Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-06-09

The church ought to be on the firing line
where the need is greatest. Instead 1t Is
too often found in the rear, caring Tor the
wounded, no d, bit, and occasionally. urIg
ing back the frightened or forward the
stragglcrs. The crowded districts where
the streets are full of DO and girls are
the church's responsibility. To betake it.
self to the suburbs and leave these children
in the streets, saloons and tenements is to
offend Gods little ones And the Master
said about such one that it l. bette that
a milestone were hanged about his neck
and he was drowned in the depth of the
sea. " ,
The second hing | want % think about
this morning with you is the churchs OPP
portunity to help the children OF Our
streets. ,
This opportunity is Only limited by the
number of men aud women VINO are wiz
inc to take real interest in the chlldren,
and bv the space YOU have to use. GIVE
these children chance to get on OF the
streets and away from the bad influences
into wholesome environment ot real
warm blooded people and good books and
amusements and fun giving ,recreatlons
and the" will come to the church IN a
stampede. Their hunger for ennobling
friendships is one of the most pathetic:
things | have found in my ministry, and
also one of the most inspiring. >,
Oh, the splendid opportunity for you all
to fulfill your responsibility for these boys
and girls of our streets Is here, In the
bows clubs is the chance for YOU young
men to preach the gospel to our lads not
by speaking sermons, but by manifesting
to them through your manly sympathy
and interest, your courage and your truth
fulness, your honor and your uprightness
the Christ YOU love and follow. Christ
nav be preached to thCs" boys with the
boxing gloves, and the fencing foils, the
carpcntcr's too,s and the football teams
with more power than by sermons from a
pulpit In the sewing school is the chance
for YOU Young women TO preach Christ. NOT
by words of religion but by your beautiful
friendship for the little girls who come III
eager to receive that which their homes
are unable to give them. In the Sunday
school is the chance for YOU Young men
and Young women. and older ones, too, &c
gather once "A week a little group about
YOU and lead them through the wonderful
story of Him who came TO earth to be our
servant and vet was King Eternal. and
then through the alchemy Of the influence
of your life move them to love honesty,
purity. goodness. man. Christ and God.
Nor will admit the oder peop'e's chance
to preach the living Christ There comes
before me the picture OF scene IN men !
club in certain parish house where a
professor of political economy met IN a
perfectly natural way IA brakeman Oh the
PENNSYLVANIA road aud both men came to
see that great labor problem more clearly,
and had more of the Christ tolerance than
ever before And know of women who
have found through the Girls Friendly 50.
rietv the chance to preach the living Christ
so effectively that girls have risen up and
called them blessed among women.
The few hours given to such work IN a
single wear seem very pOwerlcSS beside the
powers of darkness which walk our streets
both day and night. week IN and week out,
in vacations as IN working or school days,
But thank God, mans life is not an
equilibrium of forces, resultant OF houses
and environments. In every soul Is the
thirst for righteousness when can he
aroused 10y bringing it face to taco with a
righteous htc. There /. a contagon IN
goodness as there is in badness. Arouse
those dormant faculties IL every soul. and
they. with Christ 5 help. will com,cract
all the influences OF iDu." aui street.
This is the opportunity Of the church to-
day IN our crowded cities. BY meeting 1t
the church will find. what every individual
who has 50 met opportunity finds. that It
get by giving aud has hrmcr ho,d than
ever on the realities OF truth and lltc.
Can such service what YOU wlIl-th0uHh
7 pcr,onaI.' hate the trite phrase instltu'
tona'. tor am pleading lor a work a'io'
acthcr personal, the touch Of life on life
but YOU must believe that In" church
which assumes this responsibility and
meets this opportunity Is following the cN'
anne of the Master. When Christ cane
TO earth to lift mcn up TO God He took 70
form ot common man. lie might, we
say, have gathered the Jewish nation into
some great plain and revealed His mission
in the sight of all with such glory that all
rnust bow the knee before Him. lic mlcht
have come with angels straight from heav
en- and swept mon lrrCslSrh.Y INTO lis
train. What He did rcScmh'cd neither of
these. but POI Is the way for Us to follow
He was among men as a servant. Ky HIS
lie OF service, now with sermons, now
with deeds. but always with a life spread
ing 4 contaglon of love. courage. hope
mannnesS. sincerity, We, the servant 81
profoundly touched the hearts OF men that
mon have risen M and crowned Him kns
of klngs and Lord of Lords,