The record-union., 1893-11-06
PURPOSE OF TIE CHURCH.
Its Past, Present and Future Consid-
cred.
Rev. II J. Horner Discourses on Uni
tarianism In This City-He Then
Resigns His Position.

day and night shall they not be closed"
Isaiah TX, IL.
After tracing the evolutionary develop
ment of the church, showing that the first
idea was a house for God to dwell in,
then in addition to that place to hold
communion with him in. and lastly a
haven of sure protection from the woes
of hell, Mr.. Horner said that during the
past fifty years a new conception of the
purpose of the church has been growing
up, as different from those held in the
past as day is different from night This
new idea can best be made known by
speaking first Of what it is not, and then
of what it is.
First, it is not a house of God, in the
sense that it is place for Him to dwell
In, because God is omnipresent.
Second, it is not a place 10 hold commU-
nion with him in, in the sense that it is
the only place, because God is ready at
all times and in all places to commune
with the open soul.
Nor. third, is it the vestibule Iot the
orthodox heaven, nor has membership in
it anything TO do with ones heaven or
hell.
What, then, is the modern-perhaps [
church? 1t is an idea that appeals in no
way to the selfish nature Of man. The
old idea that he who gives to the house OF
God viii get his money back again some
other way with interest (as l have heard
at stated at evangelical dedications) is
with Us an idea too small 10 be enter
tained for moment.
The church to-day, and by that I mean
the most liberal Interpretation of the
church idea, is voluntary association OF
men and women who unite themselves
together, not so much for what they can
get from such association, but for what
they by their united effort can give to the
world Of their own soul life and by so
doing make the world brighter, cleaner
and better The idea that the church is
Gods house takes on a new meaning
not because he is to be found there only,
but because man mas set ii aside to be
used for his purposes: 4. e, man at last
recognizes that the upselfish promptings
of his own soul life are in harmony with
Gods life, hence he dedicates the church
to those purposes. The idea of the pur-
pose OF the church is them to aid in bring
ing more soul life into the world. In so
far as worship is an aid to that end,
worship is still a part of the purpose
of a church, and always will remain so to
lift lthe human soul above the world
into communion with the over soul.
In so far as the church is dedicated to
Gods purposes it is the vestibule of
heaven, but the conception of heaven is
changed to an attitude of mind and heart
in harmony with God here and now. 1t
ought certainly to be an aid to ones eff
forts in getting into a more harmonious
attitude toward God to meet together
with those who by common worship are
striving to realize God in their own lives.
It ought to be benefit to every selfish,
hna to -lry-o i,-it
Jesus looks out upon him from the eyes
of those around, and where the feelings
of sympathy and love are being shed
abroad from soul to soul. The ice of MS
own nature should be melted by the
genial warmth of such an atmosphere.
knowledge of what will aid the soul in
it's efforts to get into harmony with God
should be the burden Of the pulpit's min
istrations.
In fact, the sole aim and purpose of the
church is coming to be looked upon as an
expression of the unselhsh side of life.
Naturally, those who join in its work are
those whose lives have surplus of gen.
erosity to spare for the world over and
above the needs of their everyday exist
ence. There is but one sense in which it
can be said that this idea of the church
can appeal to ones self-interest, and that
is when one realizes that the unseltiSh-
ness of others will aid him in becoming
wnat he knows he is not. This is a kind
of self-interest that can hardly be called
SelfishneSs.
Such people never complain when the
sermon fits them closely. Knowing
their own weaknesses they are thankful
to be spurred into an effort to get away
from themselves and their own petty
narrowness. This is the spirit of teach
ableness Jesus had in mind when he
said. UNLESS ye become as little children
ye cannot enter into the kingdom Of
heaven" One thing sure-the kingdom
of heaven will never come into the life of
the man who squares himself IN his pew
with an expression which says, II am
here now, move me if you CAM
The pleasure that one should find in a
church should be of the nature of that
which always follows an unselfsh act.
This is a higher kind of pleasure than
that which one enjoys who goes to church
to be amused or entertained by the intel
lectual stimulus which his mind gets
from the literary quality of the sermon.
The purpose of the church, then, being
the expression of the unselfish side OF
life, it follows that its building or house
should be constructed with that end in
view. For purposes of soul development
in those who are undeveloped, it should
appeal to every sense of the soul. 1t
should appeal to ones loftiest ideals OF
beauty; art and music should md there
their highest expression. 1t should COM
mand ones sense of reverence for things
designed for holy purpose. It should
be the headquarters of philanthropy,
where the wisest kinds OF charity are
practiced and taught.
Culture should flow from it like water
from a fountain, clubs and classes of all
kinds that tend to bring out the highest
qualities of the mind and heart should be
continually going and coming through
its portals. The library and the reading
room naturally belong to il. The drama,
as means 10 moral and religious teach
ings, should not be lost sight of.
All questions of reform or of social or
national interest should there find a free
platform for discussion.
In fact, the church OF the future growing
out of the tendency of the present, will be
q lighthouse shedding its rays down
through every avenue along which the
soul of man must travel in pursuit of its
inheritance as child of God. He who
would use it to advance his own selfish
ends, aside from the good Of all, is un-
worthy the name man, much less the
title "Child of God" With this idea in
view, believing that the time has come
when it will no longer be of benefit to the
cause Of UnitariaDiSm for me TO remain
in Sacramento, and having the success of
the cause most at heart, have sent a letter
to the chairman of the society, certifying
that it is nay wish to have my ministry
here close with the end of the present
year in the hope that some other minister
may be found to take the work where l
leave off and carry it on to complete
success.
1 believe it the duty of ever minister,
just as soon as he sees that he has reached
the limit of his usefulness in any charge,
to resign 1T into other hands. With sin
cere regret / have come to that conclusion
as to my work here, but the conclusion is
deliberate, and hope will not injure the
society in the future.
The interest OF the membership should