St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-07-15
WHY GO TO CHURCH,
Reasons Stated by Rev. j. w. Con-
ley at First Baptist.

ley at First Baptist.
Reasons for Going to Church. was
the subject on which Rev. J. W. Con-
ley preached at the First Baptist
church last evening, taking for his
text the words found in Hebrews X, p,
Not forsaking the assembling of your
selves together, as the manner of
some is
He remarked that much had been
said as to why people did not go to
church, but it was about time to ask
why people should go to church; and
yet, in order to get at the right mo-
tiVeS it was necessary to touch on
some of the misconceptions on the
subject which prevailed. One of these
was the idea of going to church to be
entertained, and while he did not be-
lieve there was any merit in making
the service unattractive entertain
ment was not the thing to be sought
after in church attendance Some at
tend for the purpose of keeping up ap-
pearanceS. They are surrounded by
those who go to church, and so they
do the same, ard the very motive that
takes them would deter them if they
were surrounded by persons with
whom church attendance was unpopu-
lar. Some go to see and to be seen,
and while the meeting with ones
friends is desirable and helpful, it is
not the main object of the church of
the living God to be a social club: and
added to those who attended with this
as their main object are those who go
to see the newest fashions. and to
have their own apparel noticed. Then
there are others who go to church from
the belief that their eternal salvation
depends upon their so doing Their
conception of church is that in some
way the grace of salvation is lodged
IN 1t and its services and ordinances
and If person is to be saved he must
be faithful to every requirement of
the church. No church on earth can
save man. Nothing but living faith
in living Saviour can do this; the
Almighty has never put the reservoir
of infinite grace into the hands of any
church.
But, turning to the motives that
ought to influence us in attending
caurch, the first is, that we may wor-
ship God. We may worship Him any
| where; wherever there is devoui
heart there is an altar We must moi
! make the mistake of supposing thai
worship depends upon place or form
! wherever heart has been touched
with infinite love, a soul struggling III
towards the good, a heart beset will
the fierceness of earth's temptations
and needing help; wherever the spiri
of the living God touches a human
heart, there true worship may b,
offered, for there the Lord is; but non,
the less is it true that God delights il
the united worship CT His people.
know there is a feeling on the part O
some that but little instruction cal
be gained from the pulpit of today; blu
if the pulpit were silenced, one of tn
most potent factors of education woult
be removed from the land. Many o
those who most severely criticise tn
church of today would be loud in thei
complaint if the churches were al
closed, but il not supported by tn
people they must of necessity close
| and still further, many a church wher
| the music is poor and the preachin,
not of the highest order would fin,
their music greatly improved if thos
| who could help would do so instead O
staying away, and the preacher woul,