The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-06-20

worshiping God the other days OF the
week will dwarf and starve that spiritual
nature which every man Possesses whether
ne u conscious OF ~ or not The tendency
% look down and rot up will after a while
give the man a halting. hesitsting, blind
way Of walking. while the man who one
day IN the week az least looks up and not
down viii ind himself purer and better
and stronger Men are sure 20 retro
grade and lose ground II they neglect the
church" said man 10 me the other day,
started as be said, Il question If j am as
happy as when / was on a small salary and
lived in a very simple way"
Second-Ihe church needs men and the
work OF God cannot be accomplished with
out. 1t has always been Gods way 70
work through instruments sometimes as
humble as the rod which Moses held IN
his hand and ye. ls important a. Moses
himself. God means 70 win men through
men, and If the men OF the day absent
themselves from the church of God for the
loss OF the souls OF other men they are held
responsible at the day OF judgment.
Thlrd--Alen ought 20 attend church be
cause OF the intellectual culture that -
there gained. The average man has little
time for reading, little opportunity through
the week for recreation and lectures and
II Is the opinion OF this distinguished bust
ness man that the average sermon will be
a stimulus % his intellect. Remember II
- not - uluCu WHAT you near d. tue lul-
preston n makes upon you and the alter
effects upon your lie. Men nay have forget
ten the Greek they learned in college. and
the principles OF the higher mathematics,
but no man could pass through college
without coming out stronger and better
IN every way ii he were true 10 his educa.
ton, and the effect OF "A sermon rightly
heard and received j. TO make the life
purer, the mind clearer, the character
stronger.
Fourth--The example Of church going az
lords an important means OF promoting
the good order OF the community. The re-
fiex influence upon oneself Is OF the very
best, and the influence upon others - con.
ducive 10 regular habits and good order.
Fifth-The idea of recreation IN church
attendance is one of the most importan.
reasons for faithiuness IN this regard
Surely" writes a distinguished man,
church going will afford this" A change
OF occupation Is rest and a working man
who feels that he must sleep through the
hours of the morning because he mas
toi.ed faithfully through the days OF the
week, will find that he IL beginning his
week duller than IL he had been true 10
God; while the business man who reads
through most Of the hours of the day be-
cause he feels that 20 attend church would
be sense of WEAKNESS would find that he
begins the week more weary than ii he
had been loyal to Christ.
Sixth-Another writes, eve ought to
attend church IN order 10 become ac-
duanted with the saving power OF Jesus
Christ; men ought 10 attend church To be
good, and then they will be good for some.
thing.
There are certain facts which we must
remember IN our efforts TO reach and 20
help others.
First-There is worshipng faculty in
man, and IL Is the climax OF all his other
faculties For the exercise of his voice
man has the air, for his feet he has the
earth, for hunger he has food for thirst
he has water. but for his soul he must
have God. John Stuart Mills was one of
the greatest men. ard he had one of the
greatest minds we have known in these
latter days, but his early life, his fathers
blood and his education had drawn him
away from the chu-ch. He tried 10 kill all
faith. and vet he could not kill the dc.
| mand for something 20 worship He eulo.
lized his wife until he worshiped her. and
the seven and a half years they lived to-
gether were the h0ppest years OF his life.
When she died the light OF his life went
| out There never was a sadder closing to
mortal life than his.
Second 49, Men have misunderstood the
spirit of the church. Criticism has been
made that the church is 4 class institution
existing for the favored few, but this Is
not true. The existence of the st. Bar
! tholomew Mission House in this city,
! where people b. the thousands have been
| reached and blessed; the presence OF the
Madison Square Church House so recently
| dedicated 10 the CORY OF God and the,
| helping OF all Classes OF people Is an argu-
ment which directly meets this disposition
on the part of the unchurched Not long
! ago man wen. about through the
hos fla nla "
! dressed, and found tha. he was repulsed
| bv no one and welcomed bv nearly all
| The church is the greatest factor IN the
world, but its work Is first and foremost
| with the soul and Us needs. Men have
! been disposed to censure us because we DC
no do what the cub does, nor what the
| lodge does, but it should be remembered
| that the church Is not a charity institution
! nor an educational institution; 1t is
! place for regeneration, conversion and eter
| nal salvation. The church has socia
mission, it Is true. but first of all 1t has q
| saving mission. We must keep first thing
| first. The lodge may have its pace in tn
| ranks OF men but woe be 70 that man VIII,
! allows it to usurp the place of the churcl
| in his life.
After Rossini had rendered William
! Tell for the hve hundredth time a con-
! pany of musicians came under his windoy
IN Paris and seranaded him. They pu
upon his brow cold crown, and in tn
| midst OF the cheers ROsslnl turned to
friend and said, Il would give all of thi
Just for a day ot youth and love- an
! tsere Is many an Old man in New Ior
! who has passed his Sundays in the sous
| OF God who knows more of Fsal JOY b1,
! cause OF this than tre man whose name
! famous throughout the world and count
MS money by millions.
In the Yellowstone Park there is a {
| nous point where on one OF the peaks {,
the Rocky Mountains the falling waite
! seem 20 hesitate r.. . moment as If to sa
| Which way shall l got' TINS point
/ the Continental Divide. and a gust OF wir
! determines whether the water shall flo
| east 20 the Atlantic or west 20 the Il
! chic | doubt no, bat some one l. reachiI
the church may he, and If he decid
against the church he Is to be pitie,
while II his decision Is IN favor OF "a
church all will be well
First - His individual life will
strengthened he VIII meet temptatio
but overcome II, he viii meet trial AT
rejoice IN it. be wit have the approval
ms own conscience. and th.s always max
man courageous.
>econd-His social he Will feel the II
petus OF his decision Mems lives cou
Tor evil. DR. MunhlN. the celebrated eva
9eiisr. says that before he became a m \
ister he went one evening TO the theat
Just 20 please a visiting friend, and I
next day met upon the streets a you
man whom he asked gain as he had ask
him frequently o. be q Christian. 4
nan looked az him and said. Il never wa
yJI % speak - ne on the subject aga
i saw you IN the theatre last night. anc
have little confidence IA a man who p