The Portland daily press., 1895-09-30
CHURCH EVOLUTION.
Rev. MI. Hallock at First Baptist Church
Yesterday

Rev. Mr.. Hallock of Tacoma, formerly
pastor of the Williston church in this
city, filled the First Baptist pulpit yester-
day morning. There was large congre-
cation in attendance.
Mr.. Hallock's subject was Evolution as
applied to the church He illustrated his
subject most aptly and gave much food
for thought. He began by describing the
evolution of fine trotting horse from
an unpromising appearing colt. Inc colt
is unaware of what he is capable, but in
the trainers hands through proper iced
ing, exercise and instruction he developes
into king of the turf. This is possible
because of the life and capacity for i'm
provement in him. 1t is so with the in
dividual. By the process of training and
education he is bred from a creature of
little knowledge of the Bible and the
world to high plane of life. There are
many horses of little value. and there are
also many individuals of little capacity
for improvements, but where the divine
spirit exists it should be cultivated and
fostered until it reaches its highest de-
yelopment So, on this line OF argument
there are very many poor little churches,
but from the divine spark in them the
Lord is evolving high conception of
life But in order to accomplish this the
germ life must be in the church. You
may have great society organized, and
a fine church edifce, but if this divine
germ life is wanting the candle is finally
distinguished and the church dies a
pauper death. This germ life is the
fundamental principle from which to
evolve divine church.
The preacher then went on to show how.
political organizations of the higher type
are necessary to develop the best govern
ment. The church can do much to purify
political affairs; it has weighty respon-
sibliity in regard to the making Of good
citizenship. But it demeans itself when
it descends to the methods of the
politician. Huxly has said you cannot
cross the species. and this is true in the
church as elsewhere.
Church development tends to better
architecture, better music, higher society,
but it obtains these things by indirection
In order to develop the church we must
first learn what is the real life germ of
that church, or the light implanted in its
heart Then when the germ has been.
fully developed in the future, when it has
reached the very acme of its evolution,
what shall we find? We shall take from
the crucible human soul, in substance,
feature and spirit; second Christ pre-
pared to take his place on the throne of
the Father. The churches then must not
be satisfied without the highest develop
ment: their hearts must be the heart of
Christ
The speaker In illustration referred to
Ruskin's description of the building of
the great cathedral, the stagings up, the
floor and surroundings Uttered with
rubbish But when the rubbish was re-
moved, and the stagings taken down, the
beautiful ceiling with it's wonderful
paintings, and the noble proportions of
the edifice, with it's rare tracing and
beautiful columns stood revealed. So
with the inner life of the church. He also
spoke of the power needed to cause the
church to stem every storm and move
with celebrity, and referred to the Great
Eastern which, with all it's size was
sluggish and failure because Of the
lack of steam power. This lack discovered
afterward has enabled vessels of her size
to prove great succes ses.