, 1896-12-17

no, to b" reached by the bishop alone
or by tn" bishop aided by his faithful.
missionaries. Your efforts. brethren
81 n" Iaity, ar" required also. You
nave \ part to play in the drama which
is here presented. Not one or a dozen
but all. and not for a few months or
years. but uniil the end comes. and the
burden IS laid down. On what false
conceptions We hdV" of duty and re.
SrrnSihility, How weak our faith. how
oar efforts! And ii all comes OF our
l|I'lure to rtaliz" how much the divine
Master has entrusted to us. and how
earnestly he demands II loving and
loyal service. This month of Deccm.
Jor is not only thu" last month of a new
year. but il is tn" beginning Of "A new
christian year. and the advent's
trumpet is sounding continually. call
"ng upon us to awake out of sleep for
now is our salvation nearer than when
we believed. 1t is "A time to rouse our.
N''N'N w SI'Sl'I val l'SIltSS, ldlluIul-
ness and devotion and not only so. but
am sure it is specially a time for you
TO rouse yourselves to Il keener realiZa,
ton of what remains for You here in
this. your See City. | fear there are
not so many people in this, our great
west, who realize what an awful re-
gnnnEihilitN il iS to lao u ma,plnr 30
Christ as we are taught in thae Cate
chism. Only think of the significance
Of the words. a part of hat spiritual
body which Christ came to set up. If
we are really in Him. we shall become
new creatures, %partaking of a new life,
even that divine life which came down
from heaven. If we have really been
grated into His spiritual body. then all
our thoughts. inspirations and hopes
viii partako of that which is high and
pure. All III interests will look to
all our energies will be bent in the di-
rection of heavenly things. The divine
child said when only ~ years Of age,
70
'knowest yc not that | must be about
My Fathers busincss?" Is not this the
thought which will ever be uppermost
in the minds of those who are lin
Christ" What is our Fathers bust
ness in this world? Is it anything short
of bringing men who do not know Him
within the sound of His church's teach,
ing? Arr" you doing that? Are you
aiding in any small degree in doing it.
or are you simply sleeping away time
and opportunity? This is an active
lg" in which we live. Should not Chris
tian men share in this activity? Thy
brother here needs your hearty Coop
Grafton in all his plans and purposes.
Remember hat he is the father of this
iOck-that he has not been called of
men. but by God and hat he has been
sent by authority to take this over
sight, and that he is Gods mouthpiece
in this midst. Yes. dear brethren, it is
strikingly true in the midst o: all We
So" here, that the Master is come and
calloth for everyone here. Your train
ing, your personal religious teaching.
your sense of duty, your very feeling Of
pride will, | am sure, constrain you to
put forth renewed effort. both privately
and publicly to realize the divine call
which is always whispering in your
ears. and which will lead you. may God
grant it. to cry out as did Gods ancient
servant. Speak Lord. for thy servant
heareth." Indeed Christ does call us,
not by audible words perhaps. but by
the voice Of duly, by the ~plcadings OF
a right conscience. by the numberless
opportunities which He always opens
before us for doing hat which is pleas
ing in his sight. When Mary was called
She arose quickly and came to Him"
There was no hesitation. no debate.
She gladly obeyed the divine call. Shall
not we initiate that example? As for
those who have put on Christianity,
will you not stir afresh the divine gift
which is within you? Will o not
forget that which is behind you and
press earnestly and eagerly forward to-
ward that which is before you. Will
YOU not strive to live nearer to Him
than ever before, love Him devotedly.
serve Him mor faithfully, conscious
OF your stewardship, and prepared to
give an account of the time. talent, op-
~portunities and all else which God has
entrusted to you. AS for those who
have not put on Christianity. will you
not remember that Christ is calling for
o too. His kingdom has been set up
for YOU, and he awaits Your acceptance
OF His proffer of love. Nothing in your
past life bars your entrance. Come
lust as you are. in all your rags Of sin,
lay them at His feet, be clothed with
Christ the Son Of Righteousness. and
begin that life which He designs all
men shall live.
So may this be a red letter day in
your cooperate parish life, and in your
private individual lives. May it be the
turning point in a journey which looks
ont upon a field OF activity wherein