The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-27
Rev. c. I, Browns Discourse On ga
Glorious Church"
A NOVEL TEXT CHOSEN
CoNGREGATIoNALIsM ECCLEsI-
ASTICAL DEMOCRACY.
The Church Building None Too Good
For God and His Kingdom-None
Too Beautiful If We, In Thought,
Are Beautiful Enough - Pastors
Esteem For His Flock.

iAGN. AlditiiSS l)iCn WI NNAA ~ -
able discourse at the First Congrega-
tional church yesterday forenoon on
subject near and dear to his hearers. A
Glorious Church" The text is d novel
one ana the speakers dissertation proved
very interesting.
In his opening remarks, Mr.. Brown al
luded to the reception given by the church
last week to himself and Mrs. Brown. he
would be less than a man. he said, IL ne
did not genuinely ENJOY the esteem alu
affection of his church, and less IMAM
Christian if he failed to recognize and en-
phasize the conditions and forces tnat
could never be personal, ana the loyalty
which rallies around the pastor, because
it sees in him the standard-bearer OF
Continuing, he said, in part: My text
is found in the twenty-seventh verse OF
the fifth chapter of Ephesians which
read: "A glorious church, not having spot
or wrinkle or any such thing l did not
choose this text as an exact oescflp l.lloi
of our church. 1t is a very dear churcn,
il is a very beautiful church to US, nut
we know who constitute it, that 1t is not
yet altogether glorious, 1t IS awe and
growing. and, as we believe in our heart
of hearts, chosen of God, and mat
through us and by US ana over US. his
glorious grace is working, so that we
live in the hope that bye ana BYE We,
with countless Others may enter INTO
that band immortal, that glorious church
not having spot or Wrinkle or any such
IllnS.
And so. what say this morning will
not he an exposition of this text; it viii
be rather some suggestions lying TINS
side of the text and helping US, trust,
TO work up a little more earnestly and
successfully toward the splendid Ideal
which its words set forth.
Let us settle it once for all IN our minus
this building is none too good for Cod
and the part of his kingdom which we
represent 1t is none too good, If we
are good enough. Do you say that these
pretty walls comfortable seats and beau
riful windows drive poor people away?
If we do not have poor people mere, 20
not have sorrowing people here; II we GO
not have the down-trodden oneS-let US
nor blame our beautiful walls for it; It
is because we have not enough love ana
influence in our hearts and faces-tha1 Is
why. - ,.,,,.;e,,,
if we. in our hearts and thoughts and in
fluence, are only beautiful enough. 100
good When, in our very city, ten lilnes,
possibly a thousand times, more money
has been expended in the decoration oL
saloons where poor people go, than ever
has been expended in this church Ihose
places are not too good Tor our boys
Those places are none too Deautful LOT
poor people. This church is none too gooo.
if we are only good enough.
Our work here shows another thlnS-
that we believe not only in the IDEAL, but
we believe that the ideal comes through
the practical We have had a chance
the last three months, most OF uS-au VI
us l might sayAto give till we felt II
We are in danger, many of US, OF get
ling clear off the earth into absolute
vague uselessness, unless conlpe4lieu "
make some sacrifice. tits good thlnS 10
have a hard problem come up before US
once in a while 1t is good once IN a WINE e
TO be compelled to give untll we leel IL Aoi
/ think il is an evidence TO this com.
munity also that there is good deal OF
vitality left in the democratic Ideas OF
church and religion-democratic, aoso-
Iutely and Congregatio is the DEM
ocrat of the ecclesiastical world.
This debt has been raised without
tithes or assessment, without OUTSIDE
pressure of any kind, but by the private;
Voluntary Subscriptions OF members and
friends and ] think il is fair lllustra-
ton of the vitality of democratic ideas, a
church where every man stands on the
same footing, q church without priest
and without q bishop, a church worthy OF
our apostolic antecedents, our Plgrlnl
What is good enough for you is none
TOO good for any one. The one who sees
owes an obligation to the one VINO Us Is
obligation to the man whose ears are
stopped A democracy should be, not OF
the type sometimes in evidence, where
everybody is looking out Tor NUMBER one;
That kind of a democracy is great deal
worse than q monarchy Congrega-
tienal church is a democracy not only OF
privilege but of obligation. When, we
Started in on this work, each one look
ing at his own small account-possibly in
red ink-thought. $4,000! WHAT an i'm,
rnense sum- 1t can never be raised;
heard Of one who said that il the First
Congregational church raised that money
she would believe in miracles. Now she
is at liberty to SO believe 1t IS the
miracle of united, persistent endeavor
Such miracles are always happening. Lei
US never forget that in all our work.
We say to this community we be-
Iieye not only in our house walls, but We
believe in our church walls. We believe
we need not only those defenses for oul
children which we are able to put about
them in our own home, but we need some
Ii.flS more, even as the olden cities need
ed a strong wall outside of the walls OF
the houses.
We believe not only in the private
patriot. but in the trained regiment.
we believe not only in the house lamI
but the street lamp. We believe not only
lighthouse, for the safety of the ship
We believe not only in the individual
spring gurgiing up here with its sweet
fresh water. but also in the collected
springs, the river carrying precious
freiPht on its bosom. We believe thing!
are possible to the church of God which
are not possible to the individual family
alone"
Jerusalem. Thou shalt call thy wall.
salvation, and thy gates praise, indicate:
Iue two great functions of the church
service and worship, praise and practica
power. May OUTS be church where We
all come in as worShiperS OF God and e
out as workers for men. looking up anC
lifting up always getting a blessing tina
we may be q blessing.
We may not be perfect, but we may b,
faithful and under Gods redeemin.
grace and in his own good time attain tn,
state Of shat glorious church of Chris
which shall be holy and without blem
ish.'
~ 60