The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-09-15
AT BPWORTH CHURCH
APPROPRIATE REFERENCE TO
 THE ANNIVERSARY

Of the Death of President McKiniey-
 Sermon by the Pastor on "The
 Worlds Concession to the Church''.
 At the services at the Epworth M. F. church yesterday appropriate reference was made by the pastor, Rev. MT. Hiler, to the fact that the day was the first anniversary of the death of President Mckinley, and some of the selections sung by the quartette were appropriate to the occasion.
 l The pastor preached in his pulpit at both services yesterday for the first time since vacation. In the morning his sermon was an exhortation to re- newed zeal in the work of the church. The subject of the evening sermon was ''The Worlds Concessions to the Church" the text being taken from Ex- odus viii:2S: And Pharaoh said. I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away" After speaking in general way of the cir cumstances that led to this utterance being made by Pharaoh, the preacher said in part:
 Not infrequently has the world at tempted to lord it over the church after the manner of a Pharaoh Every step in its upward progress has been rigor- ously contested. Its breastworks have always been erected in the midst of the enemy's fire. The concessions that the world has made to the church have therefore been unavoidable.
 "Viewed from any standpoint that one may take the history of the church has been most remarkable. Its small be- ginning, it's rapid growth, it's ultimate triumph have formed attractive themes for the brilliant achievements of the worlds masters in art and music and speech. And still the servants of the Christ, bound together in covenant rela- tions at the altar of the church, seem to receive but scant recognition as the price of their service to humanity. The world still deals out its paltry shekels as Peters pence of tribute, and even these not infrequently show signs of | pCAllS lui lllSilCu II Olli IOLiS dCpOolt III their hiding places But why talk much about the commercial value of Chris tian deeds? It can be at most but part payment. Character is never bought by coin. Coin may be the servant of char acter, it never can be the master. The artist paints a picture; the poet writes a poem; the musician fills the air with the strains of melody. A sense of ap- preciation is aroused among their fel- lows. A few dollars exchange hands But can dollars, few or many, ever fit tingly reward genius? It never has and it never can. Anything that touches mind and spirit into beauty and power has priceless and eternal value.
 ] "If there is anything that is annoying beyond measure 1t is the patroniZing ail which the world sometimes assumes to- ward the church. Not infrequently tho sentiment gets abroad that the church exists because the world has showed i
 federation. But the church of the living God is no petted child of this world: breeding and has no part or lot in the spoils of earth. Selfish and ungodly leaders may sometimes put on the gari
 of piety to heap up riches in the namt of our pure and undefied religion bu
 Gods heroes of faith have driven thu
 ploughshare over their works of offenst and reared in their stead a sanctuary
 filled with the beauty of holiness. Th'
 church has no olive branch nf peace t( offer to an unreconciled world. Th'
 two edged sword is its fitting emblem Unconditional surrender is its only al ternative to deadly strife.
 In no sense would we however, light } ly esteem every concession that tn . world does make to the Christian
 church. It Is matter for congratula tion that the old animus that tn . heather world used to share towart
 Christianity has we'll nigh disappeared
 But after all are there not signs il
 our times that indicate a spirit to limi
 the extent and control the course of tn - church? Every field of activity
 seems to approach has been posted wit signs to keep out. The lash of financia distress is ready to swing it's stingin l blows upon those who dare to antagon D ize men whose pockets are full of gol 2 but whose hearts are not welded to tn T Golden Rule. It is problem that con l fronts the honor and welfare of tn l Christian church to-day how to pro . claim the vital truth of religion an maintain unbroken sway over tn t hearts and minds of men. Let us cove for the church we serve spirit tha ,' turns deaf ear to the worlds Pharao 5 to-day but seeks to know the mind C
 the Master.