The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-06-10

The church ought 20 he on the firing line
where the need Is greatest. Instead II Is
too often found IN the rear, caring for the
! wounded. NO q, .ht. ard occasionally urg-
lng back the frightened or forward the
stragg 'ers. The crowded districts where
the streets are full Of bo aud girls are
the churCh's responsibility. To betake It.
self 10 the suburbs and leave these children
IN the streets. saloons and tenemenis is 10
| offend Gods little ones. Aud the Master
said about such a one that II bette that
milestone were hanged about has neck
and be was drowned IN the depth o. the
sea.
The second hing wan, % think about
| this morning with YOU Is the church's OPP
/ por;unity 10 help the children o: ohr
/ streets
T'fifs opportunity is orly limited by the
nuSnber of men and women who are will
ing 10 take \ real interest IN the cnldren,
and by the space YOU have 20 use, Give
these children a chance 10 get on. Of the
streets and away from the had influences
into a wholesome environment OF real
warm -bloodcd people and good books and
amusements and fun giving recrcatlons
and the Will come 20 the church IN
stampede. Their hunger for ennohhng
| 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 glrls of our streets ~ here. In the
| boys clubs is the chance for YOU Young
men to preach the gospel 10 our lads, not
| by speaking sermons, but 10y manfestlug
| 10 them through your manly sympathy
and interest. your courage and your truth
| iulness, your honor and your uprightncss
| the Christ YOU love and follow, Christ
may be preached 90 these boys with the
boxing gloves and the fencing foils, the
carpenters tools and the football teams
| with more power than by sermons from
pulpit. In the sewing school is the chance
| for YOU young women to preach Christ. not
| by words of religion. but hy your beautiful
| friendship for the little girls who come IN
| eager To receive that which their homes
are unable 20 give them. In the Sunday
| school is the chance for you young men
and young women, and older ones too, To
gather once a week little group about
| YOU and lead them through the wonderful
| story of Him who came 20 earth TO hc our
servant and yet was King Eternal, and
| then through the alchemy of the influence
OF your life move them TO love honesty,
purity. goodness, man, Christ aud God.
| Nor will | admit the older peoples chance
TO preach the living Christ. There comes
| before me the picture of a scene IN mems
| club In certain parish house where
| professor Of political economy met in
| perfectly natural way a brakeman ON the
| Pennsylvania road, and 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 So
| clcty the chance 10 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 n
single year seem very powerless beside the
| powers Of darkness which walk our streets
N aut
| IN vacations rs IN working or school days.
But, thank God, a mans life rs not an
equilibrium OF forces, a resultant of houses
and environments. In every soul ~ the
| thirst for righteousness which can be
| aroused by bringing 10 face 10 face with a
righteous hie There IL contagion IN
goodness as there ls in badness. Arouse
those dormant faculties IN every soul, and
they. with Chrst's help, viii countcract
all the influences of house and street.
This ~ the opportunity of the church to-
day in our crowded cities. BY meeting it
the church will find, what every individual
who has so met opportunity finds. that It
gets by giving and has firmer hold than
ever on the realities of truth and life.
Call such service what you wlll--though
] personally hate the trIte phrase institu-
tional, for ] am pleading for a work alto
gether personal, the touch OF life on life
but you must believe that the church
which assumes this responsibility and
meets this opportunity il following the cx-
ample of the Master. When Christ came
TO earth TO lift men up 10 God lie took the
form OF "A common man. He 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
must bow the knee before Him. lie might
have come with angels straight from heav-
en- and swept men irresistbly into His
train. What Ee did resembled neither of
these, but poi' t. the way for us TO follow.
lie was among men az n servant. by His
life OF service, now with sermons, now
with deeds, but always with life spread
ing a contagion of love, courage, hope,
manhness, sincerity, he, the servant 40
profoundly touched the hearts Of men that
men have risen up and crowned Him King
OF Kings and Lord of Lords.