Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-12-10


downright, 1897, by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Dr. Talmage
in this discourse advocates more prac-
tical wisdom in efforts at doing good
and assails some Of the absurdities in
church architecture and management.
The text is Luke xvi, 8, "The children
of this world are in their generation
wiser than the children Of light.
That is another way Of saying that
Christians are not SO skillful in the
manipulation Of spiritual affairs as
worldlings are skillful in the manage
ment of temporalities. / see all around
me people who are alert, earnest, con-
centrated and skillful in monetary mat
tiers, who in the affairs Of the soul are
laggards, inane, inert. The great want
Of the world is more common sense in
matters of religion. If one-half Of the
skill and forcetulness employed in finan-
cial affairs was employed in disseminat-
ing the truths Of Christ and trying to
make the world better, within ten years
the last Juggernaut would fall, the last
throne Of oppression upset, the last in
iouity tumble and the anthem that was
chanted over Bethlehem on Christmas
night would be echoed and re-echoed
from all nations and kindred and peo-
pie, "Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, good will to men,"
Some years ago, on a train going to-
ward the southwest, as the porter Of the
sleeping car was making up the berths
at the evening tide, saw man kneel
down to pray. Worldly people looked
ON as much as to say, what does this
mean?' / suppose the most OF the peo-
pie in the car thought that the man was
either insane or that he was a fanatic,
but he disturbed no one when he knelt
and he disturbed no one when he arose.
In after conversation with him / found
out that he was a member Of a church
In northern city, that he was seafar-
ing man, and that he was on his way to
New Orleans to take command OF YES
sci. / thought, then, as ! think now,
that ten such men-men with such cour-
age for God as that man had-ten such
men would bring the whole city to
Christ. A thousand such men would
bring this whole land to God. Ten thou
sand such men, in a short time, would
bring the whole earth into the kingdom
| Of Jesus. That he was successful III
worldly affairs, I found out. That he
was skillful in spiritual affairs, you are
we'll persuaded. If men had the courage,
the pluck, the alertness, the acumen,
the industry, the common sense in mat
ters Of the soul, that they have in mat
ters Of the world, this would be very
different kind Of earth in which to live.
Moro Common Sense In Church Building.
In the first place, my friends, we
want more common sense in the build
ing and conduct of churches. The idea
of adaptiveness is always paramount In
any other kind Of structure. If bankers
meet together and they resolve upon
putting up q bank, the bank is especial
ly adapted to banking purposes. II q
manufacturing company puts up a build
| ing, it is to be adapted to manufacturing
purposes. But adaptiveness is not always
the question in the rearing Of churches
In many Of our churches we want more
light, more room, more yentilatlon'
more comfort. Vast sums Of money are
expended on ecclesiastical structures,
and men sit down in them, and you ask
man how he likes the church. He says,
"I like it very we'll, but can't hear. "
AS though shawl factory were good
for everything but making shawls The
voice of the preacher dashes against the
pillars. Men sit down under the shadows
of the Gothic arches and shiver and feel
they must be getting religion or some
thing else they feel SO uncomfortable
Oh, my friends, we want more COM
mon sense in the rearing Of churches
There Is no excuse for lack OF light
when the heavens are full Of it, no ex'
cuse for lack Of fresh air when the
world swims in it. 1t ought to be an
expression not only Of our spiritual hap
piness, but Of our physical comfort
when we say: "How amiable are thy
tabernacles, y Lord God Of hostsl A
day in thy courts is better than thou
sand.
Again, remark we want more com
mon sense in the obtaining Of religion!
hope All men understand that in orde'
10 succeed in worldly directions the]
must concentrate They think ON tina
one object, ON that one SUBJECT unti
their mind takes fire with the velocity
, Of their own thoughts. All their acu
men. all their strategy, all their Wis
dom. all their common sense they pu
! In that one direction, and they succeed
But how seldom it is true in the matte
OF seeking after God. While no maj
expects to accomplish anything for thi
world without concentration and enthu
! siasm how many there are expecting
after awhile to get into the kingdom o
, God without the use Of any such means
. Tn. Mountain Of Gods Love.
A miller In California many year
ago picked up sparkle Of gold from
a Z
the bed of a stream which turned nj
mill. He held up that sparkle OF goi'
until Il bewitched nations Tens o
thousands Of people left their homes
Thew took their blankets and their pick
axes and their pistols and went to tn
wilds Of California. Cities sprang u
, suddenly ON the Pacific coast Mer
chants put aside their elegant appare
and put ON the miners garb. All ia
land was full Of the talk about gold
Gold in the eyes, gold in the ears, soi'
IN the wake Of ships, gold In the street
gold, gold, goldi
Word comes to us that the mountain
of Gods love is full OF gold; that me-
have been digging there and hav
brought up gold. and amethyst, an
carbuncle, and jasper, and sardonys
. and chrysoprasus. and all the preciou
Z stones ont Of which the walls OF heave
were builded. Word comes OF MAJ
D who, digging in that mine for one hour
Z has brought up treasures worth NOR
} than all the stars that keep vigil owe
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