The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-06-14

II can preach on 1t, and trill."
lust exactly how much that verse
neant. But preach on it l must and
will"
And when the first Sunday of the
knonth came Philip did preach on 1t,
10 the dsmay of several members of
bis church who were in the habit of
giving entertainments and card par
les on a somewhat elaborate scale.
He had never preached on the sub
beet Of amusements, and he stated that
be wished it to be plainly understood
that he was not preaching on the sub
ject now. 1t was question which
went deeper than that and took hold
bf the very first principles of human
society. A single passage in the SER
mon will show the drift Of it all:
I'VE have reached u time in the his
fory Of the world when it is the Chris
ian duty of every man who calls
himself disciple of the Master to live
bn simpler, less eXtravagant basis.
The world has been living beyond its
means. Modern civilizati has been
xorbtant in It's demands, and every
Ollar foolishly spent today means
differing for some one who ought to
relieved by that money wisely ex-
fnded. An entertainment given by
pple-of-m means to other people OF
cans in these hard times, In which
oney is lavished on flowers, food and
fess, is In my opinion, an act Of which
hrist would not approve. l do not
hean to say that he would object to
he pleasure which flowers, food and
ress will give, but he would say that
is an unnecessary enjoyment and
Expense at this particular crisis
Trough which we are passing. He
Iould say that money ana time should
" given where people more in need
u them might have the benefit. He
you'd say that when Il town is in the
ituaton of ours today 1t is not a time
or any selfish use for any material
blessing.
Unless l mistake the spirit Of the
nodeln Christ, if he We're here he
you'd preach to the whole world the
eccSSity of far simpler, less eXpen-
I've style of living and, above all, ac-
|ual self denial on the part Of society
For the brotherhood of man. What is
|oclety doing now? What sacrifice Is
making? When it gives charity
pail, does it not spend twice as much
getting up the entertainment to
lease itself as it makes for the poor
Whose behalf the ball is given? Do
gu illlnk | am severe? Ask yourself,
member of Calvary church, what
iaS been the extent of your sacrifice
or the world this year before you con-
Tenn me for being too strict or par
lcuIar. 1t Is because we live in such
INES that the law of service presses
ppon us with greater insistence than
er And now more than during any
the ages gone Christs words ring in
Rur ears with 20 centuries of reverber-
'oi' whatsoever will not deny him
feit and take up his cross, he cannot
Pc my disciple"
ot all the sermons on Christ and
nouern society which Philip had thus
ar preached none had hit so hard or
as applied so personally as this. The
'oiuehs went home from the service
towering rage. THAT settles Cal
AIRY church for mew said Mrs. Golden
she Hung herself out of the building
i'er the service was over. 81 consid-
'lat the most insulting sermon
er heard from any minister. 1t is
nhpiy outlandish, and how the church
an endure such preaching much Ion
i IL wonder to me. don't go near
again while Mr.. Strong is the minis
Philip did not know 1t yet, but
was destined to find out that society
srries tremendous power In its use
'ne word "outlandish" applied ei-
"ur n 10 persons or things.
Mnen the evening service was over,
nnlp' as his habit was, lay down on
a. eouch In front Of the open fire un-
,he days excitement had subsided
! '.e' 1t was almost the only evening
he week when he gave himself up
uolnpiete rest Of mind and body.
N had been lying there about q
,S" a''er OF an hour when Mrs. Strong,
~ Nv nad been moving a plant back
~" one OF the front windows and had
se, l oonged to raise curtain, stepped
ton. " WIN az eAc'ama-
rnii'p. there 10 some one walking