Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-09-07
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson PARK Presby-
terrain Church. Chicago

theme for the Sunday preceding Labor
day, helpful and inspiring in its treat
ment. is this discourse. I'm which the
preacher makes special appeal In be-
half OF the "churchless millions" The
text Is Psalm civ. -, MAN goeth forth
unto his work and TO his labor until
the evening"
what time is II. mister?" the work
man asked as / went through a large
factory. Twenty minutes past g." l
answered. "Ah. then" said he. IL
have forty minutes more labor before
! am my own boss" The workman
kept on pounding-hve, ten. fifteen,
twenty. twenty-five. thirty. forty min
utes. During this interval. while the
minute hand was moving slowly around
the dial toward the numerical twelve.
that man and his colaborers continued
at their work. But no sooner did the
clock begin 10 strike 6 than loud fac
tory whistle was blown. Immediately
the men and the women. the boys and
girls alike, dropped their tasks and
turned their backs upon the wheels
and the leather bands. They took off
their aprons and donned their coats
and hats. The front and the side doors
Of the great building were a vortex
from which poured an onrushing food
OF humanity. The electric cars and
the elevated trains and suburban ex-
presses were damned and crowded by
the scattering employees not only
from one but from many stores and
factories. Everywhere I'm our large
cities imam goeth to his work and to
his labor" in the morning. In the even
ing hour man. for the most part, has
finished his daily tasks and heads to-
ward home. My text rightly describes
the social conditions Of Davidic times.
II as truthfully pictures the labor con-
ditions OF the present day.
The ordinary average laboring man
works from sun to sun. Now comes
the practical and pertinent question,
"How is he TO spend his evenings +"
This is to be our theme. 1t is to be our
subject for two reasons: First. because
tomorrow is Labor day. 1t is a day
islatures, during which all thoughtful
men and women should discuss or
hear speeches upon the great problems
which affect the laboring classes. Such
q subject as "Labor's Evenings" natu-
rally grows out of a Labor Sunday
service.
A Spiritual Problem.
10 TIM,
nent moral and spiritual problem can
never be rightly solved by the laboring
man alone. He needs the help of SYM
pathetic men who have leisure to think
and plan and who have capital which
they can invest in educational appli-
Rnces that will yield them a return in
higher efficiency and grateful loyalty
to their interests. The problem of cap
ltal and labor must be solved. if ever
solved, by the Christian cooperation
both OF the rich and the poor; by Chris
tan philanthropists placing in their
employees hands the means by which
they can lift themselves up.
In the solution of this problem the
church of Christ should take a promi
nent part. 1t cannot afford to go on its
way Indifferent to the social condition:
which are fast becoming intolerable
The miseries of the poor cry aloud unto
heaven. To whom have they a right t.
which Christ established for the re
demption of the world. What can tn,
church do for them? 1t may do much
and first among the agencies ii may
employ would place the institution
church. DO not imagine that tn
church will be desecrated by such use
IL can never be more sacred templ
than when II provides place in which
the workingman will be glad to spen,
his evenings. This does not mean tina
the future church of Christ is to be
dance or a billiard hall. a bowling al
ley, lounging place for smokers or
free restaurant where tramps and beg
nothing. II does mean. however, tina
the church of Jesus Christ is to b
something more than mere place o
preaching and hearing. 1t is to be
place OF sacred practical helpfulnes.
II Is TO become eyes for the blind an
clothing for the naked and clutches fo
the lame and food for the hungry an
warm welcome for the friendless an
comfort for the hopeless. 1t is literall
20 be all things to all men. 1t is to b,
come a place Of social communion @
well as OF spiritual worship.
PLEASE explain yourself more in d.
tail" some one says. Well will |
the first place. find that the social II
stinct is a God implanted instinct. an
must and will find vent out OF the b,
man heart. The gregarious tendency
strong in men, as it is in animals Ca
tie travel in herds. II farmer turf
out his cows upon the mountain sid,
be only has TO place one bell upon OF
COW. Then II is easy for him TO fir
the rest Of the herd. Some years az
an inexperienced German came to li'
In Pike county. Pa. where | was
that time preaching. He set that who