The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-23
PREACHED ON CHURCH GOING.
REV. DIR. JORDAN'S THEME AT
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

Dr.. Jordan Gave Many Reasons Why
Attendance Upon Church Services
Should BE Prompt and Regular.
Nisfortunes of the Occasional
"Kicker" How Congregations
Should Behave and Conduct Them
selves.
Rev. DR.. John D. Jordan chose Going
to Church" as the subject of his sermon
at the First Baptist Church yesterday
1925: mot forsaking the assembling of
yourselves together as the manner of
some is
Regular and prompt church going, -
said DR.. Jordan. has ever been regard
ed a chief virtue Some early Chris
tian neglected it. Many now neglect it.
Few church members can be counted on
for all services. This is their loss. The
occasional church-goer is usually one
who has drfted, fallen into temptation,
or backslided. He is seldom among the
more spiritually minded and never among
promises his influence He is unfortu-
nate when he does go. He strikes the
pastor with his poorest sermon, the choir
with las poorest music or special COL
lection for missions or charity.
He is more liable to be a Kicker than
the regular attendant, because he is not
in close sympathy and touch with the
church and her work
why go 20 church? Not simply to hear
a pleasing sermon. Often a pleasing ser
mon is only a lullaby to a guilty con-
science. Often the best sermon for us
to hear is one that troubles us, breaks us
up, humiliates us and makes us sorrow
ful for the time. The faithful pastor
cannot spend all his time tickling itching
ears.
do not go to church just to hear good
music. Join in the singing and help to
make the music good. Neither go to see
spirit and uplifting. Not specially 90
see the officers, TO hear the preacher or
to hear the choir, but to see Jesus to
worship God to catch live coal from off
the altar, to have your spiritual strength
renewed to get a blessing and TO be q
blessing to others.
Whatever the motive, go to church
regularly. put yourself in the way of the
gospel The best people of any COM
munity are to be found in the churches.
Go to church then if you would touch the
best people"
The pastor turned then to behavior in
church, urging all to conduct themselves
in church, urging all to conduct th nm
selves not with weighty frigidity, not with
light frivoity, but with becoming dignity,
reverence, cheerfulness and enthusiasm.
A church." he said, "is neither a laugh
ing station, a sleeping car nor a sepulcher
Be fraternal. The power of your hand
grasp and your kind word will do more
for many a heart than the most eloquent
sermon.
Get to church on time. Get your seat
towards the middle of the pew, and do not
force people to climb over you. Do not
be selfish or narrow in Gods house. Let
US seek to be among the faithful"
After the service DR.. Jordan was asked
if he had observed any increase in she
church going people of Savannah during
the four years he has ben here. His an
sWer was in the affirmative. He said that
his congregations are twice as large dur
ing this summer as during the first sum-
mer he was in his pastorate, and during
the winters the attendance is much larger
than formerly. Though he does not
know that the increase has been so apnre-
ciable, DR.. Jordan said he believes all the
churches in the city have enjoyed it.