The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-04
ELEMENTS OF POWER
CHURCHES.

Among the elements of power in the
churches at the present time he
mentioned, first, that there are now a
large number of owners of ample
means in connection with our Protest
ant churches in America, which has
recently been estimated at $10,000,000,-
900. What large proportion of that
amount might be given with safety to
doing the work of the church! He
thought ministers ought to preach
that particular topic more than they
do. They should speak more than they
do on the stewardship, of the means
which God has placed in the hands of
his protesting people. Many years
ago. in sermon, he tried to emphasize
that good men and women should not
wait to put in their wills what they
considered sacred to the Lord, but
should give it out Of the living land.
The next morning both he and his
associate pastor received letters each
containing a check for E10O from one
of the best members of the church.
The second point of strength is the
influence Of the religious press. The
first religious paper he ever saw came
city and many large churches have
papers with very carefully prepared
devout matter that may reach multi
tudes of people who never attend
public worship.
The third great power in the church
in an educated ministry. There have
been times in the history Of the church
when it was necessary to have I'M
educated men in the ministry, as in the
history of the Wesleys, and the or
ganization which God led them to
| establish. Although they had no
education for the ministry, these
| lessness of the Journalism of their day
in the Protestant churches, and they
| had power given them to say to the
| people that they must be converted,
must be born again, if they were to be
| Christians. Now the churches every
where are consecrating an educated
ministry. 1t is not confined to English
| speaking people. 1t is not enough
that they should be instructed in theo-
| logy, but also in science, history and
the languages, that they may under
stand all the relations of the church
and its teachings to the world, and be
able to refer understanding to the
Hebrew and Greek scriptures.
The fourth point is the opening that
God is giving to the churches for the
| spread of the truth. 1t is a matter OF
church history that when the first
missionary went to India the British
East Indian company would not allow
him entrance there; but the Christian
| king Of Denmark gave him the right
to prosecute his mission in India where
the power of Denmark was recognized
| What change now. Corea, India
China, Japan and wild Africa are
opened up as never before, and there
is a particular force in the japanese
nation, which, If consecrated to God
will make a power for good.
Filthy, the immense number of vol
unteers for missionary work that Goo
in his providence has raised up. Chris
tan men and women are offering
themselves to the missionary boards il
numbers SO great that the boards hav,
no means to take them in hand and b.
responsible for their maintenance.
The sixth power In the church is /;
vindcated Bible. Assaults have beef
made upon the Bible, especially from
Germany, under the guise of scholar
ship. They say the Bible is yer,
good book, but there is much in it tina
is legendary, and a good deal that yo,
cannot trust and that there are man,
mistakes, etc. 1t is easy to see how TIL
devil will suggest to a man that h
need not trouble himself about bool
which eminent scholars say is full o
limistakes, and that the denunciation
against sinners may be all mistake
DR.. Hall said he did not hesitate to sa,
that the Bible had been INDICATED, no
only by consecrated Christian scholar
ship, but in the providence Of Co
there had been most remarkable illus
trations of the manner in which Co
advances his cause and vindicates hi
truth. He then referred to the result
of the labors Of the Assyriologists an
psychologists, which bear out in mar
velous manner the literal accuracy O
Gods holy word.
His seventh and last point was tn
power of the Holy Spirit. The rea
spiritual power of any church is i
the degree in which the Holy Spirit
working in the hearts of the people
One may say: 81 go to church an
hear the gospel, but it does not seem t
have any influence upon me-" TIL
question might well be put to such
one, did you look for a spiritual bless
ing; did you look for the guidance c
the Holy Spirit; did you come simpl
from curiosity, simply to hear ma
that is spoken of a great deal in tn
community, or did you come because
was somewhat of social element i
your life? If you went under such con
ditions, do not wonder that you wer
not influenced for Gods truth. But
you go looking for Gods presence an
power, looking for his guidance, yo
will not look in vain.'-Rev DIR. jon
Hall to the Evangelical Alliance i
Philadelphia.
A BOOM TOWN BUILT OF MARBLE
1T 1vas acSistapt ao0ipoar ~, tho or