Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-06-06

was changed into caress.
believe sincerely that God means us
to do in his church anything that will
help to bring His people out of an
atmosphere which is antagonistic TO
Christianity. Bad reading, bad people,
and bad entertainments are all antagon-
istic TO Christianity. If the youth of
our churches who. because of separa-
ton from home or the death of parents,
are without tho advantages of high
home.culture, IL becomes the mission of
the church TO serve as home. The
parks, the theatre and the saloons are
open TO them every night. Surely the
4 church should not be less hospitable. II
the young people of our churches have
a taste for sensational and obscene
literature, or coarse entertainments, it
becomes the mission OF the church
to furnish them with entertaipment
reading that is refined and elevating.
To know, rs result Of pernicious read
ing, of the young men who with pois-
oned brains sleep with revovers under
their pillows; the frenzied air.castles of
runaway sons; the loVe-vows made and
broken; the marriage relationships vio-
lated; in a story of bitterness and woe.
If the young people Of our churches
have had the misfortune to form IN
fortunate social relationships, it becomes
the mission of the church to give oppoi-
tunity for association with people Of
culture-whether the need be a physical,
social, a moral, an intellectual or a
spiritual need. it is the mission of the
church 10 meet that need. God did not
create the spiritual needs in man; and
nj
intellectual needs. God created all of
these needs. 1t is only by high de-
velopment of the whole nature that man
is able to do a great work for God. Slug
gish circulation and dyspepsia, create
pessmis:s and misanthropcs.
A sound physique is capable of more
energy, more self-denial, more endur-
ance. True social grace is sympathetic
needs; ready to relieves; ever forgetful
of self and thoughtful of others. High
intellectual culture develops that ac-
curacy of reason and keenness of dis.
elimination and judgment which enables
us more CLEARLY to perceive cur relations
to God and man, and our corresponding
| obligations. If then, u strong physical
| organism renders us capable OF more
us more sympathetic, aud il intellectual
culture helps us TO a more accurate
| conception of our obligations to God and
our fellow-men; the use which man
makes of his physical, social, moral and
intellectual being is inseparable with
Christian living. Faithful effort for
others, loving sympathy and consclen-
| tious judgment are all Christian quail.
l,rNs IS 4,
ties that formed the character of Christ.
The question which specially con-
Germs us tonight is "A Broader Chris
tian Work for the Delaware Avenue
Baptist Church and How TO Do It,"
From time to time there has been in our
church young men who have desired to
go to college but have been obliged to
abandon such desires because of lack
OF means. some Of these young men
the church has been able to help; but
such an expense is not only drain
upon the church but, ten years of con-
tinuous study upon such scanty means
is tremendous draid upon the lth
and strength OF the student The average
ministerial student at the end of his
course is better fit for the sanitarium
than the trials and responsibilities of
pastorate. If there are any young men
or young women in our church who
would like to study French, German,
Latin, Greek or Hebrew, Mr.. Mailing
will be pleased to teach them without
charge. II there are any boys or girls
who wish TO study instrumental music,
elocution or English literature, it will
be pleasure to me to give such in
struction. Mrs. Shakespeare will teach
dressmaking, Mr.. Link. freehand draw
ing and Mr.. Appleby parliamentary
law. Who knows but that the Tommies
and Johnnies of the Delaware Avenue
Baptist Church will be our future pres-
dents of the United States. But a knowl-
edge of parliamentary law is Of value to
| church as well as to State. A thorough
knowledge and practice of parlia-
mentary law is necessary to good
church differing,
Another thing which we very much
need is class in kindergarten. If there
are any mothers in the church who can
not afford to send their little ones to
kindergarten, the church can do them
no truer service tnan by making pro-
| vision for such instruction. / believe
that so far as necessary and possible the
church should educate. AS result its
boys make better husbands, better
fathers, better citizens Its girls make
better sisters, better wives and better
mothers. Another important course is
that of civil government. When we
contemplate the corruption of our
politics, and the ignorance with which
the masses of our men cast their votes
we realize tho value of such d course.
If our churches want for their presidents,
governors and mayors, Christian men,
they will do we'll to instruct in civil
| government.
If You or have had opportunities or
advantages which because of peculiar
misfortune, lack of time or lack of
money others have not bad, we can
show our gratitude to God and our
sympathy for our fellow-men in no
truer way than by giving out
these blessings. This is exactly what
Christ would do. His sympathy for
mankind was no mere sentimentality
that evaporatod into nOthingness. 1t
was the sympathy that discovered
needs and relieved them by personal
effort and sacrifice. Christ was man
of activity. | never have heard of an
instance where Christ WIS seen painting
picture, but feel sure that If by such
efforts He could have brought young
men and women away of Il degenerating
influence into one that was Christian,
or could have made art or music o
means for relief of the poor and sick
He would have done both. Perhaps He
did and His biographers because of a lack
of space do not give such detailed
account of His movements.
Whether He did or did not, believe