The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-06

A'@ 49, 1893
. AT some churches the poor mar IS 9
y treated with "udeness. at others with 8
. cold poIiteress. 0
= when the masses are Interested in 9
T. the church they are regular in at .
. tendance. faithful in their offerings @
6 and earnest in their work. O
To interest them and then treat -
. them as human beings who are the y
= equals OF any one IS the great prob @
= lem that now cOnf-uu.s the church" o
ko9$ %>1%@ o. S1S@e3&
The Reverend Doctor John l.. Brandt
preached last night at the First Christian
Church on The Church and the Nassgs."
he took for his text: And the common poo
pie heard him gladly" He said. In part:
Happy the church that has solved this
problem. Thrice happy the preacher Of such
a church. When he steps into the pulpit
and views the sea Of uptuTneG faces what
feelings Of Inspiration and responsibility
come over HIM There is nothing 50 e and
ana so e!rvatinE "a the sensation Of q
preacher VINO faces a large congregation in
behalf Of a cause so worthy rs that OF the
gospel.
when attendance j. small and the church
building only half filled. the poor preacher
IS often compelled TO 30 through the week
Ike a bird with a broken Ming Inc quvs-
ton Of bringing in the tide Of humanity
OF filling every seat and all OF the available
room with an SNpcrtInJ tErClg OF wJ-.nlp-
ers-in short. the question OF reaching the
AAAh@-tS - VI NlbAAAfaAANA- AlAlAHlA Ad.AfNs AM "a
growing interest.
TWO CLASSES OF NONATTENDASTS-
There are two general classes who are
not attending church services Many of pO-
sitiOn and culture who have separated
themselves from the church and all II
represents.
when We speak OF the masses are a very
different class. They are not SO scholarly.
tasty and fastidious- The masses are the
moor: they are those who toll in factories
that the world may be clothed. in mines
that the world may have gold: in stores
that the world may b. served They have
reared out cottages. mansions. palaces.
temples. schoolhouses and asyiums.
They represent that class who have
fought the worlds battles. achieved as
victories. borne itS burdens and suffered its
prosecutions The masses are those who
have identified themselves with various or
ders. associations and brotherhoOdS for
OF the palace OF the Gar. and cry: Honor
thy brother" Gladstone heard their cry and
land. Our own statesmen heard 1t and
hove pleaded their cause In Congress. The
church il discussing how we shall reach
educate and church them 1t was to this
class that Christ preached the Gospel The
Spirit of the Lord was upon him. and
arointed him to preach the Gospel to the
MASSES STAY AWAY FROM CHURCH.
We are told that in his time the people
had the Gospel preached to them. and that
the common people heard him SiadlN- bat
to-day as a rule they do not attend the
church and make IN its membership.
There IL respOnslbility-upon whom. Let
us briefly note a few Of the main reasons
for the enstrang cment OF the working men
from the church
This church in many instances has been
n respectcr OF person. How often has II
been said TO the man of fine raiment. SIT
thou here in a good place and TO the man
poorly clad. Stand thou here. or. sit here
nnder my footstooL Have you not heard
of the reporter in a certain American city
who donned the garments OF a decent laDor-
er and presented himself for ADMISSION at
several OF the principal churches OF the CITY.
At some he was treated with rudeneSS. az
others with cold pOliteness- 1t is not an I'M
common thing to give n hearty welcome 70
the wealthy and respectable and to pay but
little attention to the poorly clad
MANI city churches have such costly
buildings, costly otEans: S STSus sciP5ssiaSiicai
machinery that they care but little Tor the
poor. because the poor cannot 90 muCn
toward supporting such things. Conse-
ouently. the church becomes q communion
OF responsibility instead OF communion Oh
saints.
In a certain manufacturing city l once
announced shat 1 would preach q series OF
Sunday night sermons especially 10 tns
poor. The poor packed the church bnildins
and hundreds rs t TSsTs s rlrnS1 m heard some
one say: The collections are not iaIse.
enough for the size OF the congregations.
rich?' But the church records showed that
never in the history of the cnurcn WeIe
the offerings larger. When the masses ar
Interested in the church they are res1lai
in their attendance. faithful in their offer
ings and earnest in their work.
QUESTION OF READING PEOPLE,
"Desecration of the Lords day ana. the
open saloon are potent factors IN keeping
the masses from the church; But the gresa
question is: How can the massss rbpe
house of worship should be located IN a
popuIous district and at a convenient pace
and with adequate 60
no substitute for this The congregation
with all its numbers, forces and Sraces;
must give expression to the good Will OF
the church toward humanity The charac-
ter OF the services. There should be a dis
tinct purpose - every service, ana every
thing should be suhservient OF That great
rurpose. There should be an abundance OF
good sacred music. both choral ana consre-
gationaL. The sermon should be simple ne
simplicity Of the Gospel Is its beauty Inc
common people hear him gladly. Inc ser
mon should be brief.
"A thirty minutesH sermon. t~horoughS
prepared. with singleness OF purpose ana ef-
fective delivery, is far preferable 10 one
sixty minutes IN length. The sermon Shoulu
appeal to the conscience. The preacher must
make a bayonet charge against SIN
SERMONS OF CHRISTIANITY NEEDE.D.
THE sermon should he full OF Christ Inc
world wants a Christ VINO sISES pc tbn-
ology has no place in the pulpit Peopis
are In need Of a Christ to save them anu
EehTist's gospel. The disease Of the world
is sin and the remedy is the gospel OF Christ
No one will accept Jesus unless. ne nears
that gospel. which is the power OF God unto
salvation to every one that believeth. inns
rover must be brought TO bear upon tne
sinner. Yes. set forth Christ as a living'
loving Savior.
THE sermon should be practical II
should teach men how to be industfious
punctual. honest and virtuOus. Its power
should be felt in the factory, , ana
store. and on the ship and farm whenever
the devil tempts men to sin. there the Noi-e
of the pulpit should be feared WEBSTER
said. 1 want my preacher to come 70 me
in the spirit Of the gospel. saying: You are
mortal: your probation Is large; your worH
must be done speedily. You are mnorosl
too. you are fastening to the bar OF Go1,
the Judge even now standeth al the door.
When I am thus admonished. l nave no
disposition to either muse or sleep.
THE sermon should teach women now 70
preside over the home, how TO educate the
children and make them happy. The ahiliies.
the business. the education and pecuiarites
OF the people in the congregation should al
ways be kept before the preacher IN ms
study. II he grow eloquent. let IL DC over
that which will make the people dare and
do. II he weep. let it be for their sake and
interest. Let every sermon be preached ana
unaffectedly realT'