The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-25
SERMON BY REV. Mr.. WINANS
PRACTICAL DISCOURSE 1T THE
FIRisT NJ. u. CHURCH, WEST HAVEN
what the Congregation Can Do to
Make the Services a Success-Church
should be Attended More Regularly
The Treatment for Strangers.

| NC pAOHS
The Treatment for Strangers.
| Rev. William S. Winans, pastor OF
| the First M. e. church, West Haven,
preached poetical sermon to large
number of his parishioners Sunday
morning. The sermon was one that
Rev. Mr.. Winans has been wanting to
preach to his congregation for long
time, and it was one that was fully ap-
preciated by those who heard it, He
took for his text Acts SO, Lord,
what wilt thou have me to do?" Rev.
Mr.. Winans divided his sermon into
number of parts, each one of which he
made clear to the congregation The
preacher spoke in substance as follows:
This is the time of year when the text
IS very appropriate, and that we should
take up any new work with more vigor
than ever before. If this is so we
ought not to renew only our maternal
interest, but also our spiritual inter-
ests Christs life was one of activity,
for He says: II must be about My
man, and later when He is vexed and
discouraged in the preaching OF the
gospel and at the end of His life when
He says, Father, l have finished Thy
work" A Christian, whether pro-
fessed Christian or not, is not Chris
tian unless he is a praying Christian,
If we cut off our supply Of food how
soon will we die, and if we cut off our
communion with God, how soon will
the life and light of our souls go out.
1t is just the same with a brook, for
how soon will it be stagnant and I'M
healthy, and menace to all around, II
1t is damned; while if it dubbed and
flowed briskly and actively, how much
cheer does this same brook give to all
near 1t.
So it is with us. We must be active
in all that we do, and as Christians we
should be jealous and impress it upon
others to be so. We should not shift
the responsibility on a few, but should
all take hold and work actively for the
great cause.
The preacher then took the question,
Lord, what wilt Thou have Me to dor"
and applied it in various ways to his
congregation. First he said all the
members of the church should attend
the religious services, and that nothing
should keep the people from attending
the services unless it be sickness, old
age or something of that character.
The great majority of the people go to
church about six times year, he said,
and when it comes Sunday they sleep
until 1t is too late to attend church.
Then, he said, the people should do
to make the church exercises
and come in and go out as
If that was the only duty they had.
BE courteous, cheerful. and when you
come in the church bow your heads in |
prayer and have the minister feel that |
the prayers are for him, too, because it
cheers and helps him. Be proud of |
your own church and stick by it, Don't |
go running away every Sunday to some |
other church when you have your own |
right here. You like your own family |
because 1t is your own. 1t should be the
same way with your church. If you /
have any criticisms about the service
or the preacher, make them direct, and |
not let him hear of them in a round
about way. When strangers come to
the church, treat them civlly and
and don't look askance as
they go up the aisle. Take a special
interest in each person, for the conduct
With each person will develop and ex-
oand your spiritual life in an amazing
Other facts We're laid before
he congregation during the sermon,
and at the end of the service, the
was congratulated on his
words by all.
The musical programme was a splen-
lid one.