The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-10-02

the applause of those among his hearers who sympathized with his remarks had subsided Dr. Gotthel arose. Dr. Gottheil was a Jew and at that time was the lead ing Jewish rabbi of America Amid death-like silence he said. "I know not how others may feel but. though l am not a disciple of the gentile's Christ. l like not this talk of the preceding speaker If I had been in the place of my brother and had entertained doubts and suspicious similar to his l would have quietly slipped out of the church with which those doubts collided, keep ing my lips tightly sealed 1 do not think l could do such an injury to the church which gave me my ordination vows as when a member of that church to attack it openly" All honor. say l, to the an- swer of pr. Gottheil, the Jew I believe that the most serious damage which can be inflicted upon the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is done not by his aVowed enemies who are outside the church, out by traitorous foes within.
 Best Year For New Start.
 But l take step further in this mighty subject. We have a wonderful time in which we art to enter the coming cam paign for Christ. This is the youngest of the centuries, but into 1t are gathered the ripe fruits of the past The thought and experience of all the centuries that are gone have in these years come to fruition It Is the mighty movements and trials and struggles or the past gem eratons which have made the present time possible. From the triumphs and failures of the past from the wisdom and the mistakes of our forefathers, we have learned lessons which should make us masters in the art of soul winning and successful leaders in the assault on the intrenchments of sin. This is the very best year of all years to start in a gospel campaign for Christ.
 But take another step further in this momentous subject. We have another campaign blessing. in addition to those two of which we have spoken. We nave a church with all of it's 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 a full en- dowment of the holy spirit to fight as we ought to fight for Christ we shall fail ignomniously, as we deserve to fall.
 Outside of his own intrinsic strength nothing brings out the hidden power Of a general more that the realization that his enemy is strong and vivian adVer- sary whose power 1t would be folly to underestimate, against whom he must marshal his forces with all his skill and develop their fighting qualities to the highest efficiency. When Goliath saw the puny form of David, who was to give him battle the Philistine giant laugned him to scorn. He sneerinsly cried, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with stones?' That contempt lost him the pat tle Not so with David. His weapons were those with which he was familiar and he employed the skill developed py long experience. He knew his enemy to be superior in might and cruel and re- lentless and he nerved his strength Tor the unequal struggle. The church or Christ is made resolute by the Knowledge that it Is to meet a strong armed Toe we know we must fight hard to win. Ahu we also know that unless like Davlu' the shepherd boy, we go forth Tn uniai- tering faith in the divine re-enforcemenl wo sball fail in the battle. stalwart foe always brings out the best that is in A worthy opponent. Let me illustrate my thought by a homely scene of vacation | life. Some weeks ago, with my wire anu 1 little children, l was driving over the | hills of southern California. We vert | far from any human residence suddenly | irst unon the hillside overlooking the | road. l SAW lIt blt"hiite "
 l orouohlne form of a coyote. L was al
 inc time entirely unarmed. But, thougf
 I knew that poor miserable brute ha' | inst as sinewy a limb as a mountaii l lion that he was as swift Of loot as
 deer that his teeth were as white ant
 sbarn as a tigers molars, that he could
 if he would. leap at my horses. throatl att l anl leave us helpless De1ore HIS al'acn n | ~ti,, T a1so knew that he was q coward
 He IIe belonged to a race of towards. Whei
 my children hallooed at him he turned | and skulked away.
 Must Be Always on Guard.
 | Had the church of Christ only craver | as indifferent to them as I was toward that sneaking coyote, whose worst dep relations are found in the barnyar' among the dead chickens. Unless starv | ing and In numbers, he never attacks l strong foe. But today the church o God has no cowardly enemy Like