The Republican., 1897-04-01

everyday reading and reasoning.
They may be orthodox and they may
not be, hence the above assumption
of responsibility.
| have heard it expressed from the
pulpit that the church, as a place,
is no more than any ordinary
building or place. We do not fall in
with this idea, and cannot accept it
as true. In our opinion, a place ded-
icated and set apart for the worship
of the true and living God is holy
place, a place hallowed by divine
authority and sanction, and by the
constant presence of the Holy Spirit;
a place that should be approached
with awe and reverence, and in which
no light or frivolous conduct or con
versation should be engaged in. In
this opinion we are supported by
Holy Writ, and we might quote many
references in which God has expressed
himself regarding places of worship,
but we think one will be sufficient.
We call your attention to that passage
in Exodus wherein the Lord was in
structing Moses concerning the taber-
nacle, the first church: "And thou
shalt take the amounting oil and
anoint the tabernacle, and all that is
therein, and shalt hallow it, and all
the vessels thereof; and it shall be
holy" If, then, it is a "holy place"
it is different and something more
than any ordinary building or
place not so consecrated. The word
holy means pure, consecrated, sacred,
pious. Could these terms be applied
to any ordinary building? The ver-
dict must be unanimous in the mega
tive, and the conclusion must be ire
sistible that the church as a place is
something more than an ordinary
building or place.
| The church as an institution is rec
ognized by all Christians as divine
institution, ordained and nurtured
by God himself; a home for His be
lieving children, where they can find
christian fellowship and a field of
opportunity to better love God with
all their soul, mind and strength and
their neighbor as themselves; to more
fully work out their souls salvation
and carry out the behests of the Mas
ter in establishing His kingdom on
4 this earth; as a means of intoxicating
the spirit of peace on earth, good will
to men, and fulfilling the golden rule
of doing unto others as we would
that they should do unto us, and we
unhesitatingly arrive at the conclu-
sion that these objects can be the
better accomplished through the
avenues of the church, if there were
no other reasons land there are many
others, than that there is strength in
numbers and union, and wisdom in a
multitude Of counsel. We therefore
take it that every man who believes
on the Lord Jesus Christ, who desires
to fee from the wrath to come and
make sure his eternal salvation, who
| believes that this world would be the
better by adopting the teachings and
/ example of Him who died that our
condition might be improved, and
should unite and affiliate with some
branch of the christian church.
This being true, the next step is to
make your choice of the branch with
which you will unite. 1t is a step OF
very considerable Importance and
should not be taken without due
deliberation and prayer for Divine
guidance. The doors of ali christian
churches are open to you, if you come
seeking admittance in the right and
proper spirit, and we shall lay down
but two common sense rules to guide
you in making your choice, and if you
follow them you will not go very far
church in which you can do the most
good for the church, your fellow man
and YOURSELF and the second is tC
select the church that will afford you
the greatest amount Of spiritual help
If the church of your choice does not
embrace these two objects, you are
not well located and your full mission
in life will not be accomplished
Don't unite with any church through