purity and
hope IL he could find himself i'll fitting
conditions. But what have purity and
hope to do with brOken-dOwn shanty
and depraved and WaSteful household
economy? The one who carries tracts
and makes prayers perhaps does well,
but the one who teaches how to live
does better. Because in the economy
OF well ordered life prayer and faith
Will have opportunity to assert them
selves. The municipal duty is an inter
probation OF the divine law of fit sur
rOundlngs. There are quarters of our
own city that do not need so much the
visit Of city missionary as they need
to be swept out of existence and the in
habitants given a broader life. and so a
better hope. Every baby born in the
city, no matter OF what parentage, has
birthright OF fresh air, Il clean home,
good food, and proper education. I'M
less we see to these fundamental cOndi-
tons of good citizenship, how can we
complain of laWleSsneSs twenty years
hence? The social problem is funda-
mental. A well-educated, well-fed, we'll
clothed, Well-disciDlined man cannot
throw bombs. Dynamite belongs to the
hand of Indebtedness and rags. The
miracles OF manhood are impossible in
A Social Cspernaum.
There are also lessons here for the
development of chuch life. Some
places are much more dlfficalt for the
church than others. This has always
been so. Paul found it so in his mis-
si0nary Journeys. Jesus gave up Caper-
naum because it was an unfrultful soil.
In the early church life it was necessary
to come out from the world to such all
extent that the infant church became
often well nigh the basis of complete
community Ill itself. so poisonous was
the pagan life about the early believers.
So there are modern communities and
present conditions where the CONNER
cial, the secular, the selfish life is so
strong. that the churches are well nigh
para yZed in their efforts. viii we have
modern CapernaumS without sympathy
OIL faith, aud so without the miracles of
religious power? 1t is problem we III
st. Paul doweli to consider.
But every church ought to be within
itself such an environment of life and
warmth and faith as to work the mir
acle Of repentance in the hearts OF those
who enter Its doors. There are times in
the life of church when such Is the
magnetic life that whoever comes under
its influence, like Saul at Ramah, fain
must prophecy. The minister, | may be
pardoned for saying, often has moods
when he is very responsive to the char
acter of his church. He feels that he
would like TO be surrounded by a peO-
pie where the deyout habit was not irk
some. but
A Constant Joy.
He longs for the closing of their ranks
about him, so that he can feel the thrill
of their sustaining religious power. He
may not think he could under any con-
ditiohs have prophets power like to
that of an Isaiah or Ezekiel. hut he says
within himself, | 'could at least do as
we'll as great, huiking, stamnering Saul,
if found myself at Ramah, aid not
at Capernaum." In an art center every
one has a period of life with pencil or
chiseT or brush, though they never de-
come artists. In a university town, all
know somNhing of science or history or
philosophy. Near great libraries, one
must learn to read. The great spiritual
forces of the world have power of con-
tagion. When church has the silent
but potent eloauence of prayer and
faith. it wakes up some prophet in its
midst.
But must bid you remember that
there Is about us an environment of the
divine One which is constant and un-
chilled. 1t is possible for US each to
riset such a Lie that we may know
Him as the old prophet knew Him, and
listening to His voice we may find His
peace. Far above our surroundings of
good or i'll, OF ease or hardship that re-
lationShip can lift lis. Whatever be
our fullness or lack Of suitable oppor-
tunity for work in this world. it is still
and tile land that is very far off, '5's.'