The Newtown bee., 1904-05-06
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
SOCIAL TOPICS.
Pous sELr1sHNEss.-BY o. o. WRIGHT.

PDUS SELE 1Sd N ESS.-BI U. U. " RIGHT.
 have often had occasion to remark that people may be just as selfish in their religion as in anything else. l have known an old deacon to go sulkily because the minister did not make him feel good so that he could enjoy his religiOn. And finally he baked altogether, and declared he would neither go to "meetin" nor give any thing to support the minister because his serm0ns did not stir up the "feel- in" in him. There was a certain emotion which must be touched in him or he felt that he was defrauded and abused; and he was bound to have his moneys worth, or go where he could get it.
 To all appearances, many Christians have 8 false and unworthy idea of what religion is, and what it is for. The church itself is a means to an end; and the means should not be mistaken for the end. We teach, and preach, and worship, and minister sacraments, of these things alone in themselves; and preparation which fits us for the spiritual life in the spiritual world. We worship that we may serve, and not just for the pleasure of worship. Simply to "enjOy religion" may be as selfish and unworthy 1s to enjoy eating and drinking, or any common amuse- ment. It may be the qualification of a higher faculty of our nature, to be sure, but if we do 1t just for the pleas ,ure of 1t, what better is 1t, morally and spiritually considered, than any other selfish qualification? To deny self is better than any mere gratifica- tion even of our religious emotions. Sacrifice is the key to the life of Christ, who pleased not Himself. This is the, great lesson Of His life, and of His death; of the Temptation, and of the Cross.
 True religion is not popular; and therefore popular religion is not true. Self-denial and the Cross are essential to every real disciple of the Son of Man. The only sufficient motive to save men, and endOw them with eter- nal life is the self-sacrificing love of Christ. True religion, is not attract i've, neither can 1t be made attractive to those who simply seek to gratify themselves and secure their own per sonal happiness. Therefore any appeal to men to attract them to the church, or to trap them ntocommitting them selves to any set of opinions, or to any test of emotional experience, on the basis of any other motive, or consider ation than that of the love of Christ must fail to do the work of the Son of God in the world, and end in the degre- dation of Christianity. Religion att of their moral-Spiritual nature, and not because 1t Is social, intellectual and entertaining.
 The clergy are sometimes blamed for not drawing and winning the young men. And some of .the ministers of the Gospel lay themselves out to draw, and do draw, stall sorts and conditions of men," But how? And with what results? Can you make man unself- iSh by appealing to his SelfiShneSS? Can you win one to things spiritual by catering to his carnal appetites and natural desires? Can you cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in one by appeal ing to his lower nature?
 As Bishop Whitehead says, in the last Churchman: "The selfish motive in religion is distinctly demoralizing. I should say, Do not ask young men to come to church because they are to Come to-church for what you can do to help on confessedly good and righteous cause, singing, ushering, teaching, helping. Come as good clt- izens, as manly men with high aims and motives. Come to church for what you can give-your influence, your example, your time, your energy, your encouragement to the minister and people,; and best of all yourself, in public worship, an act which dignities and ennobles humanity, and adds grace to your manhood"