Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-24
FOR SUNDAY READING.
.Allsorts al Opinion.

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THE EvANGEL OF PERoNAL SER
Y VICE. THE GOSPEL FOR THE
NEW CENTURY.
IBy w. G. Wasser. N. E. Church, Ode
bolt, TAI
Text: Phil. 1:12-l3; Now would
have you know. brethren, that the
things which happened unto me have
fallen out rather unto the progress OF
the gospel; 20 that my bonds became
manifest in Christ turnout the whole
Fraction guard, and to all the rest
For some time we have been expert
encing the fore CLEANS Of the new cen-
fury. It's trembling rays OF light have
fallen upon our Christian institutions.
The men OF nobler emotions for self-
realization and benevolent enterprises
have responded to the unfolding light
and are treading eagerly to make ready
and embrace the fullest and best that
the new dial Of time may reveal. Par
ticularly have the life-throbs been ma
infested in the churches. Our religious
forces are climbing UP the hills of Chris
Htian eEdeavor to attain the Hottest ems
inence from which to view the rising
sun of the twentieth century. This is.
most natural. The men Of the churches
are nearest to the heart-throbs OF God.
Optimism is our steadfast persuasion.
The religion of the coming err will be
the best Of all the ages. Many of the
accretions of fals,ehood incident to our
unfolding life will be exercised and done
away with and the pure life Of God will
stand forth In more concrete splendor,
rejoicing in the fulfillment OF its mis-
sion in redeeming men and blessing 90
ciety Among the visions OF truth for
this new age we see one more beautiful
than all the rest. Personal service shall
attain wider Significance and be pros
ecuted with a greater vigor than has
ever been known in Christian history.
This can only be increased in the extent
of liberalization. For in all the genera
tons of the Christian era there have
been 2 few men who attained the con-
summate heights of this virtue. Per-
haps its best Biblical setting is found in
the life Of the Apostle Paul In Rome.
While confined in a private house. under
the charge OF one Of the royal guards,
he lived 50 positively that the things
happening unto him had fallen out for
We're converts. not only among the Jews
the slaves Of the stall and market plac-
es, the vagabonds, the civilians OF the
city, the cohorts of the Roman leg!ons-
even the first guards Of the emperor
and there We're saints in Caesars
household" Now in this matter no one
OF US can expect to out-apostle Paul.
And we may despair OF equaling him.
But we are called to emulate his life by
all that is within us.
Our age presents special need for the,
gospel of personal service. Whatever
may have been the gains of the church
over the population-and there have
been great gains-it is still evident that
vast numbers have been and are being
alienated from the church. Many men
would march with that procession seen
In one Of our great cities carrying itss
banners, one Of which was Inscribed
with Damn the Church.. This people
once recognized az church. going peo-
pie have sadly deteriorated. It is alarm
ing the extent to which We have be-
come nom going church people Sadly
true We're the utterances Of Mr. Moody
When he declared: The gulf between
the church and the masses Is growing
deeper and wider and darker every
hour. The reality OF tlis gulf Is no
mere matter Of opinion. 1t lie an awful
fact.
Contact and association constitute
great educational and enlightening
serces But there is very little contact
between the churched and the un-
schurched in any beneficial sense About
he only association we find lies in bust
ness relations. But, pray, what do these
contribute toward better mutual un-
aerstanding of our people. Commercial
SIN Is the American ideal. "Conlpeti-
lion is' its watchword. Whatever we
nay think Of the visionary schemes Of
s5ctalism. the great fact soverwh Ginning
ns all and With which we have to deal
$ that we are living under a competitive
~ stem We know too we'll that this re-
seals the Favaricious, coyetous and self
sl side of human life. Competition is.
rot conducive to the revelation Of the
christian attainments. 1t may. by con-
sraSt magnify them when they do APP
pear. but it Goes not cultivate them,
With this, situation II would not be
strange II the masses We're Indifferent
ssWard the church. They are ignorant
~ 1t. Itwould not be strange, indeed, IL
many hated religion as it is, represent
I'd by the church. 1t has not been suffi-
,ently and truly represented Our reli-
sion has failed to carry as 1t should
from the altar to the counter. the shop
and the factory. We have not been mod
els Of virtue in the world life and COM
petition We fail In the social, civic and
political application Of our gospel. In
this connection. significant are the
words of the venerable Archbishop Ire
land. They We're uttered at the time OF
the investment and conservation OF Car
dinal Gibbons as bishop in the church
sof Rome. Among other things he said
I'VE desire to gain the age. Let us not
then stand isolated from 1t. Our place
is in the world as we'll as In the sanctu-
AIRY; in the world wherever we can prove
our love for II or render ii q service. We
can not influence men at long range:
close contact Is needed. Let us be with
them in the things that are theirs-ma-
sterial interests, social welfare and civil
weal-so that they may be with us in
the things that are ours-th the interests OF
religion. Let Us be with them, because;
their interests are our own. because ma
fture and grace can not be separated.
The age. shall be told. is following
wrong roads reply. we have aban-l
doned IT to itself and have allowed 1t to-
err. Let us now repair the fault and go
with It in order to guide 1t In the future;
The age demands liberty with good Cow