The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-06-19
TO ATTEND CHURCH
is URGED AS A CHRISTIAN DUTY
DR.. Chapman Speaks of the Value of
Christianity on the Character OF
the Nation.

New YORK C1TY.-The Rev. J. Wilbur
Chapman. the popular pastor-evangehsto OF
the Fourth Presbyterian Church OF this
city. has delivered a sermon in which ne
set forth the reasons why mea should at
tend church He preached from the text,
"And He said unto them, Come We your
selves apart into i desert place and rest
awhile Mark G: 81.
John the Baptist had been beheaded
and his disciples were in confusion. lhey
were truly as sheen without shepherds
The apostles had heard OF the disaster,
and came to Jesus to tell Him OF all the
things that had come to pass. and then 1t
was that He spoke to them in the words
of the text. ''And He said unto them,
Come We yourselves apart into desert
place and rest awhile; for there were
many coming and going. and they had no
leisure so much as to eat" / am very we'll
aware that TO some of Won this may seem
an inappropriate text. for il the church Is
desert then in itself it presents to us the
reason why so many men are away from
it. and why there seems to be growing
indifference to its claims. Alas. 1t Is true
too often the church is desert place, 1t
will not help us any in our efforts to lead
men to attempt to blind our eyes to the
condition OF things. A desert is spot
of death and despair, and this is true OF
every church where anything is substituted
for the eosnel, where the whole truth IS
not preached. and where Christ is not pre-
sented to dying men. The sermons may
be perfect so far as their literary excellence
is concerned, but without the gospel. as
the heart they are sounding brass and tink-
ling symbol in the estimation of Him who
is the great head of the church. Then again
the verse in which the text is found pre-
sents us picture of the world. The Mas
ter called the apostles aside to rest, Tor
there were manv coming and going, and
they had no leisure so much as to eat.
This is indeed representation OF the busl.
ness life of the most of men, The pace is
terrific. and il any man fails to keep step
with his competitor in business he is soon
left behind and is counted out OF the race.
One of the greatest needs OF the day for
men in all departments OF life, whether 1t
be in the shop, with the ordinary day Ia.
borer or with the great merchant in his
business. or the famous lawyer at the
court. one Of the greatest needs OF the day
is for rest. Rest does not necessarily mean
idleresS: when men rest as l have It IN
mind thev get their best conception Of God,
they work out their greatest plans for the
future. they become in the truest sense as
God would have them.
Men cannot carelessly approach a great
work. For the disciples it was "Tarry ye.'
before the going forth to service. and this
is necessary not only in religious life, but IN
all departments OF life. In paper not long
ago under the caption "Why do we go to
church," the following was suggested:
because it is the fashion.
Because it has become habit.
Because it is respectable.
Because We like the minister.
Because we enjoy the music and other at
fractions.
Because we feel lonesome when we do
not 90.
Because we sing in the choir or are OIL
Gals and must go.
Because parental authority enjoins it.
Because it helps business.
Are any of these the motives that move
you to attend church? Some of them may
have a subordinate place in ones actions,
but they should never become a prominent
or a dominant force. Why should we go to
church? For hundred legitimate reasons,
chief among which are these:
Because the church is the tabernacle OF
the Most High.
Because it has always been the symbol
and centre of worship.
Because He plainly promises to meet US
there
Because we need the help the church af-
fords
Because others need the force of our ex-
ample.
Because of the joy we find in public and
social worship.
Because without the church the commu-,
nifty and nation would soon lapse into bar
barism.
Because close fellowship with Gods peo-
pie here is the truest road to the life here
after.
Tt is a fact that men are not attending
church. and it cannot be true that this Is
altogether the fault of the non-attendants
themselves. This is cold world in which
we live, and naturally the world wants
warm words, warm smiles, warm welcomes,
warm hearts, warm prayers and the warm
spirit of brotherhood, and men have right
to expect that the church which represents
Christ upon earth shall exhibit all of these
things. The man of the world does not
stay away from the church because there is
too much Of the Spirit of God in 1t, but
rather because there is too little. The
church must be united if the unsaved world
is to be drawn to it.
The following reasons for church at
tendance have been presented to NE by
men of great renown throughout the coun-
try, great business men, great philanthro.
pists, great leaders of men generally, and
there is not one who has written to me
but whose name is known throughout the
whole world.
First-Man needs the church. Tempta-
tions assail him on every side; there is no
man that lives without temptation. The
whose salary is S2500 Der wear "Nv DrOS-
perity will be my defeat unless / am care
ful. 1 find now that I am constantly
thinking of business and scheming to in
crease my riches" and then the tears
pressure OF materialism in these days is
terrific. and unless a man has a strong up