The Washington times., 1894-10-15
CHRIST AND THE PEOPLE.
From the Lowly He Came and TO the Lowly
He Spoke and Thus They
Loved Him.

| From the text, .'And the common people
heard Him gladly Rev. A. G.. Rogers, of
the Church OF Our Father, Yesterday morn
ing drew forth a great lesson for all human
ity. He told how Christ came to the door Of
| Judea and how Christ will come to the poor
of America
| DR.. Rogers found his text in the twelfth
chapter of st. Mark. He introduced his sub
Iect by calling TO his peoples minds that great
painting, "shadow OF the Cross" and graph
icallY described the homely scene which that
portrayed. Il have suggested this" he said.
''for many reasons, but take one in particu-
lar as prelude to this discourse
II think the picture has done something to
represent the real'life of Jesus Christ Christ,
the carpenter, toiling at His avocaton. This
is the picture of Him that the people want to
consider.
Men who have most powerfully impressed
the world men who have done most to bring
about changes in the con dition OF affairs,
have come from the ranks
"Christ coming as He did from the lowly,
was received by the common people gladly
He ignores caste, and came to teach ali the
law of love and liberty. He had no special
respect for wealth, although He did not re-
sent ii.
Jesus preached not creed or cowl, but
| taught that religion consisted in the worship
! of God and the love Of man for man. No Won
! der that the people reioiced because of this
beautiful evidence of His humanitarian view.
| DIR. Rogers said he deprecated the mission
! work which should impress the common peo-
! pie with the view that the temples OF religion
| were not for them. The best in the land, he
| said, was, or should be. dedicated to the use
! OF every one rich or poor. He said he did
| not believe that ii was the common people
| who had cruciled Jesus. 1t was the hireliDgs
! OF the priests or of those in authorty-those
| paid to create the sentiment that led to Cal
vary. 1t originated from power higher than
| the common people.
what was the secret of the popularity OF
! Jesus Christi" asked DR.. Rogers in consid-
erinc another line Of thought in his argument
He used no tricks, he said, 'to gain ap-
! plause: He was not a demagogue: He did
not pander TO base prejudices. There was a
! time when the popular cry was, Make Him
! kingp But He rejected il. This chapter in
| the life OF Christ, said the speaker was the
most convincing OF His divinity"
Speaking of demagogues. and how Christ
was not one of these. DR.. Rogers said that the
workingman makes his mistakes in trusting
and obeving false leaders" The time will
| come. though. when wise ana honest leaders
will be found TO guide and direct the work
| ingman's path upward.
another element in the life of Christ was
| His sincerity. and because of this quality He
won men to him. The workingman's leader
must tabernacle with workingmen 10 be a
success among them.
Something else in His life, =" continued the
pastor, was his fearless Independence. He
spoke with power and authority. and the
| scribes wondered at il. With that independ-
| ence His self-control went hand in hand
/ "He trusted the people. and you can never
90 anything with the workingmeE. said DR..
| Rogers, until you trust them. His wonder
full sacrifice must have impressed them.
Christ taught that religion was not the
| means Of escape to another life, but the bear
ing of the burdens OF this existence. He
taught them the great truth OF Gods father
hood and Gods love. His was a message not
only to the poor OF Judea, but to the poor Of
/ America to-day.
He never talked to them as though they
We're of no account. In his eye the soul Of
the peasant was as valuable rs the souls of
| kings. He taught the great truth that religion
is valuable; that sonship is valuable; that we
are heirs together with our elder brother
This was the Gospel OF His Kingdom. reveal
ing the dignity of man ana the fatherhood OF
GOD. Can it be wondered that Christ was
popular?
Don't resist the incoming of Christ" said
DR.. Rogers in closing. 'Open the windows
Of the heart and He will come in and tGber-
nace there. Trust Him and believe that lie
| is the hope OF the age. Believe that His will
is being done somewhere and His will will
some day encircle everybody as the waters
encircle the earth.
NO wonder the common people loved
Him"