Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-02-26
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMaGE. DID,.
4 Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church. Chicago


tee, the business man, the humble
worker and the homekeeper, the rich
and the poor alike-as summons to
the annual duties OF the season OF spir-
itual preparation. The text is Joel I,
IA, "Sanctfy We fast; call a solemn
assemblage."
The Presbyterian church has enrolled
among its leaders many intellectual
theoiogians. Entitled to n prominent
place among them by bis learning, phil
osophic acumen and sanctified common
sense is DR.. Francis L. Patton, former
ly president OF Princeton university
and now president of Princeton Theo-
logical seminary. Many OF his weighty
utterapces have impressed me, but none
more than one he made on the value
and usefulness OF the Episcopalian
church.
His words I'm substance were: 81 be-
lieye the Episcopalian church is one of
the most effective churches in exist
ence today. believe in it's ritual; be-
lieve in its teachings. IL were not
Presbyterian, 1 would certainly be an
Episcopalian. But, though L love and
honor the Episcopalian church, 1 also
believe that the most absurd of mon
strosities is Presbyterian in his form
of worship trying to ape an Episcopa-
liam. While we are Presbyterians let
US remain Presbyterians- When we
want TO become Episcopalians in our
form OF worship, in responsive read
ings and in all that the Episcopalian
service implies, let us become Eplsco-
palians But do not let US try TO change
the Presbyterian pulpit into chancel
or the grand old simple service OF the
Presbyterian church into a concert by
a supplied choir and into the liturgy
OF the Episcopalian church"
The Spring Fast.
Amen, say L. 10 the sound advice OF
Or. Patton. The simple doxology, the
two or three congregational hymns.
the chapter read from the Bible, the.
earnest prayers and the -doctrinal as
well rs practical sermon can never be
excelled as a service for the grand old
church which the names OF John Cal
vim and John Knox and Thomas Chal-
mers and Thomas Guthrie and Lowell
Mason and William Taylor and John
Hall have made immortal. But, though
] would not have the Presbyterian
church adopt n ritual, still insist that
the Episcopalian church has not an ex-
elusive title to all the good things she
may hold dear. Especially do 1 affirm
that she has not n sole right TO her
spring fast, which starts with Ash
Wednesday and closes with Casters
dawn. Way back in Joel we read the
command, "Sanctify ye Il fast; call
solemn assemblage." II that divine
command is still in force for us as for
Gods ancient people, is there n better
time for its observance than the period
preceding our commemoration OF the
passion and resurrection OF our Lord?
1t was ut this season OF the year. too,
that the Master withdrew TO the desert
before the beginning OF his ministry
and there, fasting for forty days, pre-
pared for the ordeal OF his temptation.
IL will be well for Presbyterians as for
Episcopalians TO mediate on that ex-
perience OF our Lord and draw near to
him in our hearts. We must have self
nbnegation for sin before we can truly
have closer union with God. Therefore
the purpose of this sermon Is to show
why the Episcopslian Lent should be-
come Presbyterian Lent, also why
the spring fast" which is the time OF
the "lengthening OF days." should DO
observed all over the world by all
Christians, no matter TO what indlvid-
.ual churches they may belong
Warming of Spiritual Danger.
The Eplscopalian Lent, In the. first
place, calls n halt TO the social dissi-
pations now being practiced in all the
large cities. 1t cries, Peace, be stillr'
20 the social whirlpool, which is grad
ually sucking down its many strug-
Cling victims as Peter was once being
drawn into the depths OF the Galilean
lake 1t says to the women of the
social abyss" You have something
higher to live for than n nightly round
or receptions and parties and a never
ending succession OF afternoon teas"
IT says TO the young men of the $50
cial abyss" who. under the power OF
stimulants. are trying TO work in the
store by day and 80 dance almost ev-
cry night until 1 or O'clock in the
morning, Young man. you had better
stop aud consider to what purpose you
are devoting the best energies OF your
life" II warns the social devotee Of
tho spiritual danger OF his course. as n
noted New York capitalist warned him
or the financial danger, when some
time ago he said: The young men
who viii not succeed in business are
those who night after night may be
found in the bathrooms and the dance
halls and at the city clubhouses drink
Ing little, playing cards little and
eaung expensive dinners. They are
sometimes called the drones of So
.ciety. This Ia a misnomer Like some
small insects that sport for day In
the summer sunshine. they are minute
destruetfres. Their lives in the econo-
my or social life make one Of the pet
ty agencies OF degeneration" b,
was not the capitalist right? Are
not the ballroom and the dance hall
ana the clubhouse a continual menace
10 success IN business? Can a young
man go to progressive euchre party
and play cards until II o'clock and sit
down TO a midnight banquet and then
Do IN the right physical and mental
trim to sell goods In the store the next
N%SA AAA8t 40 hOt tuC oOCldl GuEkDc also
very poor foundation upon which to
build the altar OF Jesus Christ? Is not
most OF its influence spiritually depict
Ing! Some time ago i read a wonder
ful book entitled THE Call OF the
Wild" The central figure Of that story
was magnificent dog, a cross between
a St Bernard and Great Dane. He
was stolen from his California home
and sent far north into the Klondike
regions. where he was compelled to
drag the miners sleds over the Alaskan
SHOWS. Jack London, the writer, with
a master hand traces him from a great,
big. loving house dog down and down
until he is a dog thief among dog
; thieves. He traces his degeneracy down
and down until at last the bayings OF
the wolves call him into the darkness
OF the northern forests, and "the call Of
the wild" Is answered by "the response
or the wild"
Obey the Divine Command.
Ia MT cOofQfr,o call TO- &c., ss4t.