The record-union., 1897-07-09
4 LUTHERAN CHURCH RALLY.
IN HONOR OF THE CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVORERS.
Address in San Francisco by Rev.
w. S. Hoskinson Of Sac
ramento.

At the First Lutheran Church, on
Geary street, San Francisco, there was
a Christian Endeavor rally yesterday
afternoon, presided over by Rev. w. D
Hoskinson of Sacramento.
A number of prominent Eastern cler-
gymen delivered addresses, as also did
the Chairman. Mr.. Hoskinson's re-
marks were as follows:
Christians, Endeavorers, Lutherans
We are not gathered to listen to long
speeches, but simply a few ringing
heart-Words from one and another. A
programme we have, but not much Oh
formality is expected. From hearts
full of one Of the great movements OF
the age, these will speak to us to-day.
And as we listen to these heart
throbs of personal experience may our
hearts be open to the influence OF heaV-
emily grace that we may be imbued with
the spirit of God and go forth to Wild
er and fuller usefulness.
Personally there comes to US to-day
a sense of reward. After seven years
of labor and isolation and loneliness,
trying to give the church of our love a
place and a name here on this coast,
this enthusiastic gathering seems like
a personal reward-like the fruits of
la Dor; like the sheaves of harvest. And
we are made to rejoice greatly, looking
into the faces of Lutherans, some of
them veterans scattered all over, from
Washington, D. c., to Denver, Col, and
north and south, some of them new re-
cruits, up and down this coast, all
bound together by a common tie, the
love we bear to the church of Jesus
Christ as cleansed and started on her
new mission by the work Of our own
noble Luther. But for him, how could
Christian Endeavor be possible? Luth-
Grams, you have cause for JOY to-day
and mingled with it a good bit of rea-
son for just pride in belonging to the
church Of professionalism, the natural
home field of Christian Endeavor.
And with others who love Christ we
rejoice in these days and convention
that has captured and transformed the
city by the Golden Gate. Often had
we been here, but never did it seem as
this week. Why, brethren, We seem in
these days to be breathing the atmos-
phere which Christ breathed in the
forty days after his resurrection, when
he was speaking of the things pertain
ing to the kingdom of God The sub
ject of the kingdom marks the begin
ming and ending of every meeting.
Every one seems to be moving about in
an atmosphere laden with the prayer
Thy kingdom come
1T is just such d condition of things
as would have delighted the great heart
of Luther, where the man of Galilee is
uppermost in every mind. Blessed
days for Here are no Gentle oaks, no
pagan pines. The grass beneath our
feet is Christian grass
May we not see in these days fore
CLEANS of twentieth century Christian
ity; something of the church that is
to be even in our day, widened and
purified and equipped to lift the whole
world up to Christ. Long have the
ministry and mission field been appeal
ing to our young men to enter and work
for the Master.
Still another now comes forward and
urges its claim upon our young 1t is
the field Of Christian citizenship. The
need is everywhere felt of Christian cit
izens who will assert themselves; men
who will live above the atmosphere of
spoils; men who touch the higher har-
monies of the, universe and say with
one of our own heroes, I would rather
be right than be President Christian
Endeavor tends to make such men and
when it has grown and widened and
filled all places with them, the glory of
America will fill the world.
Brethren, as live Christians, let us
realize in this convention a rain of
Gods grace that will make US all to be
trees planted by the rivers of water,
with fruit abounding and never fading
leaf and enduring prosperity.
All hail, members of the church of
the Reformation! May the spirit Of
our God keep US ever ready for the
great work committed to us as a
church"