Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1900-04-11

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BY REV. CHARLES M. SHELDON,
Author Of I'm Steps "nfalcoua
&$ Kirk" Robert Hardy's Seven Days." -%%
i, .# Copyright, 1892 BY The Adrance Publishing Co


And in the face OF these plain facts.
which no one can dispute. there is a
duty before these churches on this
street which cannot be evaded without
denying the very purpose OF church.
1t Is that duty which | am now going
to urge upon this Calvary church.
''It has been said by some Of the
ministers and members Of the churches
that we might combine in an effort and
build large and .commodious mission
in the tenement district. But that to
my mind. would not settle the problem
at all as it should be settled. 1t is an
easy and lazy thing for church mem
bers to put their hands in their peck
cts and say to a few other church
members: we will help. build a mis-
sion if you will run 1t after it is up.
We will attend our church UP town
here while the mission is worked for
the poor people down there That is not
what will meet the needs of the 'situa-
tion. What that part of Milton needs
Is the church of Christ in it's men,
bers-the whole church on the largest
possible scale. What am now going
to propose, therefore, is something
which l believe Christ would advocate.
it not in the exact manner l shall ex-
plain, at least in the same spirit.''
Philip. paused a moment and looked
over the congregation earnestly. The
expectation Of the people, was reused
almost to the point Of a sensation as he
went on:
Il have consumed competent authOri-
ties, and they say that our church
bhilding here could be moved from it's
present foundation without serious
damage to the structure. \ pant Of it
would have to he torn down to assist
the moving, but it could easily be re-
placed. The expense would not be
more than we could readily meet We
are out of debt, and the property is
free from incumbrance. What pro-
pose, therefore, is very simple thing
that we move our church edifice
down into the heart of the tenement
district, where we can buy suitable
lot for a comparatively smalr sum. and
at once begin the work Of a Christian
church in the very neighborhood where
such work is most needed.
''There are certain objections to this
plan. think they can be met by the
exercise Of the Christ spirit Of sacrifice
and love. A great many members will
not be able to go that distance to at
tend service any more than the people
there at present can we'll come up here
But there are six churches left on g
street. What is to hinder any Chris.
tan member Of Calvary church from
working and fellowshiping with those
churches If lie cannot put in his service
in the tenement district? None of these
churches is crowded. They will well
come the advent Of more members.
But the main strength OF the plan
which l propose lies in the fact that if
it be done it will be live illustration
Of the eagerness OF the church to reach
and save men. The very sight of our
church moving down OF from this
street to the lower part of the town
will be an object lesson to the people,
and the church will at oIce begin to
mean something to them. Once estab.
lished there, we can work from it as il
center. The distance ought to be no
encouragement to any healthy person
There is not young woman in this
church who is in the habit of dancing
who does not make twice as many
steps during an evening dancing party
as would be necessary to take her to the
tenement district and back again Sure
~ any Christian church member Is as
willing to endure fatigue and sacrifice
and to give as much time to help make
men and women better as he is to have
good time himself Think for a mo-
ment what this move which l propose
would mean to the life Of this town
and to our Christian growth. At pres
ent we 80 to church. We listen to a
good choir. we go home again. we have
a pleasant Sunday school. we are all
comfortable and we'll clothed here. we
enjoy our services, We are not disturb.
ed by the sight of disagreeable or IN
congeniaI people.
But is that Christianity? Where do
the service and the self denial and the
working for mems souls come in? All.
my dear brothers and sisters, what is
this church really doing for the saliva
ton Of men in this place? Is it Chris
tianity to have u comfortable church
and go to it once or twice a week to
enjoy nice music and listen to preach
ing. and then go home to Il good din
ne". and that is about all! What have
we sacrificed! What have we denied
ourselves? What have we done to
show the poor or the sinful that we
care anything for their souls or that
Christianity is anything but Il comfort.
able, select religion for those who can
afford the good things Of the world
What has the church in Milton done to
make the workingman here feel that it
is an institution that throbs with the
brotherhood of man? But suppose we
actually move our church down there
and then 60 there ourselves weekdays
and Sundays to work for the uplift OF
immortal beings. Shall we not then
have the satisfaction of knowing. that
we are at least trying to do something
more than enjoy our church all By
ourselves? Shall we not be able to
hope that we have at least attempted
to obey the. spirit Of our sacrificing
Lord. who commanded his disciples to
so and disciple the nations2 1t seems
to me that the plan is a Christian plan.