The St. Louis Republic., 1900-07-30
WORDS OF ST. PAUL THAT
POINT TO TRUE PROGRESS.

The Reverend c. ". Moller, rector of St
Johns Episcopal Church, preached yestet-
day morning. taking his text from lh't-
iii. Is and Il: This one thing L do For
getting those things which are behind and
reaching forth TO those things which are
before. 1 press toward the mark for the
rrize Of the high calling OF God in Christ
Jesus
In part he said:
..St. Paul. I'm his epistle to the Philippians
writes in a most intensely interesting way
about the practical working OF the prin-
ciples of the doctrine OF Christ In ms own
T.r. He refers 10 himself az naturally aS
frail and weak as any OF his converts. ana
vet he shows the secret of his power 10 pe
in the practice of what he preached con-
cerning Christ and his Kingdom. The words
of our text reveal what ST. Paul has proved
by personal experience to be the true nheth-
cd for development of character and the
power Of progress =.
reaching forward and pressing on Tor
prize. The intense activity of the MINDS ana
bodies of men and women have gwen the
civilized world a power OF production un-
known before. The blessed fruits or indus
Try and enterprise have distinguished Chris
tian nations and proclaimed Christianity 10
be the power of progressive life torSettlns
those things which are behind and reaching
forward to those things which are before
sounds like some inspired motto for the new
':The literature of former years. the last
ceutury methods, may become obsolete ana
seem old-fashioned and behind the times,
but Christ and the gospel and the apostolic
fellowship ever lead the world Of progress; ,;
Mount Moriah. from Mount sinai 70
Mount Calvary. from Mount Calvary 70
Pentecost- St Pauis words are an insiira-
ton TO the truly progressive life Of to-day
as 10 the life of centuries ago
when we mention the progress ct the
centuries men ordinarily think OF mere ma
teriai progress. the advance OF science ana
art. the development OF culture re. ara ih ily- at
dences of the blessing of Cod. but St Paul
points on to higher forms OF progress.
There is a higher form OF progress than
that which consists of utilizing AMI faskicE-
ing matter. And what can be sai1 oi so-
called progress that demands more lor ,, SIT
at the cost of anothers happiness and we'll
being? OF what real value Is the lrogress
that substitutes intellectual activity Tor
effect OF progress in tine development OF
natural gifts that sinks 20 selfish, aimiess
energy, leaving to men OF ofttirnes INTERIOR
ability the inspiration and direction Oh true
Men talk Of progress that gives no honor
TO virtue or poWer 10 cInScigace; b anu iHaL
but like the wages of sin, sinks INTO DEATH
There are those who. in the name - prog
a pagan god with the garlanis of vain
and blasphemous Imagination and claim 10
see smile OF sP&Provni & On ne or1d ibis aa
so-called progress g but the spirit of Ie-
action against the truly progressive work
soul. The world cannot improve On the
apostolic teaching Jesus Christ Is the tarLe
oTds sSa oeHey pane ana aN@s s. PAU
message is for the men ard women OF this
modern world as for the converts CT cid
The expression Of the principles Of the
doctrine OF Christ Is the expression o. that
is its ne and jnspiration. 81. Pa Srs neth-
cd for the truly progressive life il simple
and direct He throws Limscf heart ard
mind and soul and strength into the rur-
pose of his life. He repeats what has be-
come a well-known axiom os hun@n ex-
perience-there can be 'io SUCCESS Without
concentration of effort.
The Christian experience proves more
and more the hopeless toll of trying to
live two lives. the WEAKNESS and sorrow and
disappointment of trying to blend what
will not mix. the vanity of trying to work
and his righteousness must stand in the
truly progressive life before all other
things
is TO forget those things which are behind
and reach forward 10 those things which
are before He is telling us all how TO go
How many men. feeling the inspiration
Of high Ideals, have. like the poet, tried to
climb the hill where perpetual sunlight
falls but have grown weary OF SUSTAINED
effort. have rebeled against the dem1ld
upon their strength and impatient in the
path OF bitter experience and discounted
pride They have found the life Of progress
Sullen they have brooked as over a hope
less task and they fall back to the plain
that plain Of low thoughts and mean mo.
tives and feeble looking back. with cow
srdly dstrust in self and God.
THE results OF making light of sin have
proved bad enough. but the harm OF brood
ing over the past is worse. Remorse ruins
souls II did the soul Of Judas. and has
kept God only knows. how many men ans
women from the blessed knowledge an.
g59g love Of of aS ss So PAUL @
those things which are behind. He does
not cry over split water. He does not waste
or youth or become doubtful and confused
amid the distractions of sinful world. H
forgets all but the great purpose Of hi:
life, to reach forward toward those things
which are before. TO press on for the mari
Of the prize Of the high calling of God il
'The progress Of the race Of man. OF our
country and our church will depend upon
the way IN which @ the men and n, NON Tomeh ,st q
calling. This spirit Of progress is inspired
by the fact that it IS the high calling Of
store Gods likeness in human character
II is the calling to ultimate perfection. am
S rTs Gnssssn stds Of ean a az S an,hns ~
thing well and let that thing be the great
purpose Of life; the high calling Of God ir
Christ Jesus. Secondly. It is to make new
beginning each day. forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching on TO better
Finally. Il is % the trust that that God who ha, a.
called US to the progressive life will Ger.
tainly, give us the power Of progress un
der all circumstances
IF we have taken into our lives the
spirit OF St. Paul's words We shall neve,
dare to look on and falter or draw back
We shall not dare to turn from Christ and
progress to the outer darkness of no resur.
iection. no hope and no light, We shall
not be satisfied with ineager and unworthy
thoughts of creator. We shall strive
TO hear God speak in his Scriptures anC
meet God i'm PRAYER and Sacramcnts and
give him more and moro our penitencc
ou- trust. our rcrSon:,i devotion and oul
love. sH.l in SAW r Jesus Christ fin,
'1iiv - -'f-fi' g. rctcH forward and prt :.
a. v,.,. r-r i..i"'e Dcin= toward the mari