The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-12
CHURCH MUST WIN MEN
THROUGH SPIRIT OF LOVE.
Reverend Doctor Russell breaches on
"Relatfon of Christianity to the
Industrial Situation"

Z; The Relation of Christianity 10 the
Modern Industrial Situation was the SUD-
ject of sermon preached at the West
Presbyterian Church last night by the
Reverend Doctor Francis W. Russell. The
subject was the basis of a paper read by
Doctor Russell at the ministerial meeting
last Monday and was repeated by request
Yesterday to his congregation. Doctor
Russell said. in part:
Il have chosen this topic to-day, not
that 1 would in any way attempt an ex-
haustive study of II, but in the hopes
that IT may contain something Of sugges-
ton. There is need. first of all. of care
full definition as to the use of such a
theme. Remembering that the church Is
the eccieSia- the called-out ones. Is II not
right then to assume that the members
thereof are called out for some SPECIFIC
purpose? This purpose seems to be two
fold. First. the church is to be holy
We holy, saith the Lord The church is,
therefore, to live life upon the highest
possible plane.
1.-The second mission of the church is TO
serve. to help. to quicken to stimulate;
To so live that others, seeing the good
works, may be led to glorify the Father.
for its having lived. Indeed. unless such
is the case, tho church is not living. No
service and helpfulness, no life. | have
seen somewhere the idea of painter illus
There were beautiful furnishings and in
terror, there was an alter heaped high with
gold for its own pleasure and service,
but there was SPIDERS web across the
opening of its mission box. All was for
self The church is not n mutual ad-
miration society. nor is it a body of people
organized to say pleasant things to each
other. But 1t is an organized body of men
and WOMEN saved by Christ and living
in this sin-striclsen world that the world
NAV be lifted eodward by their lives.
The Industrial situation, on the other
hand. while real, is exceedingly complex.
good many things characterize it. and
We can only suggest a very few of them.
We can only trust some suggestive word
or thought may lead to some further IN
yestigatlon. And first of all. it is stua-
tfon of unrest. We need but look about us
to be convinced of that. On every side are
misunderstanding and troubles. Labor is
not satisfied. 1t believes. rightly or wrong
y. and this is not the time or the occa-
sion to discuss that claim. that it has not
received fair proportion in the divisions
OF Life. Labor is finding its voice and is
coming to understand its power. We be-
hold the spectacle of two powerful giants
expending their strength against each 9TH
er instead OF uniting with harmony and
the common welfare Too frequently
when there Is peace it is an armed peace
The second word that 1 would use to
plane Of living has rapidly risen in the
last few years. Things deemed Injuries
for our fathers are necessities for us And
suppose as the years go forward things
necessities by our children. This is as it
should be, provided there Is opportunity
given to crafty the increased needs Of
me- Labor demands better homes better
food, better clothing than it did a few
years ago. True, of course. those demands
3Iy may run to excess, but the demand for
Is just. and sooner or later must be grant
ed. dare to say, further, that in the in
austrial situation there 10 both much mis-
cation. And, again. there is at the present
time a widespread growth of Socialism.
The last election. you know. showed some
6UO0 votes. and am sorry to say though
seems beyond a question of doubt, an
ever-fncreasing antagonism between cap
itai and labor And then. IN the last place,
nected with and related to the entire sit
uation. '''
In the midst of these conditions the
cnnt cnnrcn inds herself Hers is a magnif-
blessing. What, then, shall be her reIa-
uonship to the situation? And before any
shoa, ahstempt It ~ is mad made at an answer, let me
snow that whatever Is done must be done
IN love. Love must be the heart of her
service The most beautiful picture of
Jesus Christ is the one where it is said,
Jesus OF Nazareth went about doing good
The work Of the church is one of reforma-
uon and our people do not realize as they
s4ugnt and the world does not realize as
1t should. that We owe our reforms and
our reformations largely to the church.
Toynbee Hall, Oxford House, Mansfield
House the largest and best as well as
London. We're founded by churchmen.
Maurice. Denison. Toynbee Canon Bar
nett, Doctor Gore. Canon Scott Holland,
ihsn Shsnop pone hGns ssnar3 Rlshfp rs
are the men who have done much for the
Transformation of London. and these. with
devoted: workers. are members of. and
most Of them clergymen in, the Church
Of England. Percy Alden. Doctor Clifford
Doctor Horton. ]. Bruce Wallace. with
many others in the reform ranks, come
from the nonconformist churches. Few
realize how true 1t is that the churches
are SO yitally interested in this phase, of
they should be informed.
I'm our country need only instance the
words Of Jacob A. Riis as to the value of
tion service of lower New York City.
"Tfle gospel has been called love to God
or theology. and. secondly. love to man.
or sociology. Someone has well nut it in
saying that God and one man might make
theology. hut it takes God and two men
to make Christianity. And Christianity
this condition 1 have spoken above in a
few sentences. You remember Carlisle
spoke of sitting on the safety valve be-
fore the French Revolution. We in this
country have been sitting. on the safety
valve for dangerously long time. At
present there is but one thing for the
church to do. and that is. If she would
maintain her irhuence and power. to hon
estly. frankly fearlessly and fairly look
the situation in the face. and. having so
done. prepare to act. and act. Men are
asking the church as never before to give
a reason for her existence. Tell us what
you are doing that is commensurate with
the large money you have invested In
buildings and in plants. The church must
give a reason for her faith and life. and
she is abundantly able to do SO. Some
thing is wrong. Something is frightfuliy
wrong. Things are not as they ought to
be. Is there a remedy? If there is. and
we believe there is. let US find it and
apply It
'The church must. therefore enforce
the second command of the gospel. name
z 1y: Love thy peighbor as thyself.' We
are in the habit of repeating. Thy king
dora come. thy will be done on earth as II
A. in heaven without thinking. ofttimes
Of the mighty transformation that would
be wrought in the world thereby. Apply
I'D II would mean q complete reform in
seivn service: 1t would mean correct
~ IT,. IA n