The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-12-17

dogma, you cannot deny the existing
facts. Virtue, piety and benevolence con-
stItute heaven, here. Vice, blasphemy
and malevolence constitute hell, here.
Physical and sanitary cleanliness are
necessary to physical life and comfort.
Moral and spiritual cleanliness are neces-
sary to the highest pleasure. The one
stairway leads down TO the sewers--the
other leads up to the stars. There is no
escaping these truths. and there is no
avoiding the two conditions to which
they point in the future, if there be any
future. There is no way of escaping these
truths but by making man a mere ami
maI-and not many are willing to con-
less that they are mere animals. We are
not content to wait for heaven till after
death when we may enjoy it largely now.
we DO not need to 60 to Dante for de-
scriptions Of the goal of sin when we can
see it in the slums.n
'In New York, as in other large cities.
there are wealthy congregations whose
members move in the higher circles OF
society, and where the membership
moves the minister moves also" says the
New York Observer (Pres.). Indeed,
we have heard it asserted that society-we
mean society in the exclusive sense
needs the refreshing influences of its
clergy in order to keep it within bounds.
is in demand III social life, and in some
instances no doubt is a good deal Of a So
clety man. He has no qualms of con-
science about all of this Why should
he? The Son of Man came eating and
drinking. and only the narrow Pharisaic
mind saw harm III this, and called him a
gluttonous man and Wine bibber. How
can the minister gain the needed in
tluence over his people unless he meets
them IN their homes and sees them is social
life? But however just this line of sugges-
ton, we cannot refrain from pointing out
that the minister's best work is not
likely to be performed here. The mission
of the minister of the Gospel is pro-
claimed by Christ, in the words which he
read i'll the book of the Esaias: The
spirit OF the Lord is upon me, because he
hath anointed me to preach the Gospel
to the poor: he hath sent me to heal the
broken-hearted, to preach deliVerance to
the caDtlVes, and recovering of sight to
the blind; 10 set at liberty them that are
bruised, to preach the acceptable year of
the Lord True, Christ went to the feast,
but even there His work of mercy went
on, for the sinner found a place at His
feet, and bathing those feet with her tears
of contritiOn, and wiping them with her
hair, she fingered till the words of for
glveness were uttered which filed her
soul with peace and joy. Such scenes do
not occur at the teaSts Of to-day. There
IS no such strange mingling Of the classes
with the masses. Lazarus and Dives
may cast their ballot in the same box
for are not all men free and equal ?-but
Lazarus must not even cucumber the
sidewalk around the gate of the mansion
in which there is the sound of revelry by
night"
sit is Gods plan to send forth apostles,
missionary light bearers, sympathizing
helpers. to do this work" says the Cum
berland PreS6y eFidR of Nashville, Tenn.
us woman as well as man to have a
share in it? The Cumberland Freshly
terrain Church has already answered this
question in the affirmative by sending to
Japan and Mexico number of conse-
Grated women as Gospel messengers and
teachers. Since these have proved a
blessing to the church and the people for
whom they have labored the queS-
ton naturally arises, Should we not
encourage such workers at home?
Are there not among us women without
households to look after and who do not
feel that they are called to the foreign
work, who could do good service as gos-
pei helpers and teachers in the home
field? There can be no doubt that women
as well as men are to have part in carry
ing out ChriSt'S commission. The Spirit
is poured out on the daughters as well as
the sons. and they also are to prOphesy.
Who will say that women may not
live as close to God as men and be
as truly called to work for Him?
Woman may not be called to the
same ministry as men, but who will
say that she has no ministry? Would 1t
not be well for the Cumberland Presby-
terrain Church 10 fall into line with other
leading Protestant churches of America
in reviving the Scriptural Office OF
deaconess 2"