The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17


cal science. secular history or historic men,
but the gospel of Jesus Christ. Human
nature has not changed since the fall nor
the gospel since the first promise. Saving
truth is as immutable as the law of grav-
ity which set the worlds in their orbits at
the first and has maintained until now the
harmony of the spheres. Gymnasia. IL
braries, concerts and entertainments may
have their place in the outer courts OF the
church. but are not essential TO its sue
cess. That minister impairs his usefulness
who seeks to draw attendance by making
the organ loft the prominent feature in the
Sabbath service. or anthems a greater at
traction than the sermon, or the classical
solo than the penitential prayer Even the
world turns away from a ministry which
is more intent drawing a crowd than
on saving souls. Ii has little respect for
the preacher who does not adhere to his
commission, and in place of discussions
the open fields which give at least some
intimation of Him who hath made every
thing beautiful in His time. Then, too,
the church at large must maintain and
publish the truth. 'Ye are my Witnesses
said the Lord. Moving rapidly toward the
shore line of the twentieth century, we
vival of faith, answering devotion to the
doctrines of grace, the moral courage of
Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms.
THE IDEAL CHRISTIAN LIFE.
"Second-God also bids us advance in
personal holiness. We are TO forget the
things which are behind. Christ has or
dained us that we should bring forth fruit
and that fruit should remain. In our
devotion to the world its pursuits and
pleasures, enticed by the possibilities of
wealth and the attractions of place and
power, or occupied with the mere machin-
cry of evangelization, we have not taken
time to be holy. We need to deal honestly
nd
1t is not thinking and talking about holi-
ness that is required, but the being holy.
Our lives must be illustrations of the truth
carrying the CLEAN of nearing glory.
Through such lives Jesus will conquer the
world and make IL an integral part of
heaven. This ideal life involves Christian
sacrifice for the Masters sake Meditative
piety simply is not the measure of our
obligation. Solitary prayer should open its
doors on the worlds here and afar. Read
ing chapters in the Bible, praying in
cret, feasting at the holy supper, all this
is necessary and helpful, but it is not
enough. We must cry unto God and then
go forward. We may learn lesson from
the carrier pigeon which first flies upward,
then outward on its errand. We must give
our substance, and more generously than
is our wont, that the world may be brought
to Christ The 1.-THE should be the mini
mum; wealth, out of its abundance, should
give far more. The day Is past when mere
riches command respect. covetous Chris
tianity is an incongruity at which intelli-
Sence marvelS. There are men and women
of wealth, who realize their stewardship;
whose hands distribute benefactions; who
carry on the great enterprises of the
church. Their works praise them in the
gates. But ii is wholly uncfristian to hoard
wealth. to consume il on ourselves to
transmit il to the generation following,
giving a pittance to Christ while We live
and nothing when we die. The man of
wealth belongs to the world, and like the
guerdon plant should drop benedictions on
all the circling air. He is a steward, and
God says: Occupy till come
INSTRUMENTATION of force is re-
quired by the exigencies of our age The
existence Of denominations is not to be
condemned They may conserve truth. The
church when an organic unit became cor
rupt. When the great reformation led the
exodus from Rome, Professionalism resolved
itself into different organisms. The hand of
God was in 1t. But divisions are too many.
Force is too widely distributed The light
falls obliquely. Churches of the same faith
and polity should be united. Let us main
tain this conviction in the face of every
difficulty and disbursement and go for
ward in hope. Let us hearken to the COM
worlds backgrounds, the serried ranks Of
unbelief drawing near: Soldiers of the
cross, close up your ranks and march on
THE SOUTHLAND.
Brethren, let us begin with the nearest
branch of our church and invite Joseph,
now separated from his brethren. to come
home, or if he prove more magnanimous
than we. and send his wagons, let us go to
him. We revere and tenderly cherish the
memory of noble men in the southland
who. having served their Master with con-
| spicuous success, have gone to their re-
ward: the Thornwells, Grardeaus, Hoges
| and Adgers, and others of like spirit. Why
should not we who remain, moved by the
| mind of Christ, seek to restore the unity
of happy, never-to-be-forgotten days? We
need our Southern brethren, and they need
| u.s. Our form of government is the same.
| Our modes of worship are the same. Our
| traditions blend. We adopt the identical
| symbols of faith and our devotion to the
| doctrines of grace never wanes. We stood
| side by side in the war of humanity before
| Santiago. and together stormed the castles
of Manila, and have We'd with each other
In our loyalty TO our national flag. Why
not unite our forces in the interests of the
church of God, and f1inging out the banner
| of the cross, claim for King Emmanuel the
| land of our love?
Brethren, commissioned by the now
reigning Christ to bring a lost world to
| Him, let us go forward. Refusing all COM
promise with the world and sin, let our
| conservation to Him be complete. May we
never yield to sloth, lukewarmness. doubt
or disbelief and when to advance seems to
| invite defeat, let us rely on God in whom is
| everlasting strength and go forward. Then
shall our cry, winged by faith. ascend on
| high, and Pentecost, long delayed, shall
| come. Nations shall be born In day, and
our world. now marred by sin, shall be-
| come Gods own fair world again. If that
| contamination do not come in our day, then
| beyond lifes tempestuous we shall be-
| hold 1T from the battlements of HEAVIER,
| joyfully awaiting the glad coronation day,
| when the church earth shall join the
| church in heaven, and enemies conquered,
| faith triumphant, Jordan passed, we shall
| abide in the land of the King and reign
with Him forever and ever. Hallelujah!
| Amen.r'