The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-24
PALM SUNDAY SERMONS
LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST DISCUSSED
BY THREE CITY PASTORS.
Rev. Allan ID. PhiIputt, Rev. Joshua
StnnsfieId and Rev. III. c. Meserve
on This Subject.

The Central Christian Church was crowd
ed yesterday morning and the pastors
Palm Sunday sermon took rather a prac-
teal turn. The text was Proverbs iii. 9:
Honor the Lord with thy substance" Mr..
Philputt said in part: 'Inasmuch as this
week is set apart for prayer and self-denial
in the interests of the work done by our
Christian Womans Board of Missions, 1
have been asked to preach upon self-de-
NAL. l believe however, that a discussion
of the larger problems Of church financing
which lies back of this will do more good.
Self-denial willingly and cheerfully as
sumed for a week or a month or for any
period of time is beautiful and has high
religious sanction. 1 do not think much
Of it a mere fashion touching only the
surface of life-the man smoking only four
cigars a day instead of five. the woman
doing with one matinee a week instead of
two. and the family walking to save a few
street-car tickets for the Lord-but under
taken in a real and sincere way it is good
for the soul and also for the body. Nor do
l think IT is necessary to impoverish the
body. Between the things We absolutely
need and the many luXuries and vanities
we ought not to have there is a broad field
for the exercise of this beautiful spirit
which We ought to observe more than
we do.
What the church really needs to-day is
the spirit of liberality, exhibiting itself all
the year round. Many church members
have not learned the blessedness of giving.
The Bible always regards it as spiritual
exercise. as much part of worship
praise and prayer, and sorely needed to
assure our own hearts that we do love
God and desire to honor Him. When a
man gives money regularly and literally
to his church and to benevoence it goes a
good ways TO establish the sincerity of his
faith. Many churches are struggling with
debt-eVen in the matter of current
penses, not because their obligations are
beyond their means, but because half the
membership give nothing and too large a
per cent. of the other half give meagerly.
We need to-day a strong, clear note on this
subject that will reach the conscience. This
noble institution of the ages that was once
the dispenser of aims, the builder of splen-
did cathedrals, the foster mother of edu-
cation, and the refuge of all that were OPP
pressed stands to-day, hat in hand. strug-
Cling with current eXpenses And this
too, in an age when she has been shorn
of all her benevolences and charitable
deeds except the maintenance of formal
worship. This is an age of prosperity be-
yond the dreams OF the past. 1t is an age,
too. that needs the grace of God and the
SOLDERING restraints of religion more than
any other. All talk that religion Is diffUsed
and no longer needs the church and organ
lied propagandism is sheer nonsense. What
we need is a holder assertion and a better
demonstration of the value of good doctrine
and simple, wholesome Christian living.
Here is the great sublime motive in giving
not TO relieve a stringency or cancel debt
but first of all to honor God To what ex-
tremities churches sometimes go in efforts
to raise money would be ridiculous if it
we're not so pathetic.
I'm making returns of their expenses in
the recent primary election 1 notice that
every candidate so far has mentioned gifts
to churches along with cigars. fares and
refreshments, whatever the latter may
mean. / don't blame the candidates, but
L do feel ashamed for the churches that
they should take advantage of such crisis
to replenish their treasures Then look at
the labor that women take upon themselves
and as things go have to take upon them
selves, out OF pride and love for their
church, to keep the sheriff away. little
of this social activity is perhaps a good
chivalrous to allow so much of IL. What
is the remedy? Let every one give so as
to honor God Bring all the tithes into
the StOrehOuse and | will pour Won out a
vival this will bring it. If the deepening
of the spiritual is a problem this will deepen
it. Where man puts his treasure his
heart goes with ii. The evils i have re-
ferred to may not belong to large prosper
Gus churches as they do to little struggling
ones But the germ of the evil is in all
wisdom of planting many congregations,
but L do feel that it is wrong to leave these
struggling infants around on the doorsteps
OF every community crying for bread and
shelter. Let the strong help the weak and
not exhaust all their energies in helping
themselves. / have yet to meet a man that
ever regretted his liberality-I for one have
often regretted my parsimony. Now this
may not seem as religious as streWing palm
branches in the way and putting our gar
ments where the Master will ride over
them, but believe it is, Let us bring our
empty pride and selfshness before Him.
that He may trample them under His feet,
and then we, too, may join in the shout
'Hosanna! blessed is he that cometh in
e H.