New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-30
DIR. PARKHURST HEARD AGAIN
THE MADISON SQUARE PASTOR RESUMES
HIS PULPIT

ARE CHURCH SERVICES a PAYING INVESTMENT
HE AsKs-BUsINEss IS BUSINESS AND THE
LORDS BUSINESS is AS MUCH BUsI-
NESS As ANY ONE EIsE's
The Madison Square Presbyterian Church resumed
Its accustomed appearance yesterday morning when
DR.. Parkhurst. lnvlgorated by summer in Swiizer-
land occupied the pulpit for the first regular service
OF the church year The congregation overlooked
the seating capacity OF the church and filled the
steps and window seats in the galleries and the
standing room in the rear After the service many
Of the regular members Of the congregation went
forward greet the pastor Fifty per cent OF those
present. however had apparently never attended
the Madison Square Church before.
The text was: increasing in the knowledge or
God and strengthened with all might. according 10
his glorious power" (Colossans /, 10 and ID. The
sermon was. in part:
mate question Unproductive investments are poor
policy. whatever be the nature or type OF the IN
Vesimens. The beautiful or even heavenly quah.y
OF an effort viii never compensate for the failure 10
gain something by means OF the effort: Tnere
are. venture TO think few lines OF effort that have
less to show for II than prayerI.ess' s man -. ~
proportion to the time eNpended' IL y JUST ~
PRAYER means TO me so inucn that say tnat tne
evident poverty OF prayer effects indicates tha 10
miserably poor Investment We nave neard men
pray IN prayer meeting stately and chroncally,
emily grace. with nothing at the end of half gen
Grafton that was in the least degree symptomauc
Are the services that We are goins to hold here
these coming months going TO pay? How can they
ought 20 he rexpected to We'd? They viii have to
Weld good deal in order justify the services for
hard T cash 10 run church We are not saying that
ought TO get back ; per cent Of this In money
thing. Think. too. OF the time u takes 10 MAINTAIN
the services of such church Inc total attehaahGe
al the two services here morning and evening Is
about 300 Multiply that by the number OF SAB
baths and II makes a good deal OF a crowd. II rs
t%o two hours out Of the day FOR each attendant, Di
last years services return to US as mueh IN me ne
shape Of fruit II took out OF US in the shape OF
money u do anu an be 6ebii and credit columns in ex
actly this deliberate and calculating way but bus-
ness is business and the Lords business s as much
NJ business is 10 maintain inviolate the equation
between what is laid down and what IS recovered, =,
coming Year pay is for you ana to feel here to-
gether that IT ought to be made 70 pay; There are
liable to fall There is little probability that there
viii be a pew-purpose unless there is first pulpit
purpose If come here and preach and pray
simply because 1t happens be the day OF the week
when that of religious chore IS usually attended
to, a sort Of hometica and devotional chime WOUND
up to ring when the new week comes In. then ! can
have no righteous reason for supposing that there
will be any more conpactness or intention on me
part OF those who happen to be standing around
while the chime is being pealed But granting ne
which und lbtedly. the people are generous sharers
me pulpit anu lhc SdlCtui , ooS.'. -. g. 49,
themselves with reference TO the hunger mat Is IN
mems souls with reference 10 the itching that Is
in their ears. That does not mean TO Ignore that
element Of relish which plays the same important
part in the reception OF truth that II does in the re-
ception of food. But in the one case there IS
seasoning for the sake OF the seasoning, in the
other case is scnsatiOnalism for the sake OF
the sensation. and the effect in both cases is to
deaden the incpient to the nutritve intentions OF
the entire performance
Nor is the object OF the sanctuary TO make
scholars or to make thinkers. We address the mind
here. but not for the minds sake Schoasticism and
intellectualism in the pulpit unhOly devils that
merit nothing but exorcsm Undoubtedly thought
is the avenue through which we have to move, and
brain Is souls front door But In the ultimate our
goal of approach is that deeper and more command
Ing spot which underlies our sensibty to the beau
tiful, or even the true; the spot from which pro-
coed moral determinations. That Is the true
meaning OF the sanctuary, and not only to reach
inner holy OF holes OF our being. but to draw
that soul hat is in the man and the great Father
sou in whose temple assemble so into rela ton
with each other that they shall touch. That is what
the sanctuary means. and that is what-God helping
us-ths sanctuary shall mean more and more