The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-11-16
MUST LEAD OR Be LED.
THE CHURCH'S ALTERNA-
TIVE IN THE PRESENT
GREAT CRISIS.

Rev. Thomas Dixon, 1r., breaches
on 1.-The Call Of the Hour" the
Last Sermon In the Series on
1.-The Coming Revolution" Ad-
vice TO Workingmen.
The following is the fifth and last
sermon of Rev. Thomas Dixon, il,
of the series on The Coming Revo-
Iution.'' The specific subject was
1.-The Call of the Hour lie main
tanned that the hour was one of tram
scendant importance to all who love
truth and right and live for that hu-
manitv which is broader than self. He
appealed to the politician to be a
patriot and hasten to adjust the state
and its laws to the crying needs Of the
people. lie appealed to the rich to
consider the duty and responsibility to
God and society, confirmed by their
great power, and urged that they lead
in social reforms, and thus best con-
serve their own true interests and the
interests of the whole.
He cOunselcd the restless masses OF
working people to frown on all forms
of violence and put cut of their organ
izatiOns all such advocates, perfect
their organization, local and national.
and to work and vote as unit. lie
appealed to the conservative to hear
with open heart and fair mind the cry
for new life in society. The church,
he declared, has been given the oppor-
tunity Of the ages i'll this crlsl, aud
save the movement or be slain by It,.
The text chosen was from Matthew iX,
81, THE harvest truly is pleEtcouS,
but the laborcrs are few
This text has been usually inter
preted as meaning the call for more
laborers in the foreign missions field
and the evangelistic departments of
our home work.
We need above all things to-day an
enlarged conception of the work and
mission of Jesus Christ and OF his
church. The very next sentence in
the context is the contradiction III so
many words of such a narrow view OF
the truth set forth in this lament OF
Christ.
Listen: And he called unto him
his II disciples and gave them author
ity over unclean spirits, to cast them
out and to heal all manner of disease
and all manner of sickness.
This he did Immediately upon his
observation of the great call OF
the harvest. He sent his discl-
pies forth upon a work of radical
reform and physical ministering. Jesus
recognized the sanctity of the body
He recognized the breadth of the king
dom he came to establish to be no less
than the saving of the whole world
man in his entire relations and from
every i'll at last that brings pain anC
tears and death.
DAYS THAT TELL ON TIE AGES.
Well might Phillips Brooks say tha
he envied the babe born this day the
privilege of living the next so years
1t is a divine privilege to live in any
day.
But there are days that tell on thu
ages.
And this is one of them.
To live. TO think, to act to-day is tC
touch the hands of centuries that reacl
out to us from the past and join hand:
with ages that sweep out before US.
1t is an age on ages telling
To be living is sublime.
The under masses of the world are
moved by 4 mighty impulse pressing
them upward. On their backs are
piled the majestic structure ofeonserva
tive civilization. This Samson cannot bt
held down Shall he rise i'll blindnes:
and wrath and pull down OH his OWL
head the giant columns he has helped
to rear? Or will some kindly teacher
take him by the hand and lead anC
help to the higher life that now throb:
within. This is the burning problem
of the hour.
As vet that kindly hand has not beer
extended to lead. So far from it. th,
powers that might teach and lead seen
smitten with blindness themselves anI
strike i'll anger at this disturber Of thei
peace.
The issues at stake in the. contiic
thus threatened are worldwide in thei
significance and involve the funda
mentals of social organization.
1t is an hour of solemn import t,
the race. 1t is an hour that calls FOL
the earnest thought and loving sacri
flee of every man who believes il
truth and right and his fellow man.
THE STATE \ DIVINE INSTITUTION
First-It is trumpet call to tn
patriot. 1t is au hour when the poll
tician is urged to every consideration
of personal advancement and by ever,
motive of lofty craftsmanship to hastel
the adjustment of the State to tn
needs of the people.
l believe that the State is a diyin
institution. More. believe that tn
modern State presents to us to-day tn
ever expanding outlines of the king
dom of God" which Jesus Christ sal
he came to establish upon this earth
1t is impossible for those who are il
power to resist this divine work o
protecting and saving the people. H
who resists will surely be destroyed
On whomsoever this stone falls h
shall surely be ground to powder,
SO said Jesus.