The sun., 1900-04-30
BE PRACTICAL IN RELIGION
That is the Plea Made by Rev.
Francis B. Short at the Grand
Opera House.

The Grand Opera House was crowded
last night with persons who went to
hear Rev. Francis Burgette Short preach
a special sermon. Rev. Short is the pas
tor of Epworth NJ. E. Church, Tenth
and Lombard streets, but the edifce is
very frequently too small Sunday even
ings to hold the large crowds who turn
out to hear him.
In order that the many persons who
are so frequently either turned away or,
at best, compelled TO stand during the
service might have an opportunity to
hear him, last nights regular service of
the church was held in the Opera House.
Late corners were, however, very much
in the predicament as ii the service were
held in Epworth Church. A much larger
congregation was, however, accommo-
dated. .
The choir of Epworth Church, und'r
the able direction OF Professor Gt orge E.
King, was at its best and rendered the
following numbers:
Daughter of Zion ............T Trowbridge
"Laudate Dominum' '......"......Gardner
"King OF Kings" ..Simper
Soprano solo, Dream of Para ise."
Mrs. Miriam Sheppard Davidson
Rev. Short preached an eloquent SER
mon. His subject was, pure and Prac-
tical Religion" His text was James l,
81: "Fur religion and undefled before
God and the Father is this-to visit the
fatherless and widows in their affiiction,
and to keep himself unspotted from the
world"
He said in part: 81 am addressing an
audience this evening that represents in
some degree every denomination in this
city, and we all have our respective doc
trines. AS to some of these we agree to
differ, and as brethren we part; but we
do not part nor differ as TO the results of
truly religious life, as to the fruits of
pure religion. May l not also say that
so far as the absolute requirements neces-
sary to pure religion are concerned we
are-Protestant and Roman Catholic
alike-sgreed? Let us see.
We all believe in God as the creator
and the preserver of the universe; 1--WE
believe in Jesus Christ His Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under
Pontius PLATE, was crucifed, dead and
lburied;" we believe that He arose from
1.-THE dead, and that He ever liveth at the
right hand OF God the Father to make
intercession for us. We believe that sill
is in the world and that Jesus Christ is
our only Saviour; we believe that He
will save all who come to Him by faith,
and help them into nobler manhood in
time and sainthood in eternity. We be-
lieve that pure religion is best for the
individual and for the race at large.
K 4 x
To my mind the various denomina-
tions represent the varied ways by which
we approach Jesus Christ according to
our own conception, by whose grace we
hope to reach the city OF our God and
lay at His feet some precious sheaves.
No denomination is the sole ex-
ponent of all Gods truth. =
1t is notshalf so important a question,
what church you are member OF? as
the question, Is your life pure in God 8
sight? Religious bigotry is religious
, foolery, N**
Pure religion in our lives is practical,
, common sense religion. 1t does some
thing to help and never tries to hinder,
nor hurt. Pure religion is philan-
! thropic. y X y This is worth more to
J humanity than all the tongue religion
of christendom. You and l must do
something, else when we have been long
forgotten, Childs, Peabody, Rockefeller,
Miss Helen Gould, Miss Frances Will
lard. and our own Ferris. who by their
, deeds have blessed humanity, shall con.
tinue TO live in the lives and hearts oi
mankind. Be practical in your religion,
: for pure religion finds its highest and its
) noblest expression in the service which
we render to those in need.