Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-09

England saved; Berlin for Christ means
Germany bowling before the cross. IF
we capture New York and Chicago and
our other great cities for Christ, we
capture America for Christ. Oh. what
a blessed opportunity it is for us to be
able to fight under the standard Of the
cross, where the Satanic forces are I'M
llmbering their heaviest artilleries and
where every blow struck for Jesus can
rebound with the best of all results!
The city and the Country.
But while congratulate you because
you are able to testify for Jesus in
large city I also cast my eyes over the
hills and send forth gospel congratula-
! ton to the Christian farmhouses that
are helping us in this Christian strug-
gle. A city is a great human reservoir
which collects its streams of life from
everywhere. Many Of those streams
trickle down from country hills, where
cattle are lowing and horses neighing
and sheep blcating and harvests wav-
Ing. These country streams Of human
life are the brooks which clarity the
muddy waters of large metropolis.
The country farmer and his wife are
very apt to fear that their boys and
their girls will be swallowed up in
large city and never heard from again.
But / want to tell you that the major
ity of the mightiest workers for Christ
in the large cities have been born upon
n farm. 4 short time ago thirty eight
prominent business men of New York
city sat Mt II banquet in the Union
League club on Fifth avenue. How
many OF them do you suppose came
from the country? Thirty-sx out Of
the thirty-eight. A history of promi-
nent lawyers. ministers, doctors and
merchants in large city was once
compiled. Eighty per cent were found
to come from the country. Thus, ye
farmers and farmers wives, do not
mourn whenever your stout limbed
boys and beloved girls leave you for
the great cities. Remember that you
are giving them to the service Of Jesus
Christ. Remember that your prayers
and Christian training are now to
bring forth their gospel results in the
place where they are most needed.
When my father, then n young coun-
try minister, was called to a large city
church, my grandfather, David Tai
mage, protested against his going. He
said: "De Witt, you are doing we'll now
in your little country church. Why do
you go into that large city where your
influence will be swallowed up and no
one ever hear from YOU again. But
De Witt Talmagc answered: Father. |
must go. 1t is my duty TO 20. | be-
lieve God is calling me 10 that field.
And if | go in his name he will bless
me- God did bless him. And So
farmers and farmers wives, God will
also bless and is blessing the Christian
work of your Christian children in the
same way if he has called them to live
in a great city.
Palm Sunday emphasizes the fact
that the easiest way to capture city
for God is to go after the masses. Who
are the masses? They are the most of
folks. They are the common people
who for the most part fill our churches
And yet they are the common people
who today, If they are only reused with
holy enthusiasm, can conquer this old
world for Christ. They can do it as
easily as the common people who came
out to greet Jesus on Palm Sunday
made the Pharisecs and the high
priests hirelings at that time afraid to
lift their threatening fingers or TO do
Jesus any harm. Today that religious
organization which is most spiritually
influential for Jesus is the church
which appeals to the employee as well
ms to the employer, TO the poor mans
hut as well as TO the rich mans pal
ace, to the artisan and the mechanic
and the laborer as well as to the mer-
chant prince. the capitalist or the man
dressed in broadcloth.
Power of the Common People.
Oh, the infinite influence OF the com
mon people. If we could only by he
power OF the Holy Spirit enlist the
common people to fight for Jesus
Christ, under the standard Of the cross.
there would be no doubt as to the ulti-
mate condition of our nation. When
Robert G.. lngersol was candidate
for the gubcrnatorial chair of Illinois,
he was defeated for the nomination.
Why? Because If he had been nomi-
mated every church pulpit would have
become political rostrum Every lit
tie meeting house and prayer meeting
room would have been filled with Chris
tian workers, who would have worked
and voted against him. Thus, If we
could only inspire the great mass of the
church members, made up of the com
mon people, with holy enthusiasm for
Christ, It would mean our political sal
walton. 1t would mean the extinction
of the saloon. Then no Christian would
vote for a candidate unless he emphat
ically stated he would do all in his
power to drive out the destroying deml
john. 1t would mean the publication
of the home and of the church. The
heart of the common people rings true
when 1t is not misled. No wonder
that 1t was among them that Jesus
passed the most Of his earthly minis
try, They were the first to recognize
him. From them came the first mem
bers of his church. and 1t is with feel
= ings of gratitude to them that we re
member that It was they who gave tc
our Lord the only public welcome ant
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