Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-04-26

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81 can preach on 1t, and lriU."
Just exactly how much that verse
meant But preach on it ! must and
will"
And when the first Sunday of the
month came Philip did preach on it,
TO the dismay of several members Of
his church who We're in the habit Of
giving entertainments and card par
ties on a somewhat elaborate scale.
He had never preached on the sub
ject Of amusements, and he stated that
he wished il to be plainly understood
that he was not preaching on the sub
ject now IL was a question which
went deeper than that and took hold
Of the very first principles of human
society. A single passage in the SER
mon will show the drift of it all:
I'VE have reached a time in the his
tory Of the world when it is the Chris
tian duty of every man who calls
himself disciple Of the Master to live
on a simpler, less extrayagant basis.
The world has been living beyond its
means. Modern civilization has been
exorbitant in its demands. and every
dollar foolishly spent today means
suffering for some one who ought to
be relieved by that money wisely eN-
pended. An entertainment given by
people Of means TO other people OF
means in these hard times in which
money is lavished on flowers, food and
dress, is, in my opinion, an act Of which
Christ would not approve. ! do not
mean 10 say that he would object To
the pleasure which flowers, food ana
dress will give, but he would say that
il is an unnecessary enjoyment and
expcnse at this particular crisis
through which we are passing. He
would say t,at money and time should
be given where people more in need
Of them might have the benefit. He
would say that when town is in the
situation Of ours today it is not time
for any selfish use for any material
blessing.
Unless | mistake the spirit OF the
modern Christ, If he were here he
would preach 10 the whole world the
necessity Of a far simpler, less eNpen-
sive style Of living and, above all, ac-
tual self denial on the part of society
for the brotherhood of man. What is
society doing now2 What sacrifice is
il making? When 1t gives charity
ball. does it not spend twice as much
In getting up the entertainment to
please itself as it makes for the poor
I'm whose behalf the bali is givenI DO
YOU think | am severef Ask yourself,
o member of Calvary church, what
has been the extent Of your sacrifice
FOR the world this year before you con
denim me for being too strict or par
ticular. II is because we live in such
times that the law Of service presses
upon us with greater insistence than
ever. And now more than during any
Of the ages gone Christ's words ring in
our ears with - centuries Of reverher-
alton. whatsoever win not deny him
self and take up his cross, he cannot
be my disciple.
OF all the sermons on Christ and
modern society which Philip had thus
far preached none had hit SO hard or
was applied so personally as this. The
Goldcus went home from the service
in a towering rage. THAT settles Cal
vary church for me" said Mrs. Golden
as she flung herself out Of the building
after the service was over. Il consid-
or that the most insulting sermon l
ever heard from any minister. IL Is
simplv outlandish, and how the church
can endure such preaching much Ion
ger Is a wonder to me. | don't go near
il again while Mr.. Strong is the minis
teri" Philip did not know it yet, but
he was destined to find out that society
carries a tremendous power in its use
Of the word "outlandish" applied ell
Their to persons or things.
When the evening service was over
Pbilip. as his habit was, lay down on
the couch in front Of the open fire I'M
iii the days excitement had subsidized
little. II was almost the only evening
I'm the week when he gave himself up
70 complete rest Of mind and body.
He had been lying there about
quarter Of an hour when Mrs. Strong,
who had been moving a plant back
from one Of the front windows and had
been obliged 70 raise a curtain, stepped
hack into the room with an exclama-
ton.
"Phnip. there is some one walking