The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-05-09
ESSENCE OF CHURCH GOING
(continued from Second Page.)

 men from the churches. It is the young men, Inind you, who are thought to de- mand something better in the way of preaching. It always amuses me a lit- tie to hear and read much that is said and written about young men in these days. It seems to be assumed that there is nothing on the family dinner table that is quite good enough for them: that they must have set before them specially prepared and temptingly served dishes. It might be natural per- haps for me to think that the young man is a superior being, but, honestly, l think he is just one of the family. And believe it will be better for him and better for the family if he is re- garded as such. Now you see the gist sDf what am saying is that the preach- ling which his father and mother and sisters are able to worry along on ought to be good enough for him. And 70 doubt not but that he himself would think so if well meaning people were hot everlastingly suggesting that in- stead of sitting down to plain roast beef he ought to have canvassbacks. But now about this matter of preach ing. Can you put your finger on that and say that there is the secret of the trouble: that that is what keeps the people, and the young men especially, away from the churches? I do not think you can. Of course I do not 1oubt that if there was a Phillips Brooks in every church more young men, more people of every age, for that matter. would go to church. But if that vere the uniform diet 1t would not be long fancy before this same discussion would be going on. am very skepti- cal on the power of preaching, taken by tself, to draw men, not occasionally, but continually, to church. Far be it from me to minimize preaching. Far De it from me to say that.it is what it should be- On the contrary, believe it s too often subordinated to minor de- ails: that many of the younger clergy Fare neglecting 1t under the mistaken |E1otion that the so-called Institutional Work is the all-important thing to-day. Having thus fortified myself jet me tome back to the statement just made
 hat it is doubtful if preaching taken by tself, has the power to draw men, not occasionally but continually, to church. And this leads me to ask, What is the essence of church going? Well, in my tumble opinion, it is not to hear ser- hon. It is not to get, but to give. We
 ave come around at last to our text.
 It is more blessed to give than to re- eive." Now, in the discussion which
 eroidically arises on this while uues- ion of church going, it is too generally
 ssumed. 1t seem to me, that the ser hon is the main thing, and that if it not what it should be, the listener cling the judge, people, and of course,
 oung men, are justified in absenting themselves from church. They are, if reaching is the essence of church go- 1g. They are not. if the essence of 3urch going is something else. If heir only idea in going to church is to
 ct something. then if they do not get Ehat they want they are Justified in
 taylng away, are they not? It seems me that that is logical. But when
 ou make the essence of church going he giving of something then you are n entirely different and stronger
 round. Mind you, this cannot be urged
 S any valid excuse for poor and in
 lfferent preaching. That always must N e as good as we can make it. It Nught to be a great deal better than we k Ire making it. But men must see in Shurch going something more than the
 pportunity for hearing a sermon.
 hey must keep to the forefront the lea of worship. They must be made to eel that they owe a duty to God; that
 hey go to church to give to God what