The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-17
WHAT THE SAVIOR DID AND SAID.

He Said Little and Did Mueh-A Lesson to
Modern WrsnEiers.
New York Press: Here are. some facts
that II may be we'll for those olsraymen
and laymsn TO ponder who are d this ssa-
son Of the year wrestling With the old yet
ever frssh problems presented BY non-at-
tendance upon church services. by the
gradual extinction Of ''down-town'' conRrs-
cations. and b. the steady lapas Of vast
portions OF the population into practical
hsathenism:
Jesus Christ did not organize any church
or dissemination. He did not einbo ate
n ersed. The only ritual that he an
thorixed was o prayer beginning Our
Father which art In heaven" He built, or
caused his disciples to build. no synagogue
or temple. He never preached from
a pulpit to occupants OF rented pews,
He made no other condition of
entrance into his spiritual family than per-
sonal faith in himself as the exponent Of
his Fathers will and love. He said: "He
said he that comsth uuto me l will in no
visa cast out" Ho male no special effort
70 enlist nnder his banner the "aIss
the patronage Of Jerusalem 400. He gave an
equal Welcome to blind Bartimens tho beg
gar. TO Simon the lepcr. to Mary MaRdalen.
ont of whom he had cast seven devils; to MIC
odemus, a ruler of the Jews, aud to Fac
chsus, the publican. He loved tho young
man who had great possessions and re-
buked those who wished him TO reject the
repentAnt love of the woman who had been
a sinner. When his disciples disputed
among themselves who should be the ereat-
est he sat u little child in the midst OF
them and said that whosoever did not re-
ceive the kingdom of heaven az n little
child should by NO means enter therein.
He spent q limited portion OF his time In
formal preaching. His longest recorded
discourses were shorter than an averags
prayer meeting lecture. and the whole bod
OF them, as contained in the four gospels
representing u ministry of three years, do
not equal in number of words the pulpit
productions of an ordinary passionate for
three weeks. How, then. did he spend his
time? We are not left in ignorance on this
head. He walked and talked with mon.
talking as he walked, teaching in the fields.
the market places, the mountain side, tho
seashore, In boats, on the sea; he sat at
meat in their homes and oonversed on
divine and human themes; he visited tho
afflicted, wept over the graves OF the dead,
told his disciples how to pray. and set them
the example.
He devoted q large portion of his time to
caring for the bodily wants of the people.
He healed their Diseases. He restored sight
to the blind, hearing to the deaf. and
speech to tho dumb. He fed the hungry.
He gave drink to the thirsty. He shared
In their festivities as III their Rriefs. His
first miracle was wrought TO grace a we'd
ding feast. u his last to restore a beloved
brother to his Borrowing sisters. He took
infants in his arms and blessed them.
Suppose the foregoing outline of Christ's
earthly ministry be compared. point by
point. with the average work OF Christian
pastorg and their churches to-day. Can
anybody truthfully affirm that tho oom-
parison leaves nothing to be desired?
Can anybody deny that the mod
ell has been departed from in
changed conditions render exact con-
formity impossible. the founder Of Christi
nnity possessed an authority. a power. and
. commission that are bestowed upon none
OF his followers. yet will it be soberly
asserted that these facts constitute a sufi-
greater than necessity compels? Surely, il
We are to believe that Jesus intended to
illustrate in grand scope nnd as to essen
tials the work that his gospel Was set to
accomplish upon earth. we must seek in the
OF his ministry the secret of his success.
We oonnos eopy the details, but it is ab.
surb, II IL false. ii is little less than bias
phemous to pretend that the leading princi-
pies which should guide the church to-day
are not to be learned from his perfect Ok.
ample.
II is instructive to note that even ske pti-
Diam bow in reverence before that sublime
career. John Stuart Mill declared that no
man could propose to himself a nobler OBJ
jeot than to make his W life suoh as Jesas
Christ would have approved. The Hottest
human intellscts are won by the a DRY of
the man OF Galilee. John Ruskin has said
that whosver will take tho precepts Of the
gospels, in their plain and literal meaning,
except such az on their face benr evidences
OF having been intended figurativsly, and
obey them he will be convinced that Jesus
was a teacher sent from God. The most
Inspiring religious. renaissance of our day,
in its effect upon the literary classes, owes
its origin TO Count Leo Tolstoi's absolute,
actual self-surrender to the teaching and
example of Jesus. taken in their 'strictest
sense. The fashionable church stands half
amazed. half incredulous. and wholly re-
buksd by the success of the Aviation army
in grasping with both hands a work thai
modern Scribos aud Phariseas have barely
touched with their little fingers.