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

church, in the next place. must be man ifested in the united voices of it's mem
 bers lifted in songs of praise and in its
 gospel energy. Oh, yes. the very best
 voices trained by our musical colleges are never too good to be allowed to sing in the church choir. But the church members have no more right. in their gospel movement, to let the choir do all the singing than the pew has to expect the pulpit to do all the praying. Metho- dist pews have sung as many immortal souls into glory as Methodist pulnits have won by preaching. Let every thing that breathes praise the Lordl" In every service let the old fashioned hymns be given out and let all the people sing Yea, shout forth your gospel battle songs like the sound of many waters Concen- tration of the church fonces in prayer meeting means spiritual conquest for Christ. Concentration of the songs of praise in one great congregational chorus means also spiritual conquest for Christ.
 The concerted strength of the church. in the next place. should make that church a unit in its belief in the authori- ty of Gods revealed word and also in its protest against sin. wherever found. When the three hundred Gideonites went forth to battle, their most effective weapons were a lighted lamp concealed within a pitcher and a trumpet in the right hand. The lamp lighted can be used as the symbol of gospel faith. as re- vealed in Gods word. The trumpet can be used as the symbol of the voice of a Christian church protesting against world steeped in sin. Plenty of room in every Christian church for all repentant sinners saved by Christ's blood, but no room for any man who will not accept the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ and who will not protest against sin, wher- ever found. The Christian church must be a unit in It's calvary belief, and 1t must be a unit in it's protest against sin.
 As in every other army, the Christian army must have a countersign. When I belonged to the United States army during the Spanish-American war, there were certain times I could not pass in or out of the camp without giving the countersign. So we find that all the Christian churches have countersgn. That countersign is one word of five let ters, and that one word is Jesus. Jesus Jesus, Jesusl Jesus, who is our Saviour; Jesus. who lived and died and rose again to redeem the world and to save his peo- pie from their sins.
 Be Brave for the Right.
 The church army must be harmonious army and show a brave front. There IS sure to be to a more or less extent cow ardee lurking in the hearts of us all If one Christian soldier is allowed, using a common phrase, to show the white feather" he will be very apt to demor- alize all the ranks What" you say Every man to a more or less extent a coward?'' Yes, my friend. We all have cowardly streak within us. We must therefore be very careful how we let faint hearted Christian soldier influence us to turn and run.
 If you do not believe that all men may become outward towards, read the memoirs of one of our greatest generals than whom no braver man ever lived. Yet he tells us that when he went into battle the first time he trembled like an aspen leaf shaken In the wind He was so scared that he would have turned and fled but for the fact that he was afraid his regiment would run away with him. Then. much to his surprise when he came to where the enemy had been en- camped he found that they had been even more frightened than himself Dur ing the previous night, without striking a blow. the enemy had turned and fled. Yes, there is a cowardly streak In all of us Therefore, Christian soldiers, do not O publishing around your fears. Do not ritcise your minister in pub lie, because you may start criticlsing him. Do not talk about your anxeties lest the chueh audiences should not keep up. Do not exaggerate the results or your foolish imaginations. Do not, in other words give free rein to your gos- pei cowardice If you do you may un- kennel and unleash the cowardly dispo- sion in us all. If you ever wish to be blessing as a church member. only sound forth the inspiring words of hope. God knows thert are enough and too many | who are always ready to sit around in | the dark church corners and croak the | miserable, whining, grating words of de- spair.
 Strength in Unity.
 Lastly, remark that a church mem- bership should be a united and harmo- nious and compact army. One traitor Tn | the camp can do infinitely more damage | than five hundred enemies without. Ben edict Arnold, after he had fled into the | British ranks, was not to be feared. But | had Major Andre. his messenger, gone | safely through to New York city, and | had he. Arnold, been allowed to com mand West Point one week longer, all | hopes of American liberty would have | been destroyed. Julius Caesar could con | quer nations, but Julius Caesar could not | defend himself against a traitors dag | ger. Whatr' Thou, too. Brutus?' tells | the whole story of the infinite mischief | a traitor may be able to do.
 It is of vast importance that the pres | ervation of the sacred honor of the | Christian church be entrusted to those | who are truly her friends. Therefore my | fellow church members, never try to pla- cate a church enemy by electing any | man to a position of trust unless he be a prayerful man and unless deep down in his Christian like heart he fully real izes the solemnity of his trust. Never 1 f1A ma n a n unless that man is first ready to put all | out of his heart and to get | down on his knees and earnestly and | say 70 Lord, my God, teach | me to love my fellow church members. Teach me to be an under shepherd to