The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-03

ference defines the sermon that helps.
1t also sets in clear relief the man be-
hind the sermon. And the other day
at BalIou Hall, DR.. Mckenzie called
the ministry to its special work. Yes,
sermons that help should be supplied
the needy listener. But more than
by the sermon he is helped by the
quality of the man. Do our young
men as the7 enter this hottest, this
most glorious avenue of service, suf-
ficiently realize this fact and keep
their hearts afame with the love of
Christi Do they strive to march
step with step to the rythm of his self
denial? Do they count all things as
dross when compared with the priv
lege of service In His Name7 Do
they keep fast hold of the promises of
God, and with uplifted hearts for the
joy set before them, endure times
small crosses, despising the shame
with which self-seeking world may
reproach them? o we know the
Christian centuries are illumined by
ideal examples Like stars Gods
men appear. They inspire every age
They glorify every form of faith.
Our church rejoices that her history
is luminous with the names of those
who had more than touched the hem
of his garment, who clasped the
Lords hand and ia lked with him by
the way.
Granted the sermon and the life
which help and that our young men
are seeking and part finding the power
of that life which the great leader
made manifest, and our churches will
be centers of divine light. More than
the social organization, though they
will be that indeed, bringing all
hearts into brotherly union-they will
be places where the presence and
power of God are felt. More than
Jacobs Bethel, its ladder reaching
heaven and alight with the passing
of angels, the ladder will be over
leapt by the fervent spirit of the min
lister. More than the Shekinah of the
Hebrew temple, sacred to the priests,
they will be Horebs where not alone
the Lawgiver, but every eye shall
see the light of Gods presence.
In such centers of inspiration the
way is made plain, the heart is quick
ened by spiritual truth, and the sec
ond need in the work of faith, that
which makes it an active power is
meta full response from the people,
an earnest following of the leader, a
sense of personal responsibility: no
dead weight discipleship, depending
to be carried in arms, but an awak-
ened and living CO operative force.
Not suddenly, as on the Damascus
road, nor by thousands as on the day
of Pentecost, though the need re-
quires pentecostal fire, but by small
degrees, by more and more shall be
gained the entire surrender which
cries with eagerness, what will thou
have me to do?"
This generated zeal finds its natural
outlet in missionary work. The mis-
sionary service organized in our church
affords an avenue for all the enthus-
iasm of humanity possible to our peo-
Pile. Portions of our own country cry
with as bitter a need as Japan or In
dia. The West is honey-combed by
German rationalism-th South en-
shaved by superstition. We have few
churches and fewer ministers in these
wide reaches. And yet, DIR. Shinn finds
men and women who hear him glad
ly. Some of them carried their faith
from New England, or inherited it
from our missionaries of the past,
perhaps from the apostles, George
Rogers and E. M. Pingree. And the
new generation gives hospitality to a
faith so allied to all the beauty of the
universe, the dawning hopes of its
own heart. To shepherd the few, and
search for the many yet in the wilder
ness, to touch with electric power the
Japan interest, is the missionary work
inviting our purpose and desire. In
this work every believer can be rep
resented by the consecrated spirit in
which he offers his gifts. The ma
chinery is ready. 1t is ours to keep
in motion.
Though the missionary spirit is the
natural outgrowth of our faith, is it
possible that we have fallen upon
times quite too comfortable, that we