The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-21

him. body, mind and soul. is that more
than YOU, duty? must remember
all the Gags htz has cared for. US in our
I infancy mink how 10 hGs guided and
{ protected rs all through che struggle
Of life. We Must pay instaiIments on
that bill by caring for Gods helpless
children. by feeding Gods hungry and
clothing Gods naked and bending over
Gods sick
We can never get away from this re-
sponsibility One day a gentleman
stood waiting for friend at the New
York entrance of the Brooklyn bridge.
While standing there he saw a little
street urchin so up to an ash barrel
and pick out Of the refuse piece of
/ bread and begin to eat it. The gentle
man turned to an old woman who was
tending an apple stand near by and
said, Have those little boys nobody to
care for them at all?' mo one" grim
ly answered the old woman. Except
God, and he does not always seem to
be around Yes, as we look at dis
there is no brightness, it does seem as
If God We're not always around. But
has. that thought no message for us?
Are not these very cases opportunities
placed in our way Of repaying some of
our obligations to him? We cannot
pay him, but when as his children we
relieve the destitute or lift the burden
4
ing as his almoners and are doing his
work. We should care for others in
Christ's name because God has SO long
cared for us.
Champion of Human Rights.
A big bill for church privileges find
charged against US all in the divine
ledger Why all? Because the church
of Jesus Christ is not, as some people
suppose, a small building dedicated
for a few weddings and funerals and
place in which are to be gathered a
few Sunday school scholars. 1t is not.
as a great preacher once described 1t.
merely an ecclesiastical Flying Dutch
man." with dead minister in the pull
pit and dead hearers in the pew and q
dead deacon passing the collection
plate. The church Of Jesus Christ is
great gospelizing. vitalizing. intellec-
tualizing and liberty producing institu-
ton. 1t Is the mightiest protecting
power we have today back Of the pres
ident Of the United States. 1t teaches
man to live right as well as to die
right.
The church of God is the grea test
champion Of human rights of the pres
ent day. Some years ago sat in Coop
er institute at a great mass meeting.
Robert G. Ingersoll was one of the
speakers. During his address he hurl-
ed at the audience this singing SEN
tence: THE reason despise the church
Of God is because it blocks every wheel
of progress" Afterward the chairman
Of the meeting arose and said: Il ad-
mire Robert G. Ingersoll. l believe
him to be one of the greatest orators
who have ever lived. But / defy Mr..
Ingersoll to show where the Christian
church has blocked the wheels of prog
ress. Every great onward movement |
in American history has had its ablest |
champions and often its leaders and
week preach from Christian pulpits."
That chairman was right. The thun-
derous applause Of the audience ap-
proved it.
The church OF God is the great intel |
lectualizing force in America. DR.. |
!, Il
that .'the Presbyterian church was not !
the church of great cathedrals. but of |
small colleges" Wherever the gospel |
ministers go there you will find the |
college planters. The schoolhouse al
ways stands under the shadow of the |
church steeple. Where there is no
church invariably there is an absence |
of the schoolhouse.
The church is the greatest purifier of |
the community. 1t is the great pre-
venter of crime. I knew of a keen,
shrewd business man who lived in a
small Ohio city. Every year he sent
large donation to all the different
am protesting Christian, but because
I believe the church does more to emp
ty our jails and poorhouses and crimi
nal resorts than any other power Oh
earth" The church Of the Lord Jesus
Christ is the great cornerstone Of a
pure home. We do not have to argue
here for one moment to try to prove
this statement. 1t is an axiom, self |
evident fact. Now, my brother, if
the church of God makes your clerks
more honest and keeps the messengers
Of crime from off the streets, where
they might destroy your sons and
if it is the foundation stone
Of strong national government as
well as that Of the home; if it Is the
great enemy Of ignorance and the lead
er in all movements that look to the
purifying and spiritual elevation of the
human race, do you not believe that
you should cast your influence into its
work? Do you not owe it an inestima-
Die debt? Should you not try to broad