Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-10-01

York club an ordained minister arose
and delivered an explosive, heretical
speech. This minister was aftcrward
expelled from his church for his out
rageous uttcrauce. lie denied that
Jesus was divine except that The was
divine as we are divine" lie denied
that the inspiration of the Bible was
any more infallible than was the in
spiration of Shakespeare's works. Aft
er he had finished and the applause OF
those among his hearers who sympa-
thized with his remarks had subsidized
Dr. Gottheil arose DIR. G0tthei was 4
Jew and AT that time was the leading
Jewish rabbi OF America. Amid death
like silence he said II know not how
others may feel: but. though I am not
disciple of the gentile'S Christ. ! ike
not this talk Of the preceding speaker.
II I had been III the pace Of my
brother and had entertained doubts
and suspicious similar TO his I would
have quietly slipped out of the church
with which those doubts co!lided. keep
ing my fps tightly sealed | do not
think could do such an injury TO
the church which gave me my ordina
ton VOWS as when a member of that
church to attack IL openly All honor.
say |. 10 the answer of DR.. Gottheil.
the Jew. ! believe that the most seri-
Gus damage which can be inflicted up
on the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
is doEe not by his avowed enemies
L.,
traitorous foes within.
The Best Year For q New start.
But | take step further III this
mighty subject We have wonder
tul time in which we are to enter the
coming campaign for Christ This Is
the youngest of the centuries. but into
ii are gathered the ripe fruits of the
past. The thought and experience of
all the centuries that arc gone have
in these years come to fruitiOn. 1t Is
the mighty movements and trials and
struggles of past generations which
have made the present time possible.
From the triumphs and failures of the
past. from the wisdom and the mis-
takes of our forcfathers. we have learn
ed lessons which should make us mas
tiers i'm the art of soul winning and sue
cessful leaders in the assault on the
intrenchments of sin. This is the very
best year of all years to start In
gospel campaign for Christ.
But take another step further in this
momcntous subject. We have another
campaign blessing in addition to these
two of which we have spoken. We
have church with all of its great
leaders as well as thousands and tens
of thousands of members moved to
holy enthusiasm by knowledge of the
strength of the Satanic enemies we are
about TO meet in combat. We know
that as the church of Christ is strong
the Satanic enemies are strong also. SO
strong that unless we go forth TO this
battle with full endowment OF the
Holy Spirit to fight rs we ought to
fight for Christ we shall fail ignomin-
iously. as we deserve to fail
Outside of his own intrinsic strength
nothing brings out the hidden power
of general more than the realization
that his enemy is strong and willy
an adversary whose power il would be
folly to underestimate. against whom
he must marshal his forces with all his
skill and develop their fighting quail
ties to the highest efficiency. When
Goliath saw the puny form Of David.
who was to give him battle. the Phil
istine giant laughed him to scorn. He
sneeringly cried. IAN I n dog that
thou contest to me with stones! That
contempt lost him the battle. Not so
with David. His weapons were those
with which he was familiar. and he
employed the skill developed by long
experience. lie knew his enemy to he
superior in might and cruel and relent-
less and he nerved his strength for the
unequal struggle. The church of
Christ is made resolute by the knowl-
edge that il is to meet strong arm
ed foe. We know we must fight hard
to win. And we also know that unless
like David. the shepherd boy. we go
forth in unfaltering faith in the divine
reinforcement we shall fail in the bat
tie a stalwart foe always brings out
the best that is in II worthy opponent
Let me illustrate my thought by
| homely scene of vacation life Some
weeks ago. with my wife and little
children. ! was driving over the hills
of southern California We were far
| from any human residence. Suddenly.
just upon the hillside overlooking the
road. saw the cleaning eyes and the
crouching form of a coyote. ] was at
the time entirely unarmed. But
| though I knew that poor miserable
brute had just as sinewy limb as a
mountain lion. that lie was as swift of
foot as deer. that his teeth were as
white and sharp as n tigers molars
that he could. il he would leap ut my
horses throats and leave us helpless
before his attack. still also knew that
he was coward. He belonged to q
race of towards Therefore I drove
right past him. When my children
halloocd at him he turned and SIX uiked
away.
MUST BE Always On Guard.
Had the church of Christ only craven
| hearted foes to fight il would become
I 4.