The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-06
ARE CHURCHES True
RODNEY, THE HERO OF DIR.
COWGILL'S SERMON STORY
SALVATION ARMY's PLACE

Saint and the Sinner Line That
Is Not Drawn In the Churches Be-
tween the Protesting Chris
tian and the Reputable Non-Pro-
fessor.
Rev. F. B. Cowgirl read the third
chapter of his sermon story last even
told first of the young men who spent
the night with the sick boy, and of the
determination they then formed to
give more attention hereafter to the
sick and suffering. Their conversation is
given as they go to their homes in the
morning, and their plans bear fruit in
much service to a needy family.
Then came an account of Stephen
RCdney's school experiences, dealing
with the pleasing and the more serious
phases of student life. the religious ele-
ment in his experience being emphasiz-
ed, to describe. among other things, the
religious perplexities of growing
mind. On his way to a Salvation Army
service Stephen Rodney has reflections
like the following:
Here Is a Christian land with Chris:
tan institutions. Here in the city are
many churches, with ministers and
laymen of commanding influence. Here
is vast wealth in the keeping Of people
who consider themselves followers of
the Nazarene. Here is immense power
t. bring good things to pass. But
here, between Tenth street and Web
ster avenue and the river, is a vast
population having almost no churches,
Sunday schools or religious services.
Here are thousands of people who do
not go to church. Saloons are abund-
ant; so are the vile theaters thronged
every night in the week. The children
here know the songs of the street and
the theater better than they know the
sweet songs of religion. Here is vice
of every sort all the year round. Are
the Christian people really unable to
put an end to this state of things? Did
not Christ die for these people? Were
not their souls as the souls of others
Would he. bless the devotion which
sent missionaries to the ends of the
earth, and be patient with the indiffer-
enee which left people to moral rot in
the slums? Did the church understand
its obligations to do the part of the
good samaritan at home? Was it right
that the well-to-do people should take
their churches with them when they
moved into the suburbs? When people
got we'll enough off to move out into
the suburb. why could they not leave
their old churches standing for the ac-
commodation af the missionaries who
were willing to stay down town with
the people? If they were able to build
new churches when they retreated from
the slums, surely they need not have
torn their old churches down, or turn
ed them into stores and factories. and
thus have left the poor people church.
less. And was the Salvation Army get
ting closer TO the Master in this blessed
work of lifting up the fallen than these
elegantly clad and luxurious worship
pers who reveled in all the delicate de-
lights Of sacred architecture, and felt
the throb of the great pipe organ
While they sang praises to God and
called 1t service?"
Stephens meditation's were inter-
rupted by the bang of a bass drum
and the rattle of a dozen tambourines
and chorus of voices singing a saliva
ton hymn. About the singers stood a
crowd Of men, women and children.
The snow lay on the ground Chill
dren whose shoes were falling to pieces
stood, now on one foot, now on the 9TH
er. The men, some without overcoats
were standing about with their hands
in their pockets. Women had shawls
drawn over their heads. The crowd
drew closer and closer to the little COM
pany of salvationists, partly drawn by
interest in the singers, and partly
driven by the cold, as sheep huddle to-
gether on a winters night. The chill
dren, unable to see from without, or
crowd their way through to the inner
circle. On the fringe Of the crowd
were well-dressed citizens who paused
for few moments from curiosity or
interest in the service, and then went
on to their business and their pleasure.
At the doors Of the two saloons ada
cent stood a little group of men who
had come out to listen, or tarried on
their way in.
Then follows very life-Iike descrip-
ton OF the service in the street and
another in the barracks, to which
Stephen and friend follow the army.
1t is rousing noisy, enthusiastic serv-
ice, in which several were converted,
and the roof stayed on the building
Only because it was fastened on. After
the service the following conversation
takes place between Stephen and his
friend:
why can we not have such services
in our churches?" said Stephen.
Il suppose there are several rea-
sons,' replied Strong, why we cannot
often have such services In our
churches. One is that in the average
congregation there is very little differ
ence between those who profess Chris
tianity and those who do not
DO 1 understand you to say that
there is very little difference between
one who is a Christian and one who
is not?"
II did not say that. There is a great
difference between one who is a Chris
tan and one who is not. But some
church members are not Christians,
and some outsiders are. And, in the
ordinary congregation, the average
non-professor compares very favorably
with the average professor in his or
binary walk and conversation Judged
by the way he does business and by the
way he votes, by his public spirit and
his charity, and often by his liberality
to the church, the non-professor stands
very close to the professor in the ay-
erage congregation. The average non
professor believes that he is about as
good as the average professor, and
the average professor does not thor
oughly believe that, while he is going
to heaven, the non-professor beside
him is going to hell on account of the
difference between them, which seems
to consist in little more than the mat
ter of church membership and Chris
tan profession. The line between the
average saint and the average sinner
in the church is not very clear to the
minister himself, and he treats all very
much alike. But in that congregation
at the barracks the line is clearly
drawn between saint and sinner. The
members of the army have given up
their whisky and gambling and card
playing and profanity, and are lead
ing changed lives. They believe now
that they are on the way to heaven,
and that the others are on the way
to hell. They say so boldly and make
the others believe it. They draw the
line and make 1t clear that the mat
ter Of accepting Jesus Christ and join