The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-03-02

o long In making up his mind that
Christ would not keep silent before the
facts. So he carefully prepared a
plain statement of his belief in Christ's
standing on the modern use of Sun
day, and as on the other occasions
when he had spoken the first Sunday
In the month he cast out of his reckon
ing all thought Of the consequences.
His one purpose was to do just as, in
his thought Of Christ, he would do
with that subject.
The people In Milton thought that
the first Sunday Philip appeared in his
pulpit he would naturally denounce the
saloon again. But when he finally re-
covered sufficiently to preach he de-
termined that for awhile he would say
nothing in the way Of mt against
the whisky evil. He had a great hor-
ror of seeming to ride a hobby, Of be-
ing a man Of one idea and making peo-
| pie tired Of him because he harped on
One string. He had uttered his de-
nunciation, and he would wait a little
before he spoke again. The whisky,
| power was not the only bad thing in
Milton that needed to be attacked.
There were other things which must
be said. And so Philip limped into his
pulpit the third Sunday of tie month
and preached IN a general theme, to
the disappointment Of a great crowd
almost as large as the last one he had
faced. And yet his very appearance
was a sermon in itself against the in
stitution he had held up to public con-
demnation on that occasion. His knee
wound proved very stubborn, and he
limped badly. That in itself spoke
eloquently of the dastardly attempt on
his life. His face was pale, and he
had grown thin. His shoulder was
stiff, and the enforced quietness of his
delivery contrasted strangely with his
customary fiery appearance on the
platform. Altogether that first Sum-
day Of his temperance in his pulpit
was Il stronger sermon against the Sa-
| loon than anything he could have spo-
ken or written.
When the first Sunday in the next
month came on, Philip was more like
his old self. He had gathered strength
enough to go around two Sunday after
moons and note for himself the desc
Grafton Of the day as it went on reck-
lessly. AS he saw it all it seemed to
him that the church in Milton was
practically doing nothing to stop the
evil. All the ministers complained Of
the difficulty of getting an evening con-
rrnrofion Vot h,,n1raIS Of ununn
people walked past all the churches
every Sunday night, bent on pleasure,
| going to the theaters or concerts or
parties, which seemed to have no trou-
BILE in attracting the crowd. Espe-
cially was this true Of the foreign
population, the working element con-
nected with the mills. 1t was a COM
mon occurrence for dog fights, cock
fights and shooting matches Of various
kinds to be going on in the tenement
district on Sunday, and the police
seemed powerless or careless in the
matter.
All this burned into Philip like
molten metal, and when he faced his
people on the Sunday which was be-
COIuluS d HOleu Suuudy LUZ luSul ut
quivered with the earnestness and
thrill which always come to a sensitive
man when he feels sure he has a SER
mon which must be preached and a
message which the people must hear
for their lives.
He took for a text Christ's words.
"The Sabbath was made for man" and
- ~-a 1@G1oI to- ,, :Dr or ~ ~-11;al
day.
1.-THE true meaning of our modern
Sunday may be summed up in two
~words-rest and worship. Under the
head Of rest may be gathered what
ever is needful for the proper and
healthful recuperation of ones physic-
al and mental powers, always regard
ing not simply our W ease and COM
fort, but also the same right to rest on
the part of the remainder of the COM
munity. Under the head of worship
may be gathered all those facts which,
either through distinct religious Serv-
ice or work or thought, tend to bring
spiritual life, to teach men larger,
SWeeter truths OF existence anu OF GOu
and leave them better fitted to take up
the duties of everyday business.
"Now, it is plain to me that if Christ
were here today and pastor of Calvary
church he would feel compelled to say
some very plain words about the desc
Grafton of Sunday in Milton. Take,
for example, the opening Of the fruit
stands and cigar stores and meat mar
kets every Sunday morning. What is
the n reason why these places are
open this very minute while l am
speaking? There is only one reason
SO that the owners of the places may
sell their goods and make money.
They are not satisfied with what they
can make six days in the week. Their
greed seiZeS on the one day which
ought to be used for the rest and wor-
ship men need and turns that also into
a day Of merchandise. Do we need
any other fact to convince us of the
terrible selishness of the human
heart?
COR take the case of the saloons