The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-20
OBSERVANCE OF LENT
REV. j. A. MILBURN TALKED OF 1T
AT HIS VESPER SERVICE.
''The Young Mans Bible" Discussed at
lin the Catholic Churches.

Rev. ]. A. MiIburn, at the Second Presby-
terrain vesper services yesterday, gave a
brief talk to those present on Lent" He
said that the Christian world has just en-
tered on the season of Lent, which is and
has been strictly observed by three denom-
nations, the Orthodox Greek Church, the
Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant
Episcopal Church. Mr.. Milburn was glad
that other churches have begun and are
beginning to observe this season. There
was a time, said he, when the Presbyterian
Church shrank from observing the lenten
season, for, whatever it's faults, and it has
many, whatever its failings, and it has
many, whatever it's irregularities have been,
and they hav been many, the Presbyterian
Church has always been superbly loyal to
sincerity and right as it saw it. 1t had
seen people so to church for six weeks, it
had seen people become devotional for six
weeks, it had seen people giving up things
for six weeks, as bon-bons or something of
that nature, and at the expiration of the
six weeks it had seen these same people
plunge into designations and gayeties great
er than ever before. The Presbyterian
Church shrank from observing e. because
of this artiiciality and this pharlseeism.
~D0N HNAAD WV F0AANNb GdA0 MI AAD0 q
not the proper observance, nor was it the
intent of Lent. The season really stands as
a special season when man should pray,
when he should devote more thought to his
God and his religion, VIXEN he should seek
to get closer to his God. The pastor begged
his hearers to fall in with the enter notion
and to adopt true lenten habits. He de-
clared that with every one religious life is
ant IN hacOmp a habit RI hp0oaTna n routine
and to become mechanical. All need more
of God, more spiritual strength.
Mr.. Milburn then took UP the subject Of
prayer during Lent. He questioned the be-
lief of the hearers in prayer. He said the
church members do believe in it, but they
do not believe enough in it. He said that
he believed in it, but he did not believe in
it enough. There is not the proper fervor
in prayers, and there is too much stammer-
ing in them. He urged his hearers to pray
as though they believed there is a God.
Another feature to be considered, said
Mr.. Milburn, is the church. There should
be a quickening of conscience in regard to
the church in general. There have been
many complaints about the church., he as
serted, and many comparisons made be-
tween the church of the present day and
the church in the days gone by, particu-
larry with the church during the seven
teenth century. He claimed that the church
to-day IS better than ever. He referred to
an article by Rev. ". A. Goodwin on this
subject, in which the writer stated tina the
church is to-day more ardent, more enthu
siastic and better organized than at any
time in its history. And yet said Mr..
Milburn, the church is not what it ought
TO be, and there is much room for improve
ment. The trouble with the church to-day
IS its GOODNESS, its l-uxuriousness, it's brit
tleness, ITS statuesqueness." He said that
IN some churches a visitor is CONCEALED.
There is a general lack of warmth. You
go to a party meeting" he continued, and
you become warmed and enthusiastic. You
come to the church and you sit here and
wait Tor the service to end" The pastor
asserted that the church is either q humbug
a farce, and he urged his hearers to cult
Vate zeal during the lenten season.
Ihe necessity of considering the church
was Mr.. Mllburn's third division. Those
not or the church, said he, should think
about being OF the church during this sea-
not go to the church. He urged that they
come to the church, put themselves in touch
with ii, make these weeks weeks of PRAYER
ana confess their faith. Many people, said
ne, claim they are not good enough for the
church, but such a statement is not good.
the church. IL a person is s~elf-righteous
ana thinks he is good, he should stay out
OF the church. Christ, said the sneaker
called the sinners and not the righteous,
ana the object of the church is not to make
prim, disgusting saint of people. but TO
MS and to instilI into him the
deSlre 10 do better. He urged all that thew
should make the lenten season one of holy
aspirations.