The Newtown bee., 1898-01-14

for hiF hands whether they are willing or
unwilling to labor. People who do not
go to Church very soon fall into the
habit of leaving little chores and various
odd Jobs which can be done on Sunday,
until the only day of rest is lost.
1t pays a man to wash his body change
his linen, dress himself in his best or
better clothes and go to church. 1t is
for his health and happiness. lie will
respect himself more, he will do his
weeks work easier and better, and his
labor will be worth more to his employer
or to himself for 80 doing. The man who
desecrates the Sabbath by going about
dirty and shiftless all day, hunting, fish
ing, or doing sundry odd jobs left over
from the week before, degrades himself,
even as an animal, and his labor for the
week will not be worth its full wages.
Church-going pays even if it accom-
plishes no greater good than causing a
man to put a clean shirt on clean body
once a week.
A man ought to 60 to Church for the
sake Of the social benefit there is in it.
AS social creatures we need the stimulus
and sympathy of others. We are mem
bers of the family, nei2hborhood, com
munity, body-politic. The individual is
at his best only as part of society.
We cannot live for ourselves alone, nor
by ourselves alone, and be healthy and
happy IN body and mind. We are de-
pendent upon each other. We are men,
bers one of another in all our social,
educational, business and political re-
tions. And as we must live together in
social, civil and commercial relations it is
for our own interest to meet with our
neighbors and friends to promote the
highest good of all, in the Church.
Church-going brings people together
in such way as to satisfy the social in
stinct. The meeting together for mutual
good produces sympathy, fellowship and
personal confidence. 1t is we'll known
fact that professional and business men
consider the fellowship of the Church a
help and a practical benefit in the most
worldly sense. The simple fact that a
man is a regular Church-goer, other
things being equal, gives him in the eyes
OF the world preference over the man
who is not Church. goer in any of the
more responsible positions among men.
1t is a mark of respectability and ground
of confidence between man and man, say
what you will of the abuses of the fell
lowship of the Church.
Another practical benefit of Church.
going is found in its educational advan.
tages. The Church is a school to the
intellectual life, and to the whole man.
Every subject of interest to mankind is
brought before the regular Church-goer
in the reading of the Holy Scriptures.
the Bible if you please as the
writings of wise and good men seeking
the welfare of the race. 1t is a book of
life, look at it as you will, a library of the
most essential knowledge and choicest
wisdom. Even from a literary point of
view the Scriptures are of the deepest
interest to the student of human history
touching the social, intellectual and NOR
al life.
All things considered the Gospel SER
mon is the highest form of any literary
influence. Nothing can take the place of
Lhe preaching of the Gospel. The man
who listens to a sermon every Sunday,
even IL 1t is but OF ordinary power, re-
selves continuous practical benefit OF
the most permanent value. In this respect
lhe Church stands for the highest prac-
iical knowledge, wisdom and moral con-
Viction. The object Of preaching Is to
and persuade men that they
may do what is right and good. The
affect Of preaching is the most direct
influence upon conduct and
character. IT Is the highest wisdom APP
,lied TO daily life.
The moral quality Of the mental train
ug man gets at Church Is Of the great