The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-02
IF WE ARE SONS OF
GOD WE ARE BROTHERS."
REPCigTJC SPECIAL

| REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
! Macon. Mo. July LIN h.s sermon this
| morning at First Baptist Church the Rev
! ererd II. T.. rruex advocated universal
. brotherhood In all lines of Christian en-
dearor. The discourse was prompted by n
recent statement made by missionary
that the chinese were at sea a. to which
was the true religion. considering the yari-
Gus FERNS presented to them by enthusiasts
! The Mission of the Church" was the SUBJ
jet. The PASTORS text w4s: "Ye are the
salt or the earth. Ye are .he light
part:
These words arc applicable to all Chris
tlahs Tor all tine, everywhere. IL Is the
world from decay and corruption. There is
no other worid-sait than Christianity; the
world Is doomed to utter. gross darkness
withoHt L. This wide general conception
OF the scope of Gods conquest Is rnagniii-
cent III its prophecy. and We enjoy a rare
privilege in iivirg In time when there IL
Widespread activity In last that ph Use of
Christian thought that contempiates the
whole world as soon to be under the do
min'on OF CHRIST We cannot reach the
ends OF the garth, however. by one desper-
ate leap. neAlecting all the points between
Of Thibet.
Our highest prospect y VIII be attained only
In the practice OF religion. \ common IN
terest must be found and emphasized IL we
would get the most out OF our associat ton
together. There IS now a wall between the
rich and the poor. the cultured and coarse.
the learned and ignorant. Education. the
lodges. music and other arts are utterly In
adequate To the task of uniting us-war ard
commerce fail The refinements never did
unite people; where they have iourish-d.
men have separated. The Jews as a nation
are more nearly unit than any other
ton, and their religion made them SO; on
the other hand. the ciun!bal south-sea
Islander is made our brother by worshiping
our common Lord and master. Religion
calls men from every station In life into
one regiment. with common purpose and
end. II We are the sons OF God We
brothers to each other and are united by
religious ties that are more potent than all
others, for our own and each others good
While religion first of all binds the In
dividual TO God IL has a distinctly social
side. II encourages and commands frater-
nal afinities among its followers. Says
Peter: Add to your personal piety broth
erly Kindness. and TO this love for all
men everywhere Paul and Peter may dis
agree on the rite of circumcision. but they
character and its results. They can be
brothers. though differing in opinion
Christ's new comma dment was that we
love one another as he had loved U.S.
There is latger brotherhood than that
OF the household Of faith to which We be-
e, an ina. which makes "a as sr0 h
or airy belief at all Brother man is a no.
Bile term of which most of US have not
all; certainly brothers by nature. Our
wants and woes are alike. II the Christian
sTG5hsr mas IS been indusssd nj higher
with any brother man." but Is then
equipped to do more good than ever be-
contemptibie is that conception that makes
religion a means of saving me and leaving
my brother to perish ,,,. 49,,
father OF all men. lie Is their creator and
yearns for them with a great. tender heart.
he IS the father Of the Christian. To the
s sa h he sp pledges eternal anal
them and SO must We also.
"A church Is TO awaken in men the
castle Of safety FOR ITSELF. Resenerate men
are the only material out of which our 20
ciety can be reconstructed.
world as IL dld at the begihhing. BY lis
sb to which Id by Rs@ssses afs
but TO unite them by living and speaking
the things about which We agree Many
sk sc p before the preaching Of the dlsei.
pies veered from the simplest facts about
a aensa Gsast 81 e
We admit and cherish the unifying sie-
ment, while We stand sol'dly for distinctive
"Our church is a distinct institution Tor
the purpose OF disseminating religion IN
home Its sSnSo on chris, :a s andw weld
them into peaceful brotherhood. Jesus
did much OF his teaching at dinners: Paul
preached while he made tents, In prison: on
Neutrality-suspicious.. Don't split life Into
business and religion. We are to save men
from themselves and enlighten them by in
iectfng and rejecting into them the life
God has gracefully given to us.
"Our motive. inspiration and example are
10 be found In Christ. Our approval and
satisfaction are TO be found In him. Go /
10 those separated from you by whatever /
barrier: salt them with the SAVIOR OF life. /
cheer them with the light OF Gods grace.
Project yourselves into the unleavened /
mass about you. Make friends and COM
panions OF those about you with whom you
hold nothing In common save the ties OF /
4 human brotherhood. They need you. God
owes them and died for them"