The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-07-02
DIR. CHAPMAN'S SERMON
A SUNDAY DISCOURSE eY THE NOTED
PAS1oR.EvANcELIS
Subject: why Men Should Attend Church
.Motfves which should Not influence
tho worshi ipsr-Nation Would Relspse
Into Bxrbarism without Gods TempIe.

Chapman, the popular pastOr'cvangel list oi
the Fourth Presbyterian Church OF this
city. has delivered sermon III which he
set forth the reasons why men should at
tend church. He preached from the text,
"And He said unto them. Come ye your.
selves apart into desert place and rest
awhile" Mark 6: 81. :,
John the Baptist had been bcheaded
and his disciples were in confusion. They
were truly as sheen without l. shepherd
The apostles had heard of the disaster,
and came to Jesus to tell Hin Of all the
things that had come TO pass. and then II
was that He spoke to them IN the words
OF the text. "And He said unto them,
Come ye 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 verv well
aware that to some OF you this may seem
an inappropriate text. for If the church IS
a desert then in itself it presents TO us the
reason why 40 many men are away from
il, and why there seems In be growing
indifference to its claims. Alas, II IL trne
too often the church is 4 desert place. ]:
will not help us any in onr efforts TO lead
men to attempt to blind our eyes to the
condition OF things. A desert Is a spot
without water. withoa: habitation. 4 place
of death and despair. and this ~ true al
every church where anything is substituted
for the gospel, where the whole truth Is
not preached. and where Chris. IL not pre-
sented to dying men. The sermons may
he perfect 80 far as their literary excellence
is concerned, but without the gospel. as
ling symbol in the estimation Of Him who
is the great head Of the church. Then again
the verse in which the text IL found pre-
sents US q picture OF tine world. The Mas
ter called the apostles aside TO rest, for
there were many coming and gong, and
they had no leisure so much az 10 eat.
This is indeed representation OF the busi-
meas life OF the most of men. The pace is
terrific. and ii any man fails 10 keep step
with his competitor in business he ~ soon
left behind and is counted out Of the race.
One of the greatest needs ot the day 10y
men in all departments OF he. whether Il
be in the shop, with the ordinary day la.
borer or with the great merchant IN his
business, or the famous lawyer at the
court, one Of the greatest needs Oh the day
IL for rest. Rest does not necessarily mean
idleness; when men rest as have IL in
mind they 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.
Leonardo da Einci. the great painter,
was once employed by the Emperor TO pro.
duce q picture. which was to be finished
by a certain date. After working some
time at his task, however, the artist alb
sented bimself from his studio for week
or more. dong apparently nothing toward
completing the picture. The Emperor hear
ing OF this sent courtier to remonstrate
with the painter. and when the latter did
not meet the remonstrance commanded
H., ~
have you neglected the painting OF the pic-
ture we have ordered:" was the question
sterniy put to the artist. Il have not neg
lected it. SIR" was the answer. But we
know that you have not had the brush in
hand for these eight daya." said the won
dcrinc Emperor "True. sir" said the art
ist. "but nevertheless the picture has
grown, the work of the brush is the least
to be done in producing painting. The
last week have been away from nv studio
it is true. but wherever I went that pic.
ture has been in my mind, and slowly and
steadily have been getting into place the
picture, sir, will be done 1T the stated
time" and it was. and this picture is to-
day regarded as the greatest work Of the
famous painter.
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 60 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 off.
:ials and must 60.
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 dominant force. Why should we go to
.hurch? 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 symbo'
and centre Of worship.
Because He plainly promises to meet Us
there.
Because we need the help the church az
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 lite here
after.
1t 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 O 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 a 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 it, but
rather because there is too little. The
church must be united If the unsaved world
10 to be drawn to it.
At the charge of Fort Donaldson in the
late var the enemy's works had been at
tackled many times by the different compa.
nies. At last wearied Of their fruitless ct.
forts the Union forces for the most part
massed themselves at the foot Of the hill
and advanced together. They came on in
such numbers and with unbroken line that
nothing could withstand their progress
They gained the heights and unitedly won
a victory which their divided forces could
never have obtained. When the Spirit of
Christ shall make the church as one great
body compelling US to march under one great
banner Of the cross then we may expect
victory. Division has ever driven men
away from the church; where it exists il
breeds contempt and disgust. A distin-
guished man has written me the reason
that some men do not attend church is be-