Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-09-12
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
ORastor Of Jefferson Park Presby.
terian Church. Chicago

Chicago, Sept. 6.-An appropriate
theme for the Sunday preceding Labor
day, helpful and inspiring in Its treat
ment, is this discourse, In which the
preacher makes special appeal In be-
half of the "churchless millions" Inc
text is Psalm civ, %, Man goeth forth
unto his work and to his labor until
the evening"
what time Is II, mister?" the work
man asked as | went through a large
factory. Twenty minutes past o. l
answered. "Ah, then," said he, L
have forty minutes more labor before
/ am my own boss" The workman
kept on pounding-fve, ten, fifteen,
twenty, twenty thirty, forty min
utes. During this interval, while the |
minute hand was moving slowly around |
the dial toward the numerical twelve, |
that man and his colaborers continued |
at their work. But no sooner did the
clock begin to strike 6 than loud FAC
tory whistle was blown. Immediately
the men and the women, the boys ana
girls alike, dropped their tasks and
turned their backs upon the wheels
and the leather bands. They took OH
their aprons and donned their coats
and hats. The front and the side doors
of the great building were a vortex
from which poured an onrushing flood
Of humanity. The electric cars and
the elevated trains and suburban ex-
presses were jammed and crowded by
| the scattering employees not only
| from one but from many stores ana
| factories. Everywhere in our large
cities "man goeth to his work and to
his labor" in the morning. In the even
ing hour man, for the most part, has
finished his daily tasks and heads to-
ward home. My text rightly describes
the social conditions Of Davldic times.
It as truthfully pictures the labor con-
ditions of the present day
| The ordinary average labOring man
works from sun to sun. Now comes
the practical and pertinent question,
"How is he to spend his evenings!
| This is to be our theme. 1t Is to be our
subject for two reasons: First because
tomorrow is Labor day. 1t Is day
legalized as holiday by the state leg
tslatures, during which all thoughtful
men and women should discuss or
hear speeches upon the great problems
which affect the laboring classes. Such
n subiect as "Labor's Evenings" natu-
rally grows out Of Labor Sunday
service.
A Spiritual Problem.
II is our theme because this immi-
nent moral and spiritual problem can
never be e-rightly solved by the laboring
man alone. He needs the help of sym
nothetic men who have leisure to think
and plan and who have capital which
they can invest in educational appli-
ances that will yield them return In
higher efficiency and grateful loyalty
to their interests The problem of cap
ital and labor must be solved, IL ever
solved by the Christian cooperation
both of the rich and the poor; by ChFis-
tan philanthropists placing In thelr
emnloyees' hands the means by which
they can lift themselves up.
In the solution Of this problem the
church of Christ should take promi-
nent mart. 1t cannot afford to go on It's
way Indifferent to the social conditions
which are fast becoming intoleraDle'
The miseries of the poor cry aloud unto
heaven. To whom have they right to
look for help if not to that institution
which Christ established for the re-
demption of the world. What can the
q church do for them? 1t may do much
/. and first among the agencies 1t may
a employ l would place the institutional
6 church. Do not imagine that tn'
|. church will be desecrated by such use
= 1t can never be more sacred temple
than when it provides place in whicf
the workingman will be glad to spent
his evenings. This does not mean tina
tho future church of Christ is to be
II dance or a billiard hall, bowling al
ley. a lounging place for smokers or
free restaurant where tramps and beg
CARS shall come to get something 10
nothing. 1t does mean, however, tina
= the church of Jesus Christ Is 10 o.
something more than a mere place o
preaching and hearing. 1t is to be
place of sacred practical helpfulness
II is TO become eyes for the blind AM
{ clothing for the naked and crutches 10
the lame and food for the hungry an
a warm welcome for the friendless an
comfort for the hopeless. 1t Is llterall
70 be all things to all men. 1t is to D'
come a place Of social communion a
we'll as of spiritual worship.
"Please explain yourself more In "a
tail" some one says. Well, will. |
O.. the first place, find that the social II
stinct is a God implanted instinct, an
w. must and will find vent out OF the h'
man heart. The gregarious tendency
strong in men, as it is in animals. ga
tle travel in herds If q farmer turf
out his COWS upon the mountain SIN
he only has to place one bell upon OF
cow Then It Is easy for him TO nr
the rest Of the herd. Some years az
an inexperienced German came to li'
in pike county, Pa, where l was
that time preaching. He set that who
county laughing. Why? In his la'
of knowledge OF animal instinct
de. placed a different bell on every CO.
ide Thus his herd Of cows would go oy
those mountains changing their q
cordant bells like big orchestra tu
inc nm its instruments for conce
piece. 1t only needs one bell Tor o
NO herd Of cattle. Cows always trayei
We eether. The same law applies to she
and horses and buffaloes and mostly
birds and fish. They love TO De
each others society. They live