Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-07
TALMACE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAcE. DID,,
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby.
'eriAn Church. ChieAso

Los Angeles, Cal, Jan. 3.-1n this
crmon. preached here today to an au.
icnce representing many states Of the
'nion. Pastor Talmage sounds vigor.
us call for increased gospel activities
n many fields during the new year
nd especially among those that lie
carcst at hand. The text is Matt. TX.
Go We also into the vineyard"
a prospective theme! 1t is especially
ppropriate for the first sermon of
CIV year. This is not time to sound
requiem over the dead. 1t Is time
Ehcn the gospel coors should be un-
uried dcfiantly to the breeze and when
aggressive campaign should be
tanned for invading the stronGholds of
VII surrounded by Satanic intrench-
hents. Forward, march,. should be
he command all along the lines, not
Mark time" not HALT" not Fall
Pack!' not dctailmcnt for sentinel duty.
We should have for the gospel ranks
rand charge and not tattoo. There
houd be no willingness to sleep upon
ur arms in peace.
\ negative policy will never capture
his old world for Christ. 1t is we'll ut
lines to preach the command, Thou
halt not" There came into my posses
ion the other day beautifully sug
festive booklet written by Bishop John
l. Vincent. Its title was Better Not"
But the Christians library to be COM
(lete needs n companion volume called
Better Do" The Christian is called to
life OF positive. active service. On
he first Sunday of new year, when
bans are being made for the next
wclve months, I would remind you Of
hat call. l would direct your attention
glorious opportunities for Christian
lsefulness within your reach, and
ssurc you that in awaiting yourselves
If them you will not only benefit 9TH
Prs, but will receive blessing in your
bwn soul. 1t is ever true that "they
Vho water others shall themselves be
Natered."
Work In the Sunday schools.
There is work, unlimited work, ire
hendous, Ovcrpowering and vital work,
do among the Sunday schools Of
America. This gospel work is the more
important because it must be done
quickly or it will never be done at all.
['he verdant fields of childhood do not
tay verdant long. Our own children
|eem to spring up under our very eye
t is but short time since they were
babies. Now they are boys and girls
soon they will be grown men and wO-
men. We go back to visit the scenes
be our childhood which we left only a
ew years ago. and we find that the
companions Of our youth are now
grown up and married and have babies
pf their own. When Lord Lawrence,
riceroy of India, was about 10 leave
cr Calcutta he burst into tears as he
id goodby to his youngest child. Turn
ny aside from his family. he said to
his wife: IL will never see my baby
BERTHE again. When l meet him once
more he will have ceased to be q ba
by" Thus If you would work fol
'hrist among the children you mus
hasten in your work Children Go no
long remain children. The fawn sooI
swaddling clothes OF the cradle ar,
soon exchanged for the long, flown:
toga of developed man.
Sunday school work offers an unlm
ted field for gospel effort Many, man!
are the children among whom the ear
hest disciple can labor Presiden
Roosevelt may be right in utternS
Vehement protest against the tendenc!
Of the upper classes TO shirk parenta
Responsibilities, but among the mddl
md the lower classes children seem t
be everywhere. There are broods o
them. swarms of them, flocks Of then
great hosts of them. The multitudes o
pstterlng feet fairly All the earth wit
music when these infantile throng
every morning Start on their dali
tramp to the public schools. In Orde
Ito house them for educational purpose
millions upon millions of dollars mus
he spent annually. No Christian disc
pie need be afraid OF building upo
another mans foundation when he goe
to work for Christ among the lttl
children. There IL not consecrate
Sunday school superintendent in a
the world who is not at his wits end
find the right kind of teachers who wi
gather the boys and the girls into til
students classes for his Sunday schoo
Seek the Young.
But" the church member say
show am | to get Sunday schoc
class: How am to work among til
children? When / enter an ordinnr
Sunday school find all the classes pr
vided with teachers. Shall | try I
steal away the scholars from some oil
er teacher" Oh, no, my friend \
good Is ever accomplished for Christ h
theft. What you should do is to 20 o,
and get your own Sunday school elias
There are scores and perhaps hundred
OF little children living near you wi
may never have heard the name of J
bus uttered In prayer. Go after ther
Go after them MS young Dwight
Moody while still an illterate you
went after his Sunday school scholar
Go after them whether they are dress'
In rags or in silks. Go after them eve
though YOU must beg shoes for tho