The San Francisco call., 1896-02-03

covers q sphere of usefulness almost as
wide as its struggling parish, and under
the ministrations of its new pastor. Rev.
F. Flawith, it is beginning to N axe itself
felt as a power in Congregational church
circles.
The Fourth Church was organized just
thirty years ago, and during its existence
it has been the spiritual birthplace OF a
large number of active church workers,
many of whom have gone out into other
fields and have made record for them
selves. There has been very little pew
cushioned Christianity about the Fourth
Church, its people do not count million
aires among their ranks, and they have no
aspirations toward moving into new and
fashionable locality.
The community round which the life of
the Fourth Church centers is more or less
a huctuating one and Just at present
active workers are in demand. There
is an ardent band of church mem bels,
about lao in all. but most OF them have their
time very fully occupied with business or
house ayocations, as people OF elegant
leisure are rare III the congregation. La
dies with time at their disposal are espe-
cially in demand as church workers.
One feature of the Fourth Congrega-
tional Church is the active share which
the men of the parish take In church work.
Last summer Rev. T. Flawith was called
to succeed Rev. H. III. Wykoff. Soon after
the new pastors advent mems league
sor practical work among the poor and sick
was organized. 1t is difficult to get the
members to talk much about the league
as they say it is only doing its duty in a
humble way and has not yet made a long
enough record to be worth discussing.
In spite OF this reticence, however, there
are many sick and poor in North Beach
who can tell good deal about want re-
lieved and medical attendance furnished
gratis by the Mems League OF the Fourth
Congregational Church during the past
six months. Practical work. indeed, is
the watchword of the church Just at pres
burdens" being continually before the con-
gregation. 1t Is only in a modest way that
the members are trying to alleviate the
poverty and distress of the community,
but they have taken hold with a will and
are doing some splendidly unselfsh work.
The sunday-school, under superintend-
ent John Hatch, is in hourishing condi-
ton, and the Ladies' Aid Society is an
other pillar of the church.
1t Is only two months since Rev. f.
tlaw1th aceep pied permanent call to the
church. Prominent among his predeces-
sors may be mentioned Rev. DIR. Lane.
The recent departure of the Mems League
along practical lines has aroused good
deal of interest in North Beach. and the
attendance at the services is increasing in
mum bers. Rev. +. Flawith preached to
large congregation Yesterday evening from
the text taken from the first chapter of
Ephesians, "And hath put all things
under his feet and gave him to be the
mead over all things to the church, which
Is. his body and the fuliness of him, that
filleth ali in all.''
The preacher said:
The apostle is optimistic with respect to
tne usefulness and future of the Christian
church; lie was fully assured of Its certain
world is not lost, though 1t is in sim
1t is the genius of Christian principle and
truth TO purify or destroy whatever it comes
IN contact with. human fellowships, which
compose the churches, are as much under this
eternal law as everything else. 1t ought not
10 be surprise When we look over eeclesias-
unrest frequently follow in the wake OF the
church's progresst; ii is rather sign of on
S,td going. Many fall down, is a fall upward.
alliance with the world.
The supremacy of Christ on earth is not
through the power of politics and corpora
the head and which is to fill all things, is the
fellowship Of humanity influenced and Quick
ened in soul and mind by his spirit and lie
just as the body is influenced by the brain. In
our want OF faith we doubt the possibility of
success TO any such spirit over the world
We look at what We boastingly call civilization
and find IL to be very little more than burn
ished bsrbarism.
Religion is weighted by the selfishness, big
otry, fanaticism, cowardiee and meanness Of
religious people. She is wounded in the house
of her friends. The world looks upon the
church as her worst of foes, yet the church is
TO reign over all things by the power OF divine
love. She faces perpetual opposition and per-
secution. She comes forth out of the ages of
strife with torn hands and bleeding feet.
The story of Christ is the story OF Christen-
dom In proportion as it has been truly Chris
tian. know the great heresy of the church
organic is 10 trust more to its emoluments and
sagacity than to its faith and spirit of lis
Christ. AS result the average professor is