Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-11-19
MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

DR.. Harper, president OF Chicago
University, has stirred up considera
Die discussion bv an editorial in the
Biblical World OF which be is editor
Has the church any permanent
mission in modern civilization! is
asked. According to the editorial
this question is inspired by two ex-
listing conditions. The first of these
points is that 1.-The statistics of or
gained Christianity show that the
growth of many denominations in
certain portions of the country has
practically ceased. . The second is
that whatever may be the number
OF young men passing into the ranks
OF the ministry, either without theo-
logical training or i'll prepared, it is
no longer a matter of doubt that the
number of students for the ministry
in colleges and theological seminaries
is diminishing, not merely in the
United States, but in England, Scot
land and Germany"
Wrong methods in the work of or
gained Christianity are blamed for
the stationary or even retrograde
movement, and yet the decrease is
probably inevitable as result of
the extraordinary development in the
thought and commerce of the last
fifty years. In view of this fact it
is thought that the mission of the
church itself needs to be clothed anew
and reinforced.
The time when church can stand |
coordinately for charity, culture, So
cial reform and religion is past, de-
clares the writer The church should
recognize its exclusive function, and,
while not abandoning its efforts to
benefit men and women, it should
hold fast to its fundamental religious
mission. The church must stand for
other than creed reduc-
ton; it must stand for definite con-
victions as to sin and God and saliva
ton through faith. This is not the
time for conscience running theo-
ogical casuistry. The church ought
10 speak the mes sage of the Bible in
wUrUsr rAUU mrc=,r-<ors~,~-~~~-@
tand. Why should church service
,e a combination of music and .
yceum?" is asked ''Churchgoers
re not given enough opportunity to 7.
Express religious life IN worship. :
This element of worship should be
nagnitied. Theological and doctrinal
discussions tire the congregation,
Who would prefer to take a more inn
,ortant part in the service than that
II mere hearers. The sermon has
90 long been the chief element in
he service. n
There is a good deal of food for I
election in what DR.. Harper says. q
hat the demand for theological and
Ioctrinal discussions in the pulpit no 4
onger exists is evident everywhere. 7
IS 10 the value or the importance OF
he sermon in church service the :
uestion depends largely on the quail v
ty of the sermon and tie character
t the congregation.
1t IS said that a man is as old as he
.eis, and it NAV be said that a ser
ION IS as long as it seems. Some
en- minute sermons are tiresome.
ome hour sermons are too short. v
he writer of this remembers hear t
az Henry Ward Beecher preach a
ermon in Brooklyn an hour and !,
alf long, and the only objection to it %
-as its orevity. 2
Last Sunday Rev. Frank Crane !
reached his initial sermon as pastor
the Peoples church in Chicago n
he audience room was McNicker' s S
heater which holds at least t
aree thousand people, and i q q
1as full from parquet to the top gal
,ry. The sermon was about an hour
ong. but it did not seem more than +,
alf that length. His theme va b
'aul's suggestion to Timothy: ''Of a
hese things pat them in remem !.
rance. charging them before the .
ord that they may strive not about "
lords to no profit. He well illus .
rated Paul idea in the sermon. He
ealt purely with the essentials :
rithout sensationalism or dognat-
SIN. He quoted and elaborated Hen
v Van Dyke stanza:
-Four things man must learn TO DO
If he would make his calling true
To think without Confusion clearly
To love his fellow men sincerely.
To act from honest motives purely,
To trust in God AuG heaven securely
There were other services besides