St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-04-25
MINNEAPOLIS,
DUTIES OF THE CHURCH.
Rev. william Wilkinson Severely
Arraigns Purse-Proud Chris

Arraigns Purse-Proud Chris
tians.
In his sermon last night, IN ST. An
drew's church, the rector spoke
some wholesome truths, which have
been long seen with sorrow by obsery-
ant religious men. The text was: $50
ana work in my vineyard" The
preacher said:
There appears IN all organizations Of
men for religious work sad tendency
10 make a part Of our known duty take
the place Of the whole, and that part to
consist IN those exercises which are
most pleasant, OF, at least, those
which do not call for sacriiic c.
This principle 1t Is which has come into
almost universal operation In making
what men are pleased TO call the service
Of God, 20 consist in gong 10 some place
Of worship once, or some cases twice, on
a Sunday; repeating a creed, singing
few hymns and listening 10 an expert
and graceful talkcr tell the beauty OF
goodness and the reward OF righteous
ness. The more Of reStful hope the
sermon has in il, as rule, the more
popular IL will be. All this looks well
to persons who do not see below
the surface. IL does give club adj
yautages TO social pilgrims who are
anxious 10 Introduce their sons and
manageable daughters into what the
irony Of circumstances calls good so
ciety. But il is not decent caricature
Of the life Christian people ought TO
live. Docs any man Of sense believe
that there is "A King Of all worlds. Lord
Of glory and giver OF grace who Is
pleased To accept such useless senti-
mental service as this? If WE want TO
see what its effect has been, all
we have to do is TO look round.
have little book. given to me by one
Of the Judges OF our supreme court,
which gives picture OF HE IN Chicago,
such as cannot be reproduced here now,
but one which makes man, who loves
the name America, or the word Chris
tan. hang his head I'm respondent
shame. When ] look at home, at this
fair city, blessed with advantages OF
geographical location and surrounded
by tributary wealth, such asthe Garden
Of Eden never knew, ! see state OF
hings which proves that the occupation
missionary need not become obsolete
have gone every week TO our police
court and looked upon wrecked man
hood, ruined womanhOOd, blighted hopes
prayed with these people. known their
lives; and ! say now religion OF creed,
divorced from such living presenta-
ton of Christianity as Christ impcra-
lively insists upon, Is TO blame for mach
OF the sin and sorrow we see around us.
Look at our sister city, ST. Paul. 81
dwell amongst my own people" and 80
do not. Of MY own personal knowledge.
know how the city is governed. was
up there last week, and was not shot,
nor did | suffer from 1.-THE peslilence
which walkeGh in darkness" but
we have had one of the most
terrible documents ever given by any
great party presented TO the public
last week. 1t is a manifesto which
proves, if 1t prove anything, that the
maxims Of St. Paul the apostle are not
in operation in the official household OF
that city. Look at society in what Is
not generally thought to be fallen
classes. ! speak with dellberatlon and
make due. just, liberal allowance for,
and pay honor to the many rich people
who are trying 10 bless men with their
wealth. who believe money has re-
sponsibilties not made by law, but
enforced by love. But, on the other
hand. look at the rich who are rich
only in cash. who are machines
for gathering money, who fiaunt
their wealth in vulgar parade;
who, within bowshot OF poverty
which IS glad to hide itself from public
gaze, display an ostentatiOn which puts
the trappings OF Oriental kings to
shame. is there any wonder that the
poor, often led by designing dema
gogues, when, in lucid words. they have
all this pointed out TO them, grow rest
i've and even obstreperous. know well,
every intelligent man knows, we cannot
make men equal any more than we can
give every man brains of like power |
know we cannot make all men equal in
moral things in day. Yet the truth
remains firm as the pyramids Of Egypt,
the truth that society is not as
Christ intends it TO be, nor as 1t IS In
the power OF the church TO make 1t. The
world has heard the gospel OF words
long enough. Let it now have along
with it a gospel of deeds.