The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-15
DUTY OF THE CHURCH
TOWARD CHILDREN OF MEN.
The Reverend j. N. Beall Tells
of Jesus and the Null
titude.

Jesus and the Multitude was the theme
discussed by the Reverend ]. N. Beall, pas
tor Of McCasland Avenue Presbyterian
Church. Yesterday morning. His text was
Matt. xiv, IA: And Jesus went forth and
saw a great multitude. and was moved
with compassion toward them, and he healed
their sick. He said, in mart:
THE multitudes followed Jesus, not so
much because they believed in his doctrines
or thought him teacher sent from God;
nor yet because Of his deep learning and
day. they cared little for these things I'M
less they were backed by something prac-
tical. something tangible. which would ap.
Peal to their needs and touch the level Of
their life; something that would reveal the
heart and character of the speaker. It is
not what one says that wins the confidence
THE multitudes followed Jesus because
they believed. in him. 1t was not
his his preaching. but his character:
mot his but his
dignity, but his humility: not his authority.
but his service that drew the multitudes to
him. and gave him such influence oyer them
lteved in him and followed him because he
was kind toward them in all his words and
manner. He sympathized with them and
himself q friend Of mankind by the life he
lived and by what he did.
More than anything else our human ma
me ds H5 e ons n
ana flowers. prayers and tears. but real
practical sympathy that brings encourage
ment. comfort and help; that feeds us when
We are hungry, clothes US when we are
naked. warns US when We are cold and
heals us when we are sick. That IS the
kind Jesus had and the kind he taught his
The Salvation Army comes nearer evil
dencing this kind of practical sympathy in
Its work for souls than any other organiza-
tion Of religious workers know anything
about. Its members nraCtfCe self.dpnfa1s
and endure hardships that they may do
good to others. and they do 1t regularly
ana a 80 a He
he also wrought. sympathy expressed in
words is good and has Its place, but sym
pathy expressed in deeds Is better and has
q nobler place
Jesus was friend Of the outcast and the
poe;. and he never lost an opportunity Of
own attitude toward the sinful. the weak
and the unfortunate he declared Gods will
ana disposition toward the same classes
alone to save men. but to draw them to
God and to lift them into more hopeful
life, and this he could do only by revealing
for men and women and not for their out.
ward circumstances. The shepherds Of Israel
had neglected their fiocks. They were like
more of their own comfort and glory than
of the real needs Of the people. But when
the true shepherd came he manifested a
heavenly concern. He looked after them
as his own. He would sacrifice his comfort
any time for the necessities of the people.
Jesus went about doing good He was
filled with divine compassion. And while
he came into this world to save men from
their sins. he constantly busted himself
looking after their physical needs.
And thus he proved himself not only the
physician Of our souls, but also Of our
bodies.
"The church IS the great medium through
which God is pleased to operate in distrib-
uting material as well as spiritual blessing
unto the children of men. The world can
church is derelict OF its duty when in any
community there Is want or suffering and it
does not offer its services to bring relief.
The church of Jesus Christ must make use
of its resources for the benefit of the world.
When Jesus would feed the multitude he
said to the disciples Give We them to eat. ;
Jesus's compassion always took practical
turn He manifested 1t by immediate &C.
ton. So must the church do"