The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-02-22

|
81 can preach on 1t, and I a0tlI."
just exactly how much that verse
meant. But preach on it / must and
WILL"
And when the first Sunday of the
month came Philip did preach on IT.
| to the dismay of several members OF
his church who were in the habit of
| giving entertainment and card par
ties on a somewhat elaborate scale.
He had never preached on the sub
| ject Of amusements, and he stated that
he wished it to be plainly understood
| that he was not preaching on the sub
| ject now. 1t was a question which
went deeper than that and took hold
| of the very first principles of human
| society. A single passage in the SER
mon will show the drift Of 1t all:
I'VE have reached a time in the his
tory of the world when it is the Chris
tian duty of every man who calls
himself a disciple of the Master to live
on a simpler. less extravagant basis.
The world has been living beyond it's
means. Modern civilization has been
eXorbitant in it's demands, and every
dollar foolishly spent today means
suffering for some one who ought to
be relieved by that money wisely ex-
pended. An entertainment given by
people of means to other people of
means in these hard times, in which
money is lavished on flowers, food and
dress, is, In my opinion, an act Of which
Christ would not approve. | do not
mean to say that he would object to
the pleasure which flowers, food and
dress will give, but he would say that
it is an unnecessary enjoyment and
expense at this particular crisis
through which we are passing. He
would say that money and time should
be given where people more in need
of them might have the benefit. He
would say that when a town is in the
situation of ours today it is not time
for any selfish use for any material
blessing.
Unless i mistake the spirit of the
modern Christ, If he were here he
would preach to the whole world the
necessity Of far simpler, less expen-
sive style of living and, above all, ac-
tual self denial on the part of society
for the brotherhood of man. What is
society doing now? What sacrifice is
1t making? When it gives a charity
ball, does it not spend twice as much
in getting up the entertainment to
please itself as it makes for the poor
in whose behalf the ball is given? Do
you think | am severe? Ask yourself,
o member of Calvary church. what
has been the extent of your sacrifice
for the world this year before you con-
denim me for being too strict or par
ticular. 1t is because we live in such
times that the law Of service presses
upon us with greater insistence than
ever. And now more than during any
Of the ages gone Christ's words ring in
our ears with 20 centuries of reverber-
alton, 'Whosoever will not deny him
self and take up his cross, he cannot
be my disciple"
OF all the sermons on Christ and
modern society which Philip had thus
far preached none had hit so hard or
was applied so personally as this. The
GOldens went home from the service
in a towering rage. That settles Cal
vary church for me" said Mrs. Golden
as she flung herself out of the building
after the service was over. Il consid-
er that the most insulting sermon |
ever heard from any minister. 1t is
simply outlandish, and how the church
can endure such preaching much lon
ger Is a wonder to me. don't go near
it again while Mr.. Strong is the minis
ter" Philip did not know it yet. bat
he was destined to find out that society
Of the word "outlandish" applied ell
ther to persons or things.
When the evening service was over,
Philip. as his habit was, lay down on
the couch in front of the open fire I'M
til the days excitement had subsidized a
little. 1t was almost the only evening
in the week when he gave himself up
TO complete rest Of mind and body.
He had been lying there about a
quarter Of an hour when Mrs. Strong,
who had been moving a plant back
from one of the front windows and had
been obliged TO raise curtain, stepped
back into the room with an exclama-
ton.
phillip, there is some one walking
back and forth in front of the house!
! have heard the steps ever since we
came home. And just now / saw a
man stop and look in here. Who can
II bep'
maybe It's the man with the bur-
glars lantern come back to get his
knife" said Philip, who had always
made little fun Of that incident as
his wife had told II. However, he rose
and went over to the window. Sure
enough, there was a man out on the
sidewalk looking straight at the house.
He was standing perfectly still.
Philip and his wife stood by the win
dow looking at the figure outside. and,
as 1t did not move away. at last Philip
grew little impatient and went to the
door to open 1t and ask the man what
he meant by staring into peoples
houses In that fashion.
snow, do be careful. won't yonT en-
treated his wife anxiously.
"Yes. presume It Is some tramp or