The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-03
In a CORNER OF HEAVEN
AN OPTIMISTIC SERMON BY THE
REV. VI. l.. HAINEs.
A Large Congregation Attended the
Service-At the Tabernacle
Other Services.

Rev. DR.. NJ. l.. Haines delivered SER
mon i'm the First Presbyterian Church
yesterday morning that was quite i'm har-
mony with the bright, beautiful day. The
congregation was very large and the num-
Der If beautiful summer hats and dresses
presented striking effect of shade ana
tint The choir caught the inspiration OF
the occasion and sang its best.
The subject of DR.. Haines's optimistic
discourse was "A Corner of Heaven" and
his text was Philippians iv, %: "All the
saints salute you. chiefly they that are of
Caesars household" The minister stated
at the outset that he had derived his idea
for this unique subject from an article
recently written by New York clergy
man, a friend Of his, concerning a family
he had known in West Side tenement
house. This family said the New York
divine, lived an almost ideally happy life.
despite their comparatively poverty. The
husband was an earnest, consistent Chris
tian, saved his money, spent his leisure
time at home and improved his mind by
reading and study A sharp contrast was
drawn by recounting the wicked lives Of
families surrounding this The New
York clergyman made some interesting
deductions from his observations of tene-
ment-house life as follows: ut is a burn
ing shame that many of our tenement
houses should be what they are, but it is
far more burning shame that many Of our
tenarts should be what they are. The need
of better tenement houses is very great,
but the need of bitter tenants is far
greater" DR.. Haines spoke in part fol-
lows.
These things bring before us the fact
that we are in danger of overestimating
the influence of condition upon character
and OF Understanding the influence of
character on condition. Condition does un-
doubtedly have its influence upon char
acter, but that is not all the truth A half
truth overworked is damaging error
The natural influence of environment on
character is large, but to go on and say
many do that character and life are in
evitably determined by outward environ
ment is pernicious. Religious fatalism is
dead. but scientific fatalism is not dead
We are told that man is the offspring of
nature; the product of heredity and environ
ment. We told that we are necessari-
ly determined by our circumstances. We
are usually told that we cannot help our
selves, that we are clay in the hands of
the forces of nature. This makes no real
virtue possible 10 man and no real wick
edness. But the theory will not work prac-
tcally. 1t breaks down in human govern
ment. Society Is organized on the presump-
tion of the freedom of the will. All our
prisons presume the power of freedom has
Detn abused. III breaks uONn Wnen brought
into the consciousness of man. The very in
ward sense of responsibility that carry
presupposeS freedom of choice. Every in
vitatiOn of Christianity to man to rise into
"A higher life presupposes that men are
able to rise above their innate tendencies
and their circumstances. 1t breaks down
also when ii confronts the facts of Chris
tian experience,
CHRISTIANS IN NERO'S HOUSEHOLD.
DIR. Haines called attention to the text
tians even i'm the household of Nero
Caesar, despite the terrible scenes of de-
bauchery they must have witnessed all
about them, and said that this demon
strated the power of Christianity over en-
vironment and heredity. when Christ
comes into heart and is really enthroned
King said he. He establishes an inner
heaven. lie brings pardon and peace and
the realization of it causes joy. Then these
three united. pardon. peace and joy, and
love is born. There are two ways in which
we may make life better for ourselves and
others: First. to make its outward con-
ditions better; second. TO make the inner
spirit better. The man who works only
along the first path will find that even
when the conditions are changed the heart
is not made right. There are students of
physical science who are virtually fatal
| lists, who say that man is altogether
made by two factors. the ancestral and
| the external factor. that is. by his heredity
and his environment. But that leaves out
| the two greatest factors, the will and God.
and the power of God moves along the
| line of mans will.
In conclusion DR.. Haines said: Where
| ever an incorruptible merchant refuses to
| conform 10 receptions that are popular or
| profitable. at least i'm the immediate pres
| ent, there is one man that rises superior
10 environment. Wherever a Christian
woman dares TO take a course that her
own conscience says is right. whatever
custom or fashion dictates there is wom-
an that has overcome environment.
Wherever a man stands above his party
whenever his party does that which he
believes 10 be wrong. there is another And
man has right to say that he cannot
enter upon Christian life because of his
surroundings. Where did Joseph lead his
| godiv life but amid the temptations that
made life n corruption down there in
Egypt? Where did Daniel, the man of God,
| lead his cody life but there i'm the corrup-
tons of that court of an Eastern monarchy?
| The grace OF God was sufficient for them
| and has been sufficient for thousands since
| that time and is sufficient for you and me.
| II we will avail ourselves of it,