The St. Louis Republic., 1903-02-02
PLACE WHICH CHURCH HOLDS
NOT LIKELY TO BE LOST.
The Reverend Alfred F. Smith De-
clares a Stronger Victory
Will He Won.

The Church in Favor With God was the
subject OF the sermon preached yesterday
morning by the Reverend Alfred F, Sm,tn
At the kirkwood NJ Z. Church. South. The
text was chosen from Colossians, Iii. IL: "As
the elect of God. holy and beloved. lie
said in part:
Qualftcau uol given to the name of the
church Of God. Broad as truth. deep aS
the sorrowful needs of mankind, and high
as the character of Jesus Christ. stands the
Institution which was founded by him who
cared for nothing in this world but to save
men-to save them from all unhappiness
above themselves and show them possible
destiny in the bosom of their Maker. This
mighty purpose moves. and has always
Whatever Is lovely and of good report.
having virtue and praise, finds Its home and
friends in the church and there organizes
itself for perpetuation and propagation. Like
q shaft Of light that bursts the bars of
night. satisfying hope and bringing JOY,
spread the sweet influences of that COM
pany, called the elect of God.
E'And a great light II grows to be, recos-
nized In the world as peaceful ana regen-
erative And 1t eommends Itself to all men
who discriminate between good ard evil.
They may not discern its spiritual teachings
or-understand its willingness TO make SELF
sacrificing efforts for a wayward worids but
they believe in its sincerity and rely upon
its influence to improve the conditions of a
degenerate society. and TO speak the only
9 of hPe 9 the ysa II sssse
AAeSi oiAN
be some who will not hear the calls Of the
church to the higher life, or believe its mes
pany agrees that a church Is a very ex-
cellent thing to have in tho community. and
they are often willing TO help out the cause
families to the church, and admire its power
In inculcating morality and all the other
virtues,
likely to be lost; rather will a stronger
place be won. II there be faults. the very
life of the church is dependent upon their
correction; IL there be unworthy persons
thy; II there be coldness it will fall upon
its knees for fervor and forgiveness. Its
ine:l Let the word of Christ dwell in you
richly in all wisdom. teaching and admon-
ishing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs % s singing with grace in
such a band of people the weary. sad
hearted world is glad to hear singing and
preaching. Their voices are IKE the music
and desolaton. They receive their JUNCTION
from that Holy One who sends them forth
to continue the mission which he began in
the synagogue when he opened the book
and read concerning himself: The spirit OF
the Lord is upon me, because he hath an
ointed me to preach the gospel to the poor.
ed. to preach deliverance to the eaptives.
and recovering of sight to the blind; to sat
at liberty them that are bruised; to preach
the acceptable year Of the Lord.
such as these constitute the church. and
make 1t strong, sympathetic. helpful, beau
tiful. 1t never makes any man or woman
worse; often 1t fully reforms those who
were In woe and seemed to be lost. 1t ar
rays no class against any other class, but
II proclaims peace and good will amongst
all men. It believes in a universal brother
hood and manifests the largest charity 20
wards all. No one IL too obscure or too
mean to escape its care; but into the very
byways and hedges. into all the lanes and
alleys of life 1t goes calling men to repent
ance and to the kingdom of heaven.
Against such cause .he grave cannot pre-
vail Out of the very ashes of the dead
there arises a new life, which renews all 1t
touches. It's of God and will endure"