Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-08-07

at the altar Side by side you will be
in the grave. Side by side you may be
IN eternal despair.
Church MenSbershfp.
But I would like to speak a word
before close to the good, moral, Chris
tan man who believes in God and yet
is not a church member. You are
ready TO confess him In private con-
versation aud yet not willing to public
~ confess him as church member,
though In that way you might help
the women who are laboring in the
gospel. In spite of orthodox doctrine
1 shrink from the thought that you
will ever be ultimately destroyed But
this l do know-your actions in refus-
ing church membership may be the
means of destroying scores aud scores
of immortal souls.
That church membership is mighty
help to every man I'm his struggle TO
lead truer, purer. nobler Christian
life there is no doubt Every true
Christian Is better Christian when he,
with holy purpose. gives his allie,
giauce TO some one church and allow.
his name TO be placed upon the church
roll. You may still be a Christian and
yet not church member. You may
be able by the grace of God to be a
good, moral, upright Christian man in
spite OF never having taken this impor
tant step. You may have had n gospel
bringing up that has helped you, but
what about that young clerk who Is
watching you? He has not yet public
iy confessed faith in God He has had
no sacred childhood. He is looking nj
You now and saying. "Well, if Mr.. So
and-so can be good moral man and
not church member 1 guess 1 cam"
Dare you. oh, moral man. allow that
boy 20 make such an excuse? You
know you had a hard time to keen YOU,
Christian integrity. In spite of all your
sacred past Do you feel that that
young man can safely run the gantlet
or sin as you have done without the re-
straining influence of church member.
ship? Do II without public profession
Of Jesus Christ before the church al
tars7
Being able by the grace of God te
persuade good. moral. upright man tc
publicly profess Jesus Christ I'm n
church aisle was the means, 1 believe
by which | hive accomplished nv
greatest single work for good In the
gospe! ministry. That man was one OF
the leading millionalres OF Pittsburg.
Every one who knew him was ready 70
testify that he was square through and
through His word was as good as his
hn 81
year in and year out he went among
the business men Of the Smoky City
as good. moral man and not as o
Christian man. The young man said
Wei, IL 1 can be as straight and true
az Mr.. So-and-So, that is all 1 ask. I
guess my chance for heaven will be
first class" l heard OF such remarks
made by the young men. 1 made I'm
my mind i would carry them straight
to that millionaire 1t was morally
the bravest ACT ever did. I was al
that time merely a boy and therefore
1t was doubly hard. First prayed
over the matter. 1 felt that i had a
right, and full right. to go to God and
ask him for what was on my heart
Then l started for that rich mans
house. / rang the bell and entered the
parlor. When he came down 1 began
to plead In the name OF my Christ. ]
said to him: "Mr. So-and-So, / know
you ore Christian. No man with your
habits and your bringing up could help
being Christian Your Christian
mother and Christian grandmother. be-
sides your Christian dead wife. were
"A - ~
But what about these young men who
are looking up TO you as an examples
Dare you and Will you be responsible
for their lives? Dare you refuse 10
publicly confess Christ and turn these
young mems minds toward the cross.
which Is the source of all your
strength" Tears began to well up out
OF the great financier's eyes. They
rolled down upon his cheek and his
beard. BE extended his hand and took
mine and said, "Mr. Talmage, do YOU
think TINT the young men are saying
that about me" 1 answered, II know
they are" Then he said, IT Will pub,
iicly profess Christ as my Saviour In
the church aisle at our next com.
munIon."
Wear the Gospel Armor.
In all the history OF the Second Pres
byterian church there never went forth
u greater religious influence than on
that day. In the bank, over the coun.
ter, on the street and In the home hun.
dreds OF men were saying: Have you
heard the newsf Mr.. So-and-so has be.
come Christian. He Joined the church
last Sunday" And from that one NOR.
al Christian mans action of publicly
Christ in the church I be-
lieve hundreds OF young men were
brought 10 kneel at the foot OF the
cross. Oh. moral Christian man. do not
suppose that while you are outside of |
church fellowship you can really helm
the women who are laboring I'm the Cos
peH Do not be Hessian or one who |
Is lighting for American liberties when
you are not an American. Be born
again. Be a Christian church member.
Place your name In big black letters
upon the muster roll OF the church. AS
Christian, wearing the gospel armori
ana hghting under the gospel standard, |
throw your whole soul and heart into
this Christ struggle against sin.
There Is very common sign upon all
the board fences today, In which Henry
George stands with uplifted hand, say
lng, Il am for men" Today, as Christ's
messenger, 1 am pleading for men. III
want Christian men for gospel vista
ton. want Christian men for the
prayer meeting and for the church Off
eers. ] want the Peters and Lukes and
Matthews. Bartholomew, Johns and
lauls and the Timothys of the present
generation. In other words, as a Chris
tan pastor, l come today and say, "Ol
man, In the name Of Jesus Christ. we
want you TO help the women who are
aow laboring in our midstw WiIlsyouI
rome and give TO ms your gospel help?
copyright. 1898. by Louis Klopsch.I
Thomas Hardy.
or Thomas Hardy. the writer of a
ketch In a supplementary volume OF
he Encyclopedia Britannica says: HE
a fatalist, and he studies the work
n e~Sy Of Fs,4a L.. 1