The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-27
MISSION OF THE CHURCH
It's Duty to Spread the Christian
Doctrine.
REV. Mr.. JENKINS SERMON
The Reverend Gentleman Says the Hea-
thens Should Not Be Made to Ask for
the Gospel. but That 1t Should
Be Brought to Them.

iHe Kew. j. a. jenkins, the newly
arrived pastor of the First Baptist
church, preached an appropriate
Christmas sermon yesterday morning.
His text was from Hebrews, XII u. He
endured as seeing Him who is invisi-
BILE He said:
.Momentous events are associated
with the lives and labors of great men.
The flood is connected with Noah, who
constructed the ark in which part of
the human family was saved. The
overthrow Of the cities of the plains re-
calls the miraculous manner of the
rescue of Lot. The heroism of Abra-
ham is shown in the defeat and de-
struction OF the king. Secular history
reflects the same truth. Egypt had
her Pharoahs and Greece her Alexan-
der. Rome was made great by Caesar
and Hannibal created many chapter
In the story of Carthage. France hon
ors the memory of Napoleon and Eng
land will always remember the mamie of
Wellington and his victory at Water
loo. Americans will visit the tomb at
Mount Vernon, and as long as the flow
ers shall bloom the grave OF Washing
Ton VIII be garlanded with blossoms
independence, liberty and union are
connected with his name.
The language of the apostle look
ing unto Jesus, the author and finisher
OF your faith, is fraught with meaning
Tor us all. From this drifted thought
let me endeavor to impress few les
sons. 1t has an application to Gods
people for all ime. The church at Pen
tecost had the same truth as the
church living in the twilight of the
10Th century. The church of Jerusa-
lem might have been peculiar in its
environment, yet it had the same mis-
sion as the church in Montana. Lifting
UP OF Jesus as the savior of men is the
supreme business of the church of
God. The church that is looking up
for guidance in this blessed work is not
apt to be saturated with the spirit of
Worldliness until they become tickle
as fashion. More and more will they
become convinced that their mission
is not to mould the Bible to suit the
age; on the other hand they are put
ting forth every effort and pleading
with the Invisible One to mould the
age by the influence of the blessed spir-
1t in conformity with the principles and
precepts of the Bible. The strongest
force in this world is faith, and it is
fostered by the reverential habit of
looking to God, and in making pleas
and not apologies for divine power. 1t
is doubtless true that the church should
be elastic in some measure to meet the
exigencies of the hour, but there are
some things which will always obtain.
In all our churches there is need of a
more systematic method of conducting
the affairs of the Kingdom. The bust
ness of the church ought to be con-
Quoted on sound business principles.
Obligations. ought to be promptly met,
that credit be maintained; push and
pluck are just as desirable in the
church as out of 1.-THE Importance of
these things is apparent, yet it will al
ways remain that the Indispensable
requisite is power from on nigh, and
this comes after earnest looking to the
Invisible One for the things we need.
Revealing God to a lost world is the
work of the church. Frequently we
have heard the phrase, nungering and
thfrsting for the gospel! 1t comes out
in the well-meant foreign mission
speech that the millions across the sea
in China are crying for the gospel.
Send men to teach us the way of sal
Xation,' we cannot supply the demand
for the lack of money. Thousands
upon thousands in the mountains of
Montana have no place of Wor-
ship, and they are beseechng the mis-
sionary to stay with them and break
re them the bread of life. My beloved.
/ must confess that these statements
commend themselves to me with a
grain of salt even when | see them in
print in our religious journals. People
did not seem oVer-anxious for the Cos
pei even when it was presented by Him
who spake as never man spake. True,
he was followed by the crowds, and it
is said that the common people heard
him gladly, but too often they came and
the master knew they came from some
Interior motive. The church is not to
wait until the world cries for the gos-
pei, but rather the gospel must be Civ
en- that the world may pe led to see
and feel its urgent need
So beloved. although the world is not
asking for the gospel it's condition
shows IS restitution in stronger terms
than language can tell. To give this
gospel is the mission of Gods children,
but the task is one attended with sac
ritice of money, time: yea, of body and
of soul. and the work would result in
diseouragement and ignominious fall
ure unless the church endures rs See
ing Him who is invisible. seems linn
who is invisible is the satisfying ..cI-
ton which enables us to endure. The
thought that God sees and that God
can give courage and enables us to
continue rowing though the winds are
contrary and he waves boisterous and
threatening.
Lastly, this. beloved, is the secret
of Christian fortitude Amid the dis
appointments and be.eavenonts incl
dent to human life, the heart longs for
support, and yearns for ground
ed hope. To what source shall 1t turn
Cherries are the notes of scepticism.
Hopeless is the language OF the brill
liant and eloquent infidel when he stood
at the grave OF, hrs daughter, saying /
shall never see her again, This is the
note of despair. Hobbies. the intidel-
philosopher said on his dying bed: If
| had the whole world to dispose of
| would give it to live another day
Noltaire said To his physician; / will
give you half l am worth to give me
six months of life How different it
WIS with DR. I4ayson at the point IF
his departure The battle is fought
the battle Is fought and the victory
Won forever Or the last words of the
santed Wesley. saying: The best of
all is. Cod is with MS
My Christian friends. when You
stand beside the coffin that contains
the form Of your loved. no response
comes from the lips, though your
heart Is ready to break. The life
whose pulse beats were in sympathy
with yours is gone. The hand that al
ways gave you the cordial clasp is cold