The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-07


 churches and religious communities that have been torn by dissension or weakened by discord and defection this sermon con veys a powerful and inspiring lesson, showing how even small company of Christians, acting as harmonious unit may win great spiritual victories. The text Is Judges vii, 6, And the number of them that lapped. putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men,"
 No sinecurist Is the armys recruiting officer. In most cases, whether in peace or war, the problem which must be How can we reject our volunteers?" but How can we persuade or even com pei men to enlist in the ranks?" During Americas great civil war all healthy men in the south between the ages of eighteen and sixty were foreed to shoul- der a musket if unwilling to go as vol- unteers, while in the north, after the volunteers had ceased to respond to Lin eolns repeated calls for troops. the draft officers went everywhere.
 The story of Gideons campaign is unique in history. Here was a general about to march against a powerful in- vader, well armed and equipped, whom he must meet with a raw and undiscip- lined force, actually reducing by ca pricious test the number of his followers Under Gods comand he dispensed with nine-tenths of his men. When General Gideon raised his standard to repel the invasion of the Midianites and Amale- kites S2 00O0 volunteers answered the call to arms. But God said to Gideon, better quality than quantity Better a few loyal and devoted men to repel the invasion than great host made up of disgrun- tied and fault finding. indifferent recruits. Gideon, as directed by God, cut down the numbers of that Israelitish army. He cut them down and down and down until there were left only three hundred men only three small companies to follow their intrepid leader But they won the victory. So it may be in the great con hict between good and evil in this world. Consecrated, loyal, earnest men are need ed in the struggle for righteousness. The The falling away of the half hearted, the quarrelsome, need occasion no alarm The fight is the Lords. and he can accomplish more with few brave souls, inspired with the Holy Spirit and devoted to him, than with host of nomi- nal Christians disloyal to Him and an- tagonistic to one another
 The Church Army.
 The church should be a harmoniously organized army The loyalty with which one soldier holds to another in thes na- tional army decides to great extent the aggregate strength of that army. When going into battle 1t is just as important for soldier to know that he is standing shoulder to shoulder with friends as to realize that he Is standing face to face with attacking foes. Civil war veterans have told me that the affection which bound the men of each company together was like bands of unbreakable steel. If a soldier out foraging found food hid den away in a barn or if he found deserted pile of blankets an extra pile of dry wood to be cut into kindling, the first persons he thought of were those of his company. There the members shared each others joys. They sympa- thzed with each other in their sorrows If one of their number did wrong or got into trouble the different members of hls company would always come to his assistance. So. my friends, the members of each separate Christian church ought to be linked together by gospel love. They should try to shield each other and pray for each other and care for each other and help each other They should never before the world expose each others any more than a wife should be willing to publish before a cynical neighborhood the weaknesses and short comlngs of her husband Church mem bers. in other words. should "be kindly affectioned to one another. with brotherly love, in honor preferring one another
 Not True Christians.
 ''The church a harmonious gospel com pany? Oh. no" says one. That ideal Is not always a possibility. I know it Is not possible for me to live in sympa- thy and love with all the members of my church. Some of them have been too mean and have done me 700 many in- justices. I can truly say do not want to harm them, but I certainly desire that they should leave me entirely alone certainly intend to leave them alone do not wish to keep them out of heaven, but I do not wish some of them to sit beside me in a celestial mansion or by any common earthly fireside made of brick and stone" My friend, by such an answer you are proving the Holy Spir- It's power inefficacous. You are demon stratng that you are unwilling to become 1 one or Gideon Danu ana i've III ldltnlui harmony with the chosen three hundred. God is willing to give you grace enough | to love all your fellow church members if you will only ask for that grace Has not the sure testimony been given. 1T can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me?' What an illustra- ton of that fact we have in the closing months of the life of General Grant! Tn the darkest hours of that eventful life when cancer. that most horrible of all diseases. was slowly but surely eating It's way to the vital organs, how bravely.