St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-02

his calls to the SICK ana to funerals, TO
the attention of matters connected in
immediate ways with his parish, exhaust
his time and constantly encroach on the
time needed for consecutive work.
Imagine man who feels that his peO-
pie are of the opinion he is not doing his
duty by them because they think he
fails to give them the personal attention
they think they ought to have, and what
Is the effect on the man when he sits
down in the quietness of his study to
prepare for work when the faint echo
OF complaint is ringing in his ears, when
he feels no enjoyment of the
Sympathy of HIS Hearers
who think they know better how to do
it than he, who often stops with pain
at his heart, and question on his lips
as to what 1t is best to do, and what can
be done TO release this pressure ? Now
think of the man who takes his con-
gregatiOn with him into that study, who
teelS the touch of their hearts, who is
inspired by their hopes, who feels the
pathos of their burdens, who, taking the
great problems that all ponder, man.
fully grapples with them because he is
lighting their battles as we'll as his own;
then you will easily imagine the joy of
the worker, and the delight of the
audience when such relation is estab
liShed.
And this work of this pulpit must be
broad and comprehensive. AS the youth
Of our day spend much time in reading,
and as the great masters of literature
have dealt with the most profound and
far-reaching subjects it should be ex-
pected that every minister would have
encouragement to bring before his con-
gregatiOn the expositions of great books
in sermons. The public library and the
home circle should join him, the people
who are his friends should have his
companiOnShip with them in all that line
Of reading that embraces biography, tic-
ton and poetry; and together they
should consider the lives of the great
and good, the thoughts and fancies of
the gifted, and together in sympathy
they should make the whole intellectual
and moral endowment of the great and
the wise assist in the development of
life and conduct. OF the practical work
in charitable lines l have said so much
in recent times that my words may be
spared for this time, but Suffice the re-
mark that no church ever did or ever
will be strong without sacrifice on the
part of its constituency; that the strong
est churches are the ones that have de-
manded most of their constituency; that
the liberal church cannot follow the
methods of evangelicals in this; that it
must OF necessity have
A Method of Its own,
and that in the opinion of your pastor
the proper method is exactly the one
pursued by our kings Daughters"
who are silently and quietly giving this
church position it cannot have with
out such work.
or the intellectual problems. other
than the ones mentioned-the rising in
terest in occult subjects, the study of
man from the side OF abnormal mind
development, or higher senses. such as
Notwithstanding and allied sub
JectS-the liberal minister should be alb
SOiutely free, and his congregation
should and must encourage him to eX-
PLANTATION of these positions without de-
handing on his part dogmatc attitude
before the evidence is in Oh which to
form judgment. Now if the liberal
pulpit shall have these privileges it will
be the harbnger of brighter day; if
not the churches throughout the land
should disband, as we are constantly
advised to do; for if we are not wisely
progressive and practically helpful ]
cannot see any excuse for our existence.
l have in mind the vision of church
that L cannot think anybody would want
to see blotted out. Its intellectual attl-
tude would he broad. judicial, reYerent
1t would never think OF initiating other
bodies of similar character, and never
think of antagonizing them; but it
would build itself according to the
pattern and model indicated by its
fundamental ideas, and go on develop
ing according to the law of its growth.
Its freedom would be its charm, but its
glory would be i'll its practical work, for
it would be known in every humane in
stitution of the city. Its willing workers
would be in the newsboys' home. as our
young women are today; would be in
every hospital carrying fruit and flowers
to cheer by their presence, and, better
than all, words of love that would make
the sick and suffering rise up and call
us blessed. 1t would be found in every
good place. Its service would require
sacrifice, but the satisfaction that all
good people would feel when they con-
template the net result to the city, and
the influence on all around would ten
fold more thar pay for all the cost. We
may err in opinion, but cannot err III
good works wisely directed.