Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-06-07
The Relation Of tse lnrch 10 Pol
itics and the 0uestIc of ths Day.
TEXT SIS Len 1Gd under-
Fstanding Of tie fimes to kssO schat
Israel ought to do." ~ Chron. G.
I2, 2. SO.
Reported for the lseeeen.l

AinS Dostu was SathcEinS al
army to go with him TO fight against
Saul. Each tribe sent its addition
to the army, and from Issachar
there came only two hundred men,
but they are spoken Of as "men that
had understanding of the times to
know what Israel ought to do" The
Christian Israel needs just such
men to-day. 1t is high time the
pulpits Of our land were mp and do
ing.
But some one will ask What has
the pulpit to do with the questions
of the day? Is the pulpit the place
for political speeches, or the labor
questions, or any Of the other great
issues that are moving the country
to-day? To this latter question i
must give a most emphatic no !!
God forbid our pulpits should ever
be put to such use. But, on the
other hand, when you ask-what has
the pulpit to do with such questions !?
II answer-It has much to do.
Without 3 doubt the main theme
and duty of the pulpit is to preach
the Gospel Of Jesus Christ, but it
is sad fact that. the pulpit is SO
often silent on questions of great
Importance. Understand me, am
not in the least fayorlng the mod
ern style Of sensational preaching.
It takes truth to convict and
convince, and this century, this
country, this county needs men
who are not afraid to speak
the truth. The minister who is
afraid to speak the truth, because
he fears to hurt somebody's feel
ings, or perhaps say something
against the business Of his congre-
gation-mark you, I say afraid to
speak the truth-that man is a cow
ard. We read in the text that Is
sachar sent to Davids army "men
that had understanding of the times
to know what Israel bught to do. "
We need such men to-day. This
American nation needs an uprising
of men-n'en, not cranks or fanat-
les, but men that have understand
ing of the times. There are too
many of us in the church who know
that wrong openly exists in our
midst, and yet we shut our eyes, our
ears, our mouths, and never lift a
finger for reform.
You may talk All you choose
about the need Of this great Ameri.
can nation, of her ieeded reforms,
of her crying evils, Of her corrupt
politics and governsent, but there
is something much nearer home
than any of them f}r us to study.
As well as studying the universal
fneeds, let rs gct1aittle understand.
ing of the times ii !. Mary's coun.
Ity. / believe thert are many who
would willingly give both time and
money to any mosenent that might
appear big and shot large results,
but we must b satisfied with the
beginning even ifItis small. This
longing and desire for greatness ID
the thief that stepsEn and robs us
of accomplishments
| As Christians WI have task to
fulfill. As citizensFe have a duty
to perform. We dp't move Con.
gress, or frame thE Nations laws,
but we can do bettsf-understand
the times. We cai. fn the light Of
this knowledge, pute( understand.
ling into action. We can by the
very power Of q pun manoood, BY
our influence and ttions and on,
character, elevate lie morality ol
our neighborhood aid trample I'M
der foot vices and cpfrupt practices
IT that appear before pur very eyes
= If there 10 one fling man has I,
learn, il is the reJslon Of himsel
e. ~. ~..ss ~ unSnt&9 uol