The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-09
MERIDIAN-sTREET CHURCH DEBT.
Pledges to Raise It--A Sermon by DIR.
Sims.

Sims.
At the Meridian-street NJ. e. Church. Just
before the morning sermon, yesterday, DR..
Sims announced that quiet effort had been
in progress for some time to pay off the
entire church Indebtedness of $4,000, and
requested subscriptions for that purpose
Pledges sufficient to meet the entire amount.
including the offerings of a few persons
who were not present, were made.
Rev. Mr.. Sims preached from the words
found in Revelation ii, 10: BE thou faith
full unto death ard will give thee "a crown
Of life" The pastor said. in part:
The flavor of mans character is shown
by what he loves. We know the nature of
the man who is moved by the beauty of the
SKY and landscape, whose soul pusates with
delight in listening to melting music or i'm
gazing upon the glorious works of art. We
know, too, the nature of the man who is a
delighted spectator of the prize fight. TO
love the pure, the refined, the generous is
evidence OF pure and noble nature. The
strength of character is revealed in the
Steadfastness with which. it supports what
II espouses There are inconstant natures
which blaze with q monjentary enthusiasm
and ;r as quickly relapse into indifference,
They lack tenacity of interest and contin-
uity OF devotion. Unstable as water they
never excel. The person who establishes a
friendship or who espouses a cause and
can thereafter be relied on in all weather,
who does not run away in danger nor hide
in the time of adversely nor bend to the
admirable. And when the cause to which he
is devoted is great and holy and benefcent
he rises TO a like grandeur. 1t is to such a
faithfulness this. found i'm the service
of our Lord Jesus Christ that the promise
OF the text is given. 1t has in il the high
and heroic elements of devotion, persistence,
patience and hope, and calls forth the heart
felt admiration of all people. The noblest
field in which fidelity can be exercised and
illustrated is that of personal religion.
ITO realize the high aspirations for spir-
itual worthneSS. to put our lives under the
dominion of the hottest motives. - build
character up to righteousness. to embody
in ourselves those virtues which eXalt and
adorn manhood, requires fidelity to every
the soul. There is no higher object of desire
and effort than the building CT Christian
character. Fidelity to the example of Jesus
Christ and the commandments of the Eter-
nal Father until the soul comes TO a clear
apprehension OF the divine is a holy way
of life. The attainment of a comprehensive
charity for the human brotherhood. love
that is In the most unfortunate and degrad-
ed. to be willing TO bear burdens and make
sacrifices that others may be lifted up. can
only. be reached by Ii fidelity stretching
through years of service. The faithful
Christian may attain to this manhood. this
vision of Ged. this broad philanthropy. but
only by answering loyalty in The service
of the Master.
Life is adjusted TO the testing and de-
veloping of our best possibilities. 1t has
burdens tor bear which reveal ourselves 10
ourselves and show US whether we are
strong in grace or only dreaming sentiment
talisfs. Every man is generous in theory
and brave ia imagination and strong in good
resolutions but the afficient sitting of life