Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-01-15
TALMAGE
SERMON
y By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE, DID,.
Pastor Of jefferson Park Presby-
terien Church. Chicago

Union, Pastor Talmage sounds a yigor-
Gus cali for increased gospel activities
In many fields during the new year
and especially among those that lie
nearest at hand. The text Is Matt Xxx,
z, Go We also into the vineyard"
prospective theme, II is especially
appropriate for the first sermon OF a
new year. This Is not time to sound
requiem over the dead II is q time
when the gospel colors should be un-
furied defiantly to the breeze and when
an aggressive campaign should be
planned for invading the strongholds of
evil surrounded by Satanic intrench-
ments. Forward, march," should be
the command all along tine lines, not
MARK timer not Halt" not Fall
backi" not detailment for sentinel duty.
We should have for the gospel ranks a
grand charge and not n tattoo. There
should be no willingness to sleep upon
our arms in peace.
negative policy will never capture
this old world for Christ. 1t is we'll at
times TO preach the command, Thou
shalt not" There came into my possess
sion the other day a beautifully sug.
gestive booklet written by Bishop John
II. Vincent. Its title was Better Not"
But the Christians library to be CON-
plete needs a companion volume called
Better Do" The Christian is called to
life OF positive, active service. On
Tho first sunday IF ho
plans are being made for the next
twelve months, 1 would remind you OF
that call. 1 would direct your attention
TO glorious opportunities for Christian
usefulness within your reach, and I
assure you that in availing yourselves
OF them you will not only benefit 9th.
ers. but will receive n blessing 70 your
own soul. 1t Is ever true that they
who water others shall themselves be
wstered."
Work In the Sunday Schools.
There Is work. unlimited work, tire
mendous. overpowering and vital work,
TO do among the Sunday schools Of
America. This gospel work Is the more
quickly or 1t will never be done at all.
The verdant fields OF childhood do not
stay verdant long. Our own children
seem to spring up under our very eye.
1t Is but a shert time since they were
babies. Now they are boys and girls
Soon they will be grown men and wo.
men. We so back to visit the scenes
or our childhood which we left only q
few years ago. and we fiud that the
companions or our youth are now
grown up and married and have babies
OF their own. When Lord Lawrence
viceroy OF India, was about 90 leave
for Calcutta he burst into tears as he
bid gOOdby to his youngest child Turn.
ins, aside from his family, he said to
his wife: 81 will never see my baby
Berthe again. When 1 meet him once
more he will have ceased to be n ba.
by" Thus IL you would work for
Christ among the children you must
hasten I'm your work. Children do not
long remain children. The fawn soon
grows forest or bristling antlers. The
swaddhng clothes of the cradle are
soon exchanged for the long lowing
toga ef n developed man.
Sunday school work offers an unlim-
tied field for gospel effort. Many. many
are the children among whom the ear.
nest disciple can labor. President
Roosevelt may be right I'm uttering a
Vehement protest against the tendency
OF the upper classes to shirk parental
responsibilities. but among the middle
and the lower classes children seem 10
be everywhere. There are broods OF
them. swarms OF them. focks OF them.
great hosts of them. The multitudes OF
patteriDg feet fairly all the earth with
music when these infantile throngs
every morning start on their daily
tramp 20 the public schools. In order
10 house them for educational purposes
millions upon millions OF dollars must
be spent annually. No Christian disci-
pie need be afraid OF building upon
another mans foundation when he goes
20 work for Christ among the little
children There Is not consecrated
- Sunday school superintendent in all
the world who Is not at his wits end to
lind the right kind OF teachers who will
gather the boys and the girls into the
students classes for his Sunday school.
Seek the Young.
But" the church member SAYS.
how am I TO get n Sunday school
class? How am to work among the
children? When enter an ordinary
Sunday school find all the classes pro-
vided with teachers. Shall I try to
steal away the scholars from some 9th.
a N-fnw
good Is ever accomplished for Christ by
theft. What you should do is to 60 out
and get your own Sunday school class.
There are scores and perhaps hundreds
or little children living near you who
may Dever have heard the name OF Je-
sus uttered In prayer. Go after them.
Go after them as young Dwight l..
Moody while still an illiterats youth
Went after his Sunday school scholarA
Go after them whether they are dressed
an rags or In silks. Go after them even
though you must beg shoes for their
Feet and clothing for their backs Go
after them whether they may be I'm
e% g. u u c6 ant af ftsr them them e se
II you have 10 bride your way into
their affections with candy and dolls
and with social calls.
But you say again, 'supposing i
should do as you say. Surprising ]
should get my Sunday school class to-
Sether; then what shall teach? / am
only humble follower OF Christ. ]
know practically nothing about the Bi.
ble." Well. my Christian friend, IL you
gather your children IN Christ,s name
I have no fears about the spiritual re-
suits. The older grow the more be.
lieve that the most important requisite
for effective work as a Sunday school
teacher Is a loving. consecrated heart
80 intellectual ability Is valuable In Ats
place. and the better the teacher Is
equipped the better it is for the chill.
dren. But the essential quality Is love
for Christ and for souls. Without that
quality the most highly educated teach.
er is cold. uninpressive personality