Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-05-21

relieve the destitute or lift the burden
from the weary shoulders we are act
ing as his almoners and arc doing his
work. We should care for others in
Christs name because God has so long
cnred for US.
Champion of Human Rights.
A big bill for church privileges 1 find
charged against us oil in the divine
ledger. Why all? Because the church
of Jesus Christ is not, as some people
suppose, n small building dedicated
for few weddings and funerals and
n place In which arc to be gathered II
few Sunday school scholars. It is not,
rs a great preacher once described It,
merely an Ecclesiastical Flying Dutch
man." with n dead minister in the pull
pit and dead hearers In the pow and
dead deacon passing the collection
plate. The church Of Jesus Christ Is
great gospelizlng, vltalizing, intcllec-
t'l'izlng and liberty producing institu-
o. 1t is the miChtiest protecting
power we have today back Of the pros
ident OF the United States. 1t teaches
man to live right as well as 10 die
right.
The church Of God IS the greatest
champion of human rights Of the pres
ent day. Some years ago I sat In Coop
err institute Mt a great mass meeting.
/ Robert G. Ingersol was one of the
speakers. During his address he hurl-
cd at the audience this singing SEN
No I lo oh, n
of God Is because 1t blocks every wheel
OF progress" Afterward the chairman
of the meeting arose and said, 81 adj
miro Robert G.. 1ngersoll. I believe
him to be one Of the greatest orators
who have ever lived. But | defy Mr.
/ Ingersoll TO show where the Christian
church has blocked the wheels Of prog
ress. Every great onward movement
in American history has had It's ablest
champions and often its leaders and
orignators In the men who week by
week preach from Christian pulpits."
That chairman was right. The thun-
derous applause of the audience ap-
proved il.
The church Of God Is the great intel
lectualizing force in America. Dr..
Charles /. Thompson once declared
that "the Presbyterian church was not
the church OF great cathedrals. but Of
small colleges" Wherever the gospel
ministers go there you will find the
college planters. The schoolhouse al
ways stands under the shadow Of the
church stccple. Where there Is no
church invariably there Is an absence
Of the schoolhouse.
The church is the greatest purifier OF
the community. 1t IS the great pre-
venter of crime. | knew of keen,
shrewd business man who lived in a
small Ohio city. Every year he sent a
large donation TO all the different
churches. mot" said he, because
am processing Christian. but because
| believe the church does more to emp
~ our ials and poorhouses and crimi-
nal resorts than any other power on
earth" The church of the Lord Jesus
Christ is the great cornerstone of a
pure home We do not have to argue
here for one moment TO try to prove
this statement. 1t is an axiom. a self
evident fact. Now my brother, If
the church of God makes your clerks
more honest and keeps the messengers
of crime from off the streets. where
they might destroy your sons and
daughters: if ii is the foundation stone
of strong national government as
we'll as that of the home; If it Is the
great enemy of ignorance and the lead
or in all movements that look 10 the
purifying and spiritual elevation of the
human race, do you not believe that
you should cast your influence Into its
work? DO you not owe it an inestlma
BILE debt? Should you not try to broad
en- its teachings and through it try tC
disseminate the gospel redemption
which will save men this side of the
grave as well as upon the other side?
Spiritual Education.
A big debt for a gospel education
find charged against us all in the 81
vine ledger The struggles Of poo
boys for college education offer som,
of the most pathetic of illustrations
Harry is a farmers boy. He lives II
the country and wants to 20 to school
but how can he? Try as hard rs thu
family may, they can just make end
meet and no more. But get an educa
ton lie will. He works on the farm
during the summer and teaches schoo
during the winter. After awhile, b.
night study he fits himself for al
academy. His little savings he hoard
Ike a misor. Ilc enters the university
Then perhaps he comes ny to gradua
ton with a hacking cough or ruined
eye>lCht and with his physical healti
wrecked All, that is pathetic. Tha
is sacrifice that is being made in ev
cry part Of the land.
But if it is pathetic TO see poo
DO, struggling for an intellectual edu
ration how much more pathetic Is IT +
Zee one struggling for a spiritual edu
cation when he has been born in tn
cradle of sin? When l 20 down III
street and see mon and women who's
faces from early childhood were SCARE,
and married with sin | often say 10 my
self. What chance have those poo
Fl mortals?' Their fathers perhaps wer
TAIL birds. Their mothers were disso
= lutte and deserted them perhaps on tn
day they were born. Their companion
from youth have been thieves and rob
bers. And yet some of those poo
wretchcs, born in sin, have struggled
up by the grace Of God into the light
Il