Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-03-17

ret a. Hobart took the oath " office
processing the Inauguration OF Presi-
dent Mckinley. They were not vel
coined as men, They were honorcd in
their official capacities as poa'snnol
representatives OF the fs,4tlsb, the
German. the ftajfaD, The Rnlsstun and
the Austrian thrones. Never forget
wien you criticise the preachers mes
sage that you may be criticising the
very words that God has given him to
deliver to YOU.
Avoid FIippant Criticism.
Honor Gods reprcscntat7vos FL the
Christian pulpit and In the Christian
choir loft II you would honor Christ
in tho cblrcl. Mr.. Champion, the
botanjst, tells us that in his expIora.
tons through Panama some Of the
most beautiful flowers growing there
Immediately die and bnrume fwithcred.
shrfveied. brownisl weeds as soou rs
plucked by the hunan hand. The
brartifui truths of Tive gospel AZ floral
treasures will lose their power 20 help
and serve US If with rude. irreverent
hands they are torn from the pulpit
and choir loft and submitted to harsh
end hlppant criticism. The minister
Ing hands Of the church service. scat
tcring the good seed which may be
sown in our sinfol hearts. may not be
perfect hands: but, for the time being
at least, such hands should be consid-
cred as representing the hand of God.
John Mcneil, the Scottish evangelist,
In late address illustrated the impor-
tance of the respect which should be
shown in churches to Gods ministers
as his representatives He said. zone
Of the greatest powers of spiritual
strength which came to Scotland In
the days that are gone was due en-
tirely to the respect which the Scottish
congregations gave. to their Scottish
pastors" When all Edinburgh went
forth with tears and. lamentations to
bury Thomas Chalmers the people did
not feel they were honoring Thomas
Chalmers so much as the Christ of
whom hc was the earthly representa-
tive.
Not critlcisr the church music or the
minister's preaching! Why" some one
says, that is almost an mpossibiity.
Some church choirs smash every law
arc absolutely stupid. They are I'M
practicable men-men of no force with
out any two logical consecutive
thoughts That is true, my brother.
Some choirs are noted more for their
discords than their musical PROJECTIONS.
Some ministers mental depth il does
not take - very long line TO fathom.
But can give you this as my own per-
eonal experience never entered any
church with tn" spirit of God in my
heart, 10 try to consider the leaders of
that service. Gods representatives,
without receiving great spiritual good
out OF that service. In contrast to this
StAtement ! never entered church
building with the spirit Of criticism in
my heart but found something 10 crit
iciSc about the minister and the service
before I got through with ii. and, fur
thrrmorr. when | did enter n service In
the spirit OF criticism I always found
that ! received more harm from that
service than good II William T.. Glad
stone. with the greatest brain in all
England. could sit Sunday after Sun
day in the little church of Hawarden
and get spiritual food from young. in
experienced reCtors who came there To
break for him the bread of life" sure.
~ you can afford to honor the minis
,,ff ~ Il. 4 q i
ativo4.