Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-10-03
AND CHURCH,
Further Discussion From the Pull
pit of an Interesting
Subject.
FROM CHRISTIAN woRKMANs VIEW

VIII III. Dixon Tells of the Real Happiness
That Comes From Worship-Life Made
Brighter and Better, Mentally, Morally
and spirituaIly-NoS Serving Two Masters
Mr. Cook. of Moline. Also Heard.
Answer was made last night at
Memorial Christian church from the
standpoint of n Christian working
man to the question why Working
men Do Not Attend Church. dis
cussed from the same pulpit a few
Sundays ago by Louis A. Jahns and
Marshall Beck. Representatives of the
Tri-City Labor congress. The prin-
cipal address was made by Win II.
Dixon, of this city, who took for his
subject, why | Attend Church and
WHY All Men Should Attend Church. -
Mr.. Dixon said in part:
Il am well aware that he who
breaches most sometimes practices
least l am well aware, too, that
| there are many names written on the
church record that are not written in
the book of life. 1t is not my pur-
pose tonight to try to tell you that all
the good men / have ever known were
church-goers, neither that all the bad
ones were non-church-goers; but it is
my purpose and privilege to tell YOU
that after a most thorough, practical,
personal experience, both with the out
side world and with the church, l have
found more real happiness in the
church in one year than with the out
side world in 10 years; and 1 speak
with all candor. earnestness and sin
cerity, when l tell you that my life
has been made better, brighter, hap
pier and l trust holier, too, by my
church attendance, and ] sincerely
| believe that the lives of all working
men would be made better by church
attendance, and that they would be
built up mentally, morally and spirit
ually.
Examples for Families.
Il believe it would not only be a
good thing for the workingmen them
selves, but it would be a good example
| before their families, and that in COM
| ing years their children would rise up
and call them blessed. And l speak
from the standpoint of a man who
has toiled 80 years on the farm, in
| the field, at the forge and out over
the railways, through the cold, the
storm, and the darkness; one who
knows just what it is to be cold and
hungry, worn and weary, and speak
ing from this standpoint, | am here
to tell you that the church is one of the
best friends the labOring man has to-
day this side of heaven or eternity.
/ have found the church to he my true
friend. | have found the sermons
helpful, the bible reading instructive,
the songs inspiring. and the entire
services beneficial. l love the church,
my parents and my grandparents
were identified with it, and feel that
/ can best fulfill the mission that God
intended me to fulfill by being identi-
fed with the church, and by a faith
full church attendance. | feel that |
would be a traitor to the teachings
received long ago at my mothers
knee; false to the commands of Him
who said: 'Forsake not the assem-
bling of yourselves together and
faithless to my God were | anywhere
else than in His house, and following
in the footsteps of Him who said,
Il am the way, the truth, the life.
Therefore / am identified with the
church, for love its services, and
believe it is the place where every
will find rest, recreation and have his
spiritual strength renewed
Il am well aware that there is an
unjust spirit of criticism, and per-
haps. prejudice, too, existing in the
minds of many people against the
church, because they have found
some bad members therein. but that
is neither argument nor excuse for not
attending church.
What would you think of a man, il
upon his first arrival in this country
from Europe, and simply because he
found few bad men in New York.
would condemn the whole United
States? You would say he was crank
of the first water And yet do not
workingmen often do this very thing
regarding the church?
IF YOU find a bad peach or apple in
the load the farmer brings to you is
that any reason for eondemning the
entire load? If your brother or sister
had erred, what would YOU think of
a man who would unjustly condemn
your entire family, including yourself,
simply because one or two members
had erred? But hear some working
man saying: Yes, but your rich men
in the church are our enemies, and
therefore we won't come in There
is where you are mistaken again, my
friends.
Must Have Wealth.
If man has wealth It'll no reason |
that he is either your enemy or mine. |
WHY, we need few rich men in this |
country. 1t would be a terrible state \
of affairs if we were all poyerty-strick- |
en-, for then we would have neither |
factory, mill, machine shop nor rail-
road We could found neither college,
seminary nor university, to say moth
ing of all the churches, pointing their |
spires heavenward, the homes for the !
orphan. the aged. the infirm and help I