The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-06-18
"CALL OURSELVES CHRISTIAN
YET FIGHT LIKE SAVAGES."

The theme Of the Reverend Doctor VIII
liam NJ. Jones at Hyde Park Congregational
Church yesterday morning was The True
Revival" Doctor Jones took his text from
Psalms lxxv, s.: wilt thou not revive US
again; that thy people may rejoice in thee?"
In substance he spoke as follows:
This psalm Is a song Of deliverance be-
cause the Lord had wrought some mighty
work in behalf of his people. Critics differ
regarding the occasion which called ii forth;
some refer 1t TO David's restoration to the
throne after Absalom's revolt: others to the
religious awakening under Hezekiah; while
a third class of interpreters apply 1t to the
return from Babylon. The present speaker,
on the whole. rather favors the second view,
since the religious sentiment and its proper
cultivation are put in the forefront, and in
perfect keeping with the reforms inagua-
rated by HeZekiah. But, whatever interpre-
tation We accept. there Is one thing very
manifest: that the writer recognizes the
TACT that God has been very mercifui to
his people, and Is still DESTROYS that the Al
mighty One pour upon them more ccpious
and complete blessings. There may or may
not have been any real captivity to which
this psalm refers. but there was undoubted
deliverance from the thral;dom of sin and
separation from God.
Apart from him and the ordinances Of
MS sanctuary there Is nothing possible, but
a state Of moral eadness and apathetic
inactivity. In the throes of this travail Of
soul the inspired writer wrestles with his
Maker. and pleads for longer life, and says,
Wit thou not rather permit us to live
again. so that thy people may rejoice in
thee" The basis Of joy is life. and there
Is no real. vital. fuil-orbed life, except as
1t comes from the Father in heaven. We
are dead permit US TO live again! This is
me souTs cry for a religious awakening.
me yeafning or a heart athirst for God.
Oh: God, thou art my God; early will /
seek thee; my soul thirsteth for thee: my
hesa i0hgeth Tor thee in a dry and thirsty
In the Intense secularism of the present
age We are prone TO forget the significance
on spiritual things We believe in religion
ahtiy demonstrated In the Increasing num-
Der of temples reared in the name Of God
ahn me constantly charging sphere Of
thrltslan activity. But We are In danger of
hecoming perfunctory and petrifed in spir-
ftual experience.
him Goo %,y Is a spirit; and they that worship
truth. These words, uttered at Jacobs
well. have been ringing through nineteen
centuries. and yet their meaning has been
largely lost upon the world.
"Mammonism is rampant and material
Ism universal. SO that the still small voice
OF God IS inaudible In the din. On the very
threshold of the Twentieth Century VS. are
lar from the ideals of the gospel of peace.
Sompetltion Is more prevalent than CO.
survives. while the weak is driven TO the
wall. The right of might is the doctrine
mat IS forever to the front. and it obtains
1tal combines and labor forms a union and
the notion prevails that there must eyer
be a hsht. This miscellaneous doctrine ar
rays class against class and interest against
interest. to the damage of ali and 10 the
detriment of the world.
This comes to pass because we have
Diuhoered IN placing the material above
the spiritual In human affairs. The might
OF right must be brought to the front. II
tne spirl, OF the golden rule were given n
fair chance. there would be no war between
nations, or strife between man and man:
and neither strategy nor strike would he
called into requisition, for men vouJd ,}weI
tOKetner IN NntfS- and arhifrata fhafr ,aITo.
ences in the spirit of love.
We call ourselves civilized. and even
the slightest preteXt when we cannot gain
our selfish ends. This ought TO teach us
a lesson in humility. and lead to the attain
centuries ago Ahram said INTO Lot. Let
there he no strife. i pray thee, between me
and thee. and between. my herdmen and
tiny. herdmen; Tor We be brethren This
strikes at the bottom of the whole social
problem and gives us an iIlustrious example
IN practcai common sense In the adjust
ment of differences. IL we followed this
method. We should he permitted to live
again in the free air of Christian brother
hood' Where there is unity of spirit and the
environments. but with our selfish, greedy
hearts. Create in me a clean heart, O.
This was the Psalmists nrayer and II
ought to be ours. In every other way, we
simply scratch the surface; in this way,
We get to the core.
Were half tie power that nlls the world with
terror.
Were half the wealth. bestowed on camp, and
co:rts.
Given to redeem the human min from error,
There were no need OF arsenals nor forts.
Reformation must frs; be mental and
moral, then will come social regeneration.
Right Thought must precede right action,
and a clean heart will produce a clean life.
Our hope. then. is not in sociology, but in
spirituality. For to be carnaIly minded Is
death: but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace
I'VE must tarry until, We are hap-ized
with the spirit. and when he is come. there
will be a pentecostal blessing. which will
enable the church of Christ to live again
|God"