Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-06-21

ness man that the average sermon VIII ne
a stimulus 10 his intellect Remember. 1t
is not SO much what you hear as the I'M
preston II makes upon you and Tie after
effects upon your life Men may 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 il he were true to his educa-
ton, and the effect of a sermon rightly
heard and received Is to make the lie
purer. the mind clearer the character
stronger.
Fourth-Tha example OF church going af-
fords an important means Of promoting
the good order OF the community. The re-
flex influence upon oneself Is of the very
best. and the influence upon Others Is con
ducive to regular habits and good order.
Fifth-The idea of recreation in church
attendance is one of the most important
reasons for faithfulness in this regard.
Surely" writes a distinguished man,
Church going will afford this" A change
Of occupation is rest and n working man
who feels that he must sleep through the
hours of the morning because he has
toiled faithfully through the days of the
week, will find that he is beginning his
week duller than il ne had been true to
God; while the business man who reads
through most of the hours OF the day be-
cause he feels that to attend church would
begins the week more weary than if he
bad been loyal to Christ.
Sixth-Another writes, 1--WE ought to
attend church in order to become ac-
quanted with the saving power OF Jesus
Christ; men ought to attend church to be
good. and then they will be good for some
thing.
There are certain facts which we rust
remember in our efforts to reach aid to
help others.
First-There is a worshiping faculty in
man, and it 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, and 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 church. He tried TO kill all
faith and yet he could not kill the dc.
mand for something to worship. He eulo.
lied his wife until he worshiped her, and
the seven and half years they lived to-
gether were the happiest 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 - Men have misunderstood the
spirit of the church. Criticism has been
made that the church is a class institution
existing for the favored few. but this is
not true. The existence of the st. Bar
tho.omew Mission House in this city,
where people by the thousands have been
reached and blessed; the presence of the
Madison Square Church House. SO recently
dedicated to the glory of God and the
helping OF all classes OF people Is an argu-
ment which directly meets this disposition
on ha aart Of n nod No
ego man went about through the
churches clad as a poor man, plainly
dressed. and found that he was repulsed
by no one and welcomed by nearly all.
The church is the greatest factor in the
world. but its work is first and foremost
with the soul and its needs. Men have
been disposed to censure us because we do
no do what the club does. nor what the
lodge does, but II should be remembered
that the church is not a charity institution,
nor an educational institution; it is a
place for regeneration, conversion and eter-
nal salvation. The church has a social
mission, it is true. but first OF all it has a
saving mission. We must keep first things
6rst. The lodge may have its place in the
ranks of men. but woe be to that man who
allows 1t to usurp the place of the church
in his life.
After Rossini had rendered William
TelP' for the five hundredth time COM
p1ny % came uHCeE MS WlnuOW
IN Paris and seranaded him. They put
upon his brow a cold crown, and in the
midst OF the cheers Rossini turned to a
friend and said, Il would give all of this
lust for a day OF youth and love-" and
Their is many an old man in New York
who has passed his Sundays in the house
Of I'd who knows more OF real JOY be-
cause of this than the man whose name is
famous throughout the world and counts
his money by millions.
In the Yellowstone Park there is n IA.
NOUS point where on one of the peaks of
he Rocky Mountains the falling waters
seem to hesitate tor moment as II to say,
Which way shall l go:" This point il
the Continental Divide. and a gust OF wind
determines whether the water shall flow
east 20 the Atlantic or west to the Pa
cifc. ! doubt not but some one Is reaching
4 decision as TO what his true relations to
the church may be, and ii he decides
against the church he is to be pitied,
while If his decision IS IN favor of the
church all will be well
First - His individual life will be
strengthened, he will meet temptation.
hut overcome it; he will meet TRIAL and
rejoice in it; he will have the approval CT
his own conscience, and this always makes
man courageous.
Second-His social lie will feel the in.
petus of his decision. Mems lives count
Tor evil. DIR. Munhall, the celebrated evan
gelIst, says that before he became min.
ster he went one evening to the theatre
just to please q visiting friend and the
next day met upon the streets a young
man whom he asked again as he had asked
him frequently to be a Christian. The
man looked at him and said. Il never want
sou to speak TO me on the subject again.
! saw YOU in the theatre last night, and 1
have little confidence in 4 man who pro-
iesses TO be a Christian and vas found in
| questionable place of amusement Il
never won him, said DIR. Munhall lie
gradually drifted away from the church
and from Christ, and l met him in the
West a hopeless wreck" III mans infu-
ence may count for evil then who can estl.
mate what would be accomplished among
men If we were true to Christ and true to
the church and lived out the principles Ct
both in our business life.
Third-The home life would feel the i'm
, oetus. Mr.. Moody used TO tell the story
of the father who came to his home, found
! ais little child suffering as he had been for
weeks and months The little fellow said,
Lift me up" and he raised him from his
ped. and then he said, Lift me higher
and then ne held him up for a moment AZ
| aign as his arms could reach, and when he
| took him down he was dead He had
| lifted him. said Mr. Moody, into the
! .ery arms CT Christ This is possible for
| every man who lives as he ought to live
and works as he ought TO work: is true to
| Christ and faithful to the church. Nav
| God help Us all to be Just this