The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1903-12-25
TOWN TOPICS.
SOCIAL TOPICS.

SOCIAL TOPICS.
CHURCH sOCIETY.-BY O. o. WRIGHT.
We are living under conditions pc
Eculiar to our times and country. We
need to consider the tendencies of the
currents of life about US. We should
be able to discern and understand the
signs of the times. Whittier are we
tending? What is the moral-spiritual
ideal toward which We are striving?
What are our standards of conduct
and character? And where do we find
them? Are we living up to our priv
ileges? Or do we conform to the lower
standards of the world, compromising
our convictions and preferences for
the sake of temporary convenience,
comfort, or any worldly considerations?
In matters of religion there were
never such diversity, conflict and con-
fusion. Numerous Christian denomi-
nations strive with each other, COM
excess of missionary zeal such as it is.
| We are too much concerned with try
ing to convert each other; and to build
up one church at the expense OF an
other. There are too many churches.
| The people are burdened to support
means of grace which they do not need,
and will not use; Iand many no doubt
shun those places of worship where the
brethren make haste to oppose and
hinder each other. People are tired of
being teased and worried into church
going against their wills, until religion
has in some cases become an offence.
Free rides, free lunches, rewards Of
merit, and good time are offered as
inducements to attend divine service.
Practically we are not only persuaded
to be good, but we are even hired, by
worldly considerations, to do our
bounden duty to God and Jour fellow
men. It makes one think of the Lords
words: 1.-THE kingdom of heaven suf-
fereth violence, and men Of violence
take it by force" And it seems to me
sometimes, that we are in danger Of
leading the people who will respond to
such bait, into a state of moral
spiritual pauperism, by trying to do
for them what in the nature of the
case they must be willing to do for
themselves.
1t is not enough that we get people
to go to church. They should go to
the Lords house in the right spirit,
and for the right purpose. 1t is not
enough to be religious; there must be
a true motive; a personal conviction,
and worthy desire to serve God. We
must be loyal to Him; loyal to our
hearts; loyal to the Spirit Of Truth;
and willing to sacrifice our own con-
venience, time and means for the good
Of others. If we are selfish in our re-
ligion we are defeat ting the divine end
of the Gospel which is self-denial, and
not self-gratifcation. Christ did not
come to please Himself, and He never
appeals to the selfish desires Of men;
neither does He ever put us under any
false sense of duty to serve Him; but
Him any acceptable service except as
we do it willingly, in spirit, and in the
sincerity OF truth and love.
If do not urge people to 60 to
church it is because want them to be
free. believe that the simple, honest
uevotions of two or three gathered
together in the name and Spirit of
Jesus are of more value to the world,
and more pleasing to the Lord, than a
crowd Of people eager to crafty their
idle curiosity with the latest novelty
or cheap sensation.
1t is not more means of grace we
need, but greater faithfulness in the
use of what we have. If we make our
piety too cheap and too common we
only encourage the world to cavil at it.
and ridicule US. What we need is not
SO much more religion as better. We
have churches enough, preaching
enough, praying enough, and plous
talking enough; but we are sadly lack
ing in consistent conduct, stability of
) character good example, and high,
effective standard OF public opinion.
l There ore protesting Christians
|; enough in this town to make it very
Paradise of God if that were all We
need. But it is not enough to be
Christians, we need to be good true
followers of Christ, loyal to Him an6
> to each other in the fellowship Of the
Spirit, willing to sacrifice and suffel
for His sake, and for each other
Christians do not make churches, mucf
less Christian society, except as the.
are united together in the bonds O
J. peace, cooperating with each othe
for the good Of all. The true spiritua
body of Christ is "the blessed compan.
Of all faithful people," working, ant
suffering together in one common
cause.
w. Walter Finch, an atfable cler]
for r. H. Beers & Co., will pass Christ
mas with his niece, Mrs Sta tes, in New
Haven, and on Saturday will 60 t.
Il Springfield, Mass, for trip.
r. II. Beers s. Co. will close thei
store, Christmas morning, at 1913
O'Clock.
Mr. and Mrs E. L. Sherman of Ken
Hol1cu 1ipo6 of tho Grand Canfra