Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-04-08

ing Of this century romanticism anG
idealism we're masterful. As a re-
suit Christianity has made wonderful
advances doubling its growth Of the
previous eighteen centuries. But
the last forty years realism has come
in like flood. War is mighty pro-
moter Of realism. With the mighty
strides Of science there has come q
great msterialistic drift. The dis.
covery of all discoveries OF this CEN
tury seems to be matter. The ma
terial progress has been wonderful.
Matter seems to be- the god, and men
offer themselves as lambs and kids on
the stone altar which is overlaid with
gold and has horns of silver. And
vet there is no influence in the land
more potent than that of the church.
The people do not want to live long
where her altar is not found and her
pulpit is not heard.
1t is true they will take up one of
their own number of only common
school or academic preparation and
put him into their civic office, give
him from $1,000 to $4,000 a year to
keep records or to receive and pay
out their money for the county and
state, whilst they call a man who
spent seven to nine years in college
and seminary to preach the gospel
and give him from $500 to $1,000 a
year. Realism Of earth depreciates
the idealism Of heaven in about that
ratio. But that is better than it
used to be. Occasionally you will
read or hear an impeachment of the
honesty of the pulpit, but men do
not generally believe him who makes
the charge. Men without conviction
seldom choose calling in which the
returns for time and money and labor
invested are less than half it would
be in other callings. He needs
money but to the man in pulpit some
thing else is of more value.
The pulpit never had more power
than it has today. Though yet poorly
paid in material returns, it is closer
to the heart Of the people, and more
vitally connected with their peace
and welfare than any other institu-
tion. The pulpit stands for the
Word of God-for the Christ among
men. Let it stand in its place and
keep to its work, and divine ideal
ism will become saving realism.
Realism sometimes gives her a stone
for bread, serpent for a fish, and
would even dare to dictate her policy, |
but If she be true to her Lord, she
will remember that man liveth not |
by bread alone, but by every word
that proceedeth out Of the mouth of |
God, and her power will stand and
grow.
After eight years Of preparatory
study for the pulpit, and now after
twenty-five years Of preaching from
the pulpit, | wish to bear this testi-
mony;
l. All the bread promised me has
been given me, and more, and that,
too, in the realism of earth.
2. OF, at least, 5000 people for
whom | have been pastor never but
me presumed to dictate suggestively
ny policy and what and when to
pray for and what to preach and how
% do pastoral work. Ninety-nine
hundredths OF our people have the
rood common sense to know that a
rained minister knows more about
lis work, his duty to God and man
Just as a physician or lawyer or
farmer knows his own business
)est.
8. 1t is true that many are slow to
eceive the gospel, yet the gain in our
ountry has been considerable during
he past 25 years-from one in five to
ne in three. In 1872 one out of
very 100 was a Lutheran; now one l
ut of 55. Then our general synod
umbered 99,246, now it numbers G
9o,3lS, nearly twice as strong as 25 z
ears ago. I
Under my own ministry at least
90 have been received into the I
hurch.
4. Conscious of very imperfect
srvice, ashamed Of much | have
one, especially during my first ten
ears ministry, ! am grateful to God :
,r His grace and the measure ~ spo.