The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-01
PRESIDENT BUTLER'S SERMON.
A Talk to the Central Christian nm,
First Lutheran CONGREGATIONS.

Union services We're the rule in most of
the city churches yesterday, the different
congregations of one denomination uniting
with each other, while, in many instances,
union meetings were held by congregations
of different denominations.
The Central Christian and the First
Lutheran congregations united i'm the Cen
trail Christian Church., where the morning
sermon was preached by Scot Butler
president of Butler College. His text was:
Let your light so shine that men shall
see your good works and glorify your
Father which is in heaven" President But
Ter said, in part:
w often read into Gods word mean
ing that does not rightly belong there. The
text that l have quoted-are We not some
times inclined to nlahe IL lusllry ,eu,-a.-
sertion and self-display? AS if a man were
exhorted, through conspicuous display Of
personality, to call attention to himself! AS
IL you were taught that you should set
forth your good works largely and in the
brightest light OF day, so that men might
see them at best advantage and praise YOU
accordingly! On the contrary, we may leave
the teachings of Jesus, the whole spirit Of
christianity entirely out of the question for
the time, and still say that any such doc
trine is contrary to sound reason, destruc-
tive of moral principle and ruinous to char
acter. When We begin to find life's ultimate
object In the praise of men, then has life's
true purpose, its d~eep-abiding satisfaction
forever passed us by. When / work only
for a wage-of money, or of praise, or Of
whatever other external thing-I barter my
soul, nay, give 1T away-I cast 1t to the
winds.
1T is the question of culture. The only
permanent benefit that a man is capable Of
receiving must have to do with the essen
tial part of him, that is to say, with his
innnr life Tho nhinar IF life thAa T. - 1r
tivate virtue to the end that one may make
1t a permanent possession; and this striv-
ing toward perfection is the noblest effort
Of which man is capable. Life, such life,
were worth living, even though death were
the end OF all. Not that life is a narrow
thing. Not that the individual should be
uninterested in and unaffected by his social
environment. But society is like the coral
reef. which grows by the individual de-
velopment of the animacules composing it.
And the world is not moved from without
mot by any human power. Assumption,
display. sensationalism may seem some
times potent for furthering projects look
ing to the general good. but manufactured
enthusiasm soon blows itself out like a
punctured balloon, and not only is wind
wasted. but often the faith of men in
worthy work is hopelessly impaired. The
serious things of life, the great movement
affecting the permanent well-being of So
ciety are not 10 be caught UP with a
hurrah, and rushed forward, whether men
will or not: nor can the eager a~spirant for
personal distinction, engaging in such
movement. hope for more than very short
lived triumph. But more than this, we are
engaged in certain serious enterprise
church. charity, education. If any one is so
engaged simply on account of the oppor-
unity afforded for personal publicity. then.
however the enterprise turns out. it is a
psychological certainty that he will be in
jured in his moral character.
THE TEACHING OF RELIGION.
what. then. is the teaching OF relig-
ion? This: The kingdom of God is within
you And again: Not by might nor by
power. but by Thy spirit. o Cod If any
where in all the world there is for you
home and rest, If anywhere compens
and reward. IL anywhere hope and safety,
IL anywhere field of fruitful endeavor.
whose harvests may not cease to gladden.
mems hearts, even when you are dead-it
is within you.
1.-The tendency is to make life a thing of
the outside. We are apt to- measure men
by the momentary effect they seem TO pro-
duce on the public. Absence of the show
OF action we take for apathy. The silent
life Is TO us death. But flame is fires
weakest form. The all-consuming heat is
slow and sure and steadfast. IL fiaunts no
flaming torch. but men awake from sleep,
alright 10 feel their dwelling rock. while
earth's deep foundations heave beneath
them. The forest ne, with flame and