The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1902-02-28
SociabiIity Christian Duty,

belief. The critical research and
fruits OF scholarship in general lead
some to fear for the old faith and
doctrine. There is considerable noise
and not a great deal of sense in the
cry for re-setting of doctrine. 1t
seems to me that the re-adjustment
of method, not doctrine, is what the
cause Of Christ most needs. The
average church has come to dead
stop because it follows methods
century old in it's activities. We are
In the ruts, and woe be to that man
who seeks to pull out of the ruts
The fathers met once a month; an
old barn was good enough for them
they did not take up SO many collec-
tions; it was q pleasure to go to
church in the olden times-and it is
the old way that most people wish to
walk in when it comes to these mat
ters Of method. The old doctrines of
Grace are just as potent today as ever
before; our weakness lies in the di-
rection Of method. We are not keep
ing touch with the people and with
each other. Old, fogy methods are
still in vogue among most congre-
cations, while the whole social and
economical life of the people has
changed. We preach about "the
masses" and vainly long to preach to
"the masses;" what we must do is to
go after "the masses" II we do not
go after people we will never find
them. And it is needless to 90 after
them with a sanctimonious message
about spiritual life of which you
are a good specimen You must 90
after men socially, physically, and in
that way you may hope to find them.
Through the physical you may hope
to reach the moral. To reverse the
process is to build the top of the
chimney before you lay the founda-
tion. And unless l am woefully mis-
taken, the method / am insisting
upon was the very method Jesus set
up! This 1 hope to show as l go
further in this discussion. Church
members must unbend, get off their
high perch and go about the saving of
men through the method that Jesus
has taught. 1t is the individual after
the individual, the personal touch,
the heart-beat responding to the
heartbeat that is to save this world.
We must "break bread" with people
we must have people "break bread"
with US, IL we are to fulfil our mission.
There is no surer way to get into
close touch with others; indeed, is
not this the only possible way? The
social needs Of men and women,
young and old, must be met. The
social cravings must find satisfacti
in lawful channels or they will seek
satisfaction in unlawful ways. We
say to our young people: "Do not
dance, it is wicked {; do not play cards,
1t Is wicked do not gather about the
pool table or the gambling table.
these things are wicked" All we'll
enough as far as it goes, but it does
not go far enough! We must not
only shut the door upon forbidden
pleasures; we must also open the
door to lawful pleasures. What good is
there in the christian people of Union
preaching to young men upon the
dangers of the pool room and the
gambling den while at the same time
they shut the doors of their homes
In the faces OF these very young men.
We must warn as to these places of
danger, but let US also open our doors
and offer seat around our cheerful
fireside. 1t is not only the young
people that need the inspiration and
gladness and diversion that christian
hospitality has to give. What a
waking up we should see in our church
life IL sociability were more man.
ifest. Our doors and our hearts must
De open. We must say to our breth-
rem, sisters and friends: Come in !''
We must say to the stranger: Come
and eat with me-" We must know
each other Through the breaking of
bread" Did you ever consider how
much this social idea entered into
the life Of Jesus while he wasten
earth? His first miracle was wroupfnt
at marriage feast. Some festive
occasion forms the back ground for
many OF his sweetest parallels. The
Prodigal goes off to "be in want"
He comes home to eat 1.-THE fatted
calf" Many of the most touching
scenes in the Lords life are brought
out in connection with some feast or
supper. Think Of Jesus going home
with Iaccheus. And what a scene is
that OF Jesus dining with Simon;
during the meal the woman that was
sinner annoints his feet with oil and
wipes them with the hair of her head.
Think Of Jesus at the home of Laza-
rus, and the scene there-Mary sit
ting at Jesus feet, Martha troubled
about serving. Think of that last
supper In the upper room. And here
Jesus establishes memorial. He
uses the bread and wine. "This do
in remembrance of me.p After the
Lord had arisen from the grave he
falls in with the two disciples as they