Willmar tribune., 1900-05-16

sANts ~ #1tstIJtu luullys
what his own action ought TO be. IN
that action shisa tie fully roilca,ae,l.
And the members OF Calvary church,
coming In that sunday morning. were
astonished at the sncssa ges Of their pas
tor as he spoke to them from the
standpoint OF modern Christ. T. - y
II said month ago that the age IN
which we live demands q simpler, less
extravagant style OF living ! did not
mean by that to condemn the beauties
of art or the mnrvelS OF science or the
products OF civilization. | merely en,.
phasizcd what 4 believe Is Il mighty
but neglected truth In our modern civ
tlization that II we would win men
to Christ we must adopt more OF his
spirit OF simple and consecrated self
denial. l wish to he distinctly under
stood as 60 on that do not condemn
any man simply because he Is rich or
lives In luxurious, house, enjoying
every comfort Of modern civilization,
every delicacy Of the season and all
physical desires - What / do wish dis.
tinctly understood Is the belief. which
has been burned deep into me ever
since coming to this town. that II the
members Of this church wish to honor
the Head Of the church and bring men
to believe him and save them In this
life and the next they must be willing
to do far more than they have vet
done to make use of the physical com.
forts and luxuries of their homes for
the blessing and Christianlzing of this
community. In this particular l have
myself failed to set you an example.
The fact that have so failed is my
only reason for making this matter
public this morning.
1.-The situation In Milton today is ex-
ceedingly serious. do not need to
prove it to you by figures. If any busi-
ness man will 60 through the tene-
ments, he will acknowledge my state
ments. If any woman will contrast
those dens with her own home, she
will, If Christ is power in her heart,
stand in horror before such a trayesty
on the sacred thought of honor. The
destitution of the neighborhood is
alarming. The number of men out of
work Is dangerous. The complete re-
moval Of all sympathy between the
church up here on this street and the
tenement district is sadder than death.
Oh, my belOved"-Philip stretched out
his arms and uttered cry that rang in
the ears of those who heard it and re-
mained with some of them a memory
for years-"these things ought not so
to be! Where is the Christ spirit with
us? Have we not sat in our comforta-
bic houses and eaten our pleasant food
and dressed In the finest clothing and
gone to amusements and entertain
ments without number while Gods
poor have shivered on the streets and
his sinful ones have sneered at Chris
tianity as they have walked by our
church doors?
1T Is true we have given money to
charitable causes, it is true the town
council has organized a bureau for the
care and maintenance of those In want,
it is true members of Calvary church,
with other churches at this time, have
done something to relieve the immedi-
ate distress Of the town, but how much
have we given Of ourselves to those in
need? Do we reflect that to reach souls
and win them, to bring back humanity
to God and the Christ, the Christian
must do something different from the
giving Of money now and then? He
must give a part. Of himself. That was
my reason for urging you to- move this
church building away from this street
into the tenement district, that we
might give ourselves to the people
there. The idea is the same in what l
now propose. But you will pardon me
If first of all announce my own ac-
tion. which. believe, is demanded by
the times and would be approved by
Dur Lord"
Philip stepped up nearer the front of
the platform and spoke with an added
earnestness and power which thrilled
every hearer. A part of the great con-
tiict through which he had gone that
past month shone out in his pale face
and found partial utterance in his i'm
passfoned speech, especially as he
drew near the end. The very abrupt
ness Of his proposition smote the peo-
pie into breathless attention. :,
'"The parsonage in which am liv-
ing Is large. even luxurious, dwell
Ing. 1t has nine large rooms. You are
familiar with It's furnishings. The SAL
ary this church pays me is $4,000
year, a sum which more than provides
for my necessary wants. What have
decided to do is this: wish this church
to reduce this salary one-half and take
the other thousand dollars to the fitting
up the parsonage for a refuge for
homeless children or for some such
purpose which will commend itself to
your best Judgment. There is money
enough in this church alone to main-
tain such an institution handsomely
and not q single member Of Calvary
suffer any hardship whatever. Will
move INTO 2 house nearer the lower
part Of the town. where I can more
easily reach after the people and live
more among them. That is what
propose for myself. It is not BECAUSE
! believe the rich and the educated do
not need the gospel or the church. The
rich and the poor both need the life
more abundantly. But l am firmly
convinced that as matters now are
the church membership through pulpit
and pew must give itself more than
In the later ages of the world it has
done for the sake Of winning men. The
form Of self denial must take def
mite, physical, genuinely sacrificing
shape. The church must get back to