The record-union., 1896-09-14
On 1.-THE BATTLE OF LIFE. .
The Contest Between Good and Evil, Sin
and the Church.
thoughts Advanced by Rev. G. L.
Mel Last Night at St.
Paups Church.

There was large congregation pres
ent at st. PauPs Church yesterday
morning and evening to listen to the
sermons OF Rev. G. L. Mel, who preach
cd an eloquent and practical sermon In
the morning on the text, "Our Father.
Last night Mr.. Mel continued his SUD-
3ect of the preceding Sunday and spoke
OF The Battle of Life" from ReVela-
lions xii, II: "And the dragon was
Wroth with the woman and went 70
make war with the remnant OF her
seed, which keep the commandments
Of God and have the testimony Of Jesus
Christ"
The speaker began by asking: How
goes the battle? How sways the strl1e
between good and evil between sin and
the church? To which side does the
victory incline? In answering this
question Mr.. Mel first touched upon
the advance made in civilization since
the birth of Christ, and particularly in
modes Of civil government. Mental
rather than physical force is beginning
to control governments. Ser timent is
becoming a political power. Nations
deal with each other very differently
than of old They take higher views of
their Internationally. They occupy
higher ground. Within the present CEN
tury these higher views have several
times prevented wars. This advance
was illustrated by reference to the three
great wars of the United States. In the
revolution the issue was the liberty of
the nation. In the war OF 1917 the
issue was the liberty of the individual,
a higher issue, and in the rebellion the
issue was the liberty of the slave-in
other words, of the laborer, a higher
issue still A greater advance was seen
in the disposition to arbitrate interna-
tional differences. Sentiment in favor
OF arbitration had grown apace since
the court of Geneva. The recent Sa-
moan and Venezuelan difficulties are
instances in point. Great advance had
been made since Constantine's time in
civil, commercial and social reforms.
This advance had been very rapid with
in the present century.
Some people were disposed to think
that compared with all this growth
there had been but little progress in re-
ligion. This is mistake. In religion,
as in other fields of life, can be seen
the triumph of noble over base feelings.
Tn the history of religion are many
dark, repulsive pictures. At times re-
hgion has been made a masquerade, a
comedy Of errors, a tragedy. Force has
had its place in religion as elsewhere.
The demon of force has sometimes pos
sessed the church and woe and suffer
ing unutterable have resulted. But the
day of force in religion has set forever.
The church is better to-day than she
ever was. Her banners are more stead
ily unhinchingly set Forwards. She
advances toward victory.
A sharp distinction was drawn by
the preacher between the spirit of re-
Lgion, the justice and beneficence of
Christianity and the means, the ma
chinery by which men had sought to
exert this spirit. The spirit Of Christ
had oftentimes been thwarted by the
institutions of religion. Forms, doc
trines, ceremonies, even the Bible itself,
had been made barriers between man
and his Maker. Mr.. Mel said: II am
glad to see much of the old Institutional
ism falling into decay. Such decay is
the herald and steward of renewed and
reformed life" This new life has al
ready appeared. It has come to birth.
The novels, plays, periodicals and jour-
nails of our day give proof of it. More
than ever are the subjects treated by
the novelist, playwright and journal
ist distinctly religious subjects. The
church is studying the needs of men and
trying to meet them. Men are begin
ming to ask, Can the religion of Jesus
Christ solve or help our difficultieS?' p
Socialism is becoming Christian social
ism in our universities, our lodges, and
our fields, factories and shops. 1t is
coming to be realized that religion
means more than anything else love and
duty to God, and that the only way
to live and serve God Is to love and
serve men, Gods children.
The part science had played and is
playing to-day in broadening the ideas
of men, and especially Of the pulpit,
was next touched upon. The scientific
world of to-day has a conscience and
that conscience is attuned to the great
truths of theology and morality as
taught by Jesus Christ. Science is seek
ing and has found much of the truth.
Whatever truth she finds she accepts.
Sociologists are beginning to realize
that there is nothing better than the
gospel of Christ The ultimate test of
Christianity will be character. When
Jesus Christ shall judge the quick and
dead He will not ask, What do you
believe? What church or sect did you
belong to? Were you high, or low, or
broad?" He himself tells us what the
test questions will be. You can find
His words in the twentyfifth chapter
OF st. Matthew: What have you done;
how have you dealt by your fellow
men? AS you have dealt by them, SO
have you dealt by me-" And it is just
this fraternal feeling that Is fast grow
gr1 thank God in the churches eyery-
where The good fight of faith is wag-
ing. Nearer and nearer draws the VIC
tory. Nearer and nearer the day when
the last enemy shall have been driven
from the battlefield, and when the VIC
torious standard of human brotherhood
shall be raised to float forevermore.
On next Sunday night Mr.. Mel will
preach on Helps and Hindrances in