The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-03

1f the memDtTH
honor the Head OF the church and bring
men TO believe Him and save tnem ~
this life and the next they must De Will
ing to do far more than they nave ,e yet
forts and luxurles OF their homes LOT
the blessing and Christianlzing OF thls
community. In this particular nave .n
myself failed 10 set you an example. Inc
fact that have so failed Is my Only
reason for making this matter puphc
this morning.
ceedingly serious. | do not need 10
prove II 20 you by figures. IL any busi-
ness man will go through the tenements,
he will acknowledge my statements. III
any woman will contrast those dens with
her own home. she Will. IL Christ IL
power I'm her heart. stand in horror be-
fore such a travesty on the sacred
thought OF honor. The destitution or
the nelghborhood Is alarming. The num-
ber OF men out Of work Is dangerous.
The complete removal of all sympat thy
between the church up here on this
street and the tenement district Is sad
der than death. oh. my beloved'-Philip
stretched out his arms and uttered a cry
that rang in the ears of those who heard
II and remained with some OF them
memory for years-'these things ought
not so 10 be, Where is the Christ spirit
with us? Have we not sat In our COM
Portable houses and eaten our pleasant
food and dressed I'm the finest clothing
and gone to amusements and entertain
ments without number while Gods poor
have shivered on the streets and his
sunful ones have sneered at Christianity
as they have walked by our church
doors?
1T is true we have given money to
charitable causes IL is true the town
council has organized a bureau for the
care and maintenance of those In want.
II Is true members OF Calvary church,
with other churches at this time, have
done something to relieve the immediate
distress OF the town, but how much have
we given of ourselves to those in need?
DO we reflect that to reach souls and
win them. to bring back humanity to
God and she Christ. the Christian must
do something different from the giving
OF money now and then? He must give
a part of himself. That was my reason
for urging you TO move this church build
ing away from this street into the tene-
ment district. that we might give our
selves TO the people there. The idea
is the same i'm what I now propose. But
you will pardon me. If first of all /
announce my own action. which / be-
lieve, Is demanded by the times and
would be approved by our Lord
Philip stepped up nearer the front of
the platform and spoke with an added
earnestness and power which thrilled
every hearer A part of the great con-
hict through which he had gone that
:, past month shone out In his pale face
and found partial utterance in his i'm
passioned speech especially as he drew
near the end. The very abruptness OF his
proposition smote the people into breath
less attention.
The parsonage In which I am liv-
ings is large. even a luxurious, dwelling
| IL has nine large rooms. You are fam
| ilar with It's furnishings The salary
| this church pays me Is $1,000 a year, a sum
| which more than provides for my neces.
| sary wants. What have decided TO DE-
! Is this. ! wish this church to reduce this
! salary one-half and take the other thou.
J sand dollars to the fitting up the par
/ sonsge for a refuge for homeless children
or for some such purpose which will
| commend itself to your best Judgment
| There Is money enough in this churcf
! alone 10 maintain such an institution
| handsomely and not a single member o
Calvary suffer any hardship whatever
] will move into a house nearer the lowe
part Of the town, where 7 can more easil,
reach after the people and live NOR,
among them. That is what / propos,
for myself.
| 1T Is not because believe the rich an,
the educated do not need the gospel o
| 'Hf tHuItn ne IlCn ana the poor DOT
need the life more abundantly. But I an
firmly convinced that as matters now ar
the church membership through pulpi
and pew must give itself more than A
the later ages OF the world II has don
for the sake Of winning men The form q
self denial must take n definite, physica
genuinely sacrificing shape. The churc
must get back to the apostolic times 4
some particulars and an adapts ton o
community OF goods and n sharing of cer
tain aspects OF civilization must mark tn
church membership or the coming tweu
| tieth century. An object lesson In self de
NAL large enough for men To see. a SCI
denial that actually gives up luxuriei
money and evn pleasures-this IL the kin
that will make much impression on IN
people. | believe II Christ was on cart
lie would again call for this expression :
loyalty 10 him. He would again say, g
likewise whosoever he he OF you that fol
saketh not all that he hath. he cannot /
my disciple
'Ar this IL what I call on the member
OF this church to do. DO say that 20
ought 60 abandon your own houses an
live somewhere else7 No I can decit
only for myself in a mattaz Of that kim
But this much ] do say. Give ourselv,
In some genuine waN~so save this tow
, from its evil wretchedness. II is not
r much your money as your own soul thu
the sickness OF the world needs. Th
; plan has occurred TO me: Why could M
every family I'm this church become n Al
vior 20 some other family. interest itse
. In the other. know the extent Of It's wan
, as far as possible. 20 10 II in person. I
) I the Christian home come into actual tou,
: with the unChr,stian-ln short. become
s natural savior to one famlly7 There ?
dozens ~ families in this church tn
. could do that. n would take money.
would take time. II would mean real -
L denial. II would call for all your Chris
> Ian grace aud courage. but what does
4 this church membership and church II
: nsGn II not Just such sacrifice? We ca
= not give anything 60 this age OF mo
= value than our own selves. The world
sin and want and despair and disbelief
!. M: hungering for money or missi
= schools CT charity balls or state instit
! tlons for the relief OF distress. but I
y live. pulsirg. loving Christian men a
y women who reach out live. warm hans
N who are willing 10 60 and give thei
selves. who will abandon II necessary.
N Christ calls for ~. the luxuries they ha
u these many years enjoyed in order IN
y the bewildered. disheartened disconter
= ed unhappy sinful creatures of ear
|. , may actually learn Of the love OF q
!, through the love OF man And that IL I