The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-04-29
GOSPEL ACTIVITY.
Rev. DR.. Talmage Sounds a Call
For Its Increase.
The New Year Fitting Time 10
InfurI the Hammer of Christ.
Christian Opportunities
In Reach of All.

l'NIAIlhNli lflot tf LOUIS iNlNpaNlfl
LOS ANGELES, Cal, IN this
sermon, preached here today TO an au-
dicnce representing many states Of the
Union, Pastor Talmaee sounds a vigor-
GUS call 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"
A prospective theme. II is especially
appropriate for the first sermon Of a
new year This is not a time to sound
a requiem over the dead. il is time
when the gospel colOrs should be un-
furled deiantly 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 the lines, not
"Mark timer not "Haltw not Fall
back" not detaiment for sentinel duty.
We should have for the gospel ranks a
grand charge and not a tattoo. There
should be no willingness TO sleep upon
our arms in peace.
A negative policy will never capture
this old world for Christ. 1t is well at
times TO preach the command, Thou
shalt not" There came into my posses
sion the other day a beautifully sug-
gestive booklet written by Bishop John
IL. Vincent. Its title was Better Not"
But the Christians library TO be com
plete needs a companion volume called
Better Do" The Christian is called to
life Of positive, active service. On
the first Sunday Of a new year, when
plans are being made for the next
twelve months, would remind you Of
that call. / would direct your attention
to glorious opportunities for Christian
usefulness within your reach, and !
assure you that in ayailing yourselves
Of them you will not only benefit 9th
ers, but will receive a blessing in your
own soul. 1t is ever true that they
who water others shall themselves be
watered."
There is work, unlimited work. tre-
mendous, OverpOwering and vital work,
TO do among the Sunday schools Of
America. This gospel work is the more
important because it must be done
quickly or # 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.
/ It is but a short time since they were
babies. Now they are boys and girls.
Soon they will be grown men and wo-
men. We 60 back TO visit the scenes
Of our childhood which we left only a
few years ago, and we find that the
companions Of our youth are now
grown up and married and have babies
Of their own. When Lord Lawrence,
viceroy Of India, was about to leave
for Calcutta be burst into tears as he
bid goodby to his youngest child. Turn
ing aside from his family, he said to
his wife: Il will never see my baby
Bertie again. When ! meet him once
more be will have ceased to be a ba-
by" Thus If you would work for
Christ among the children you must
hasten In your work. Children do not
long remain children. The fawn soon
grows a forest Of bristling antlers. The
swaddling clothes of the cradle are
soon exchanged for the long, flowing
toga Of a 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 in 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 to
be everywhere. There are broods of
them, swarms of them. fiocks Of them
great hosts Of them. The multitudes of
patterlng feet fairly fill the earth with
music when these infantile throngs
every morning start on their daily
tramp to the public schools. In order
10 house them for educational purposes
millions upon millions Of dollars mus'
be spent annually. No Christian disci
pie need be afraid Of building upon
another mans foundation when he goes
TO work for Christ among the little
children. There is not a consecratec
Sunday school superintendent in al
the world who is not at his wits end L
find the right kind Of teachers who vii
gather the boys and the girls into thu
students classes for his Sunday school
But" the church member says
chow am 1 to get a Sunday sehoo
class2 How am I to work among th'
children? When l enter an ordinary
Sunday school / find all the classes pro
vided with teachers Shall / try t
steal away the scholars from some 9th
er teacherT oh, no. my friend. NJ
good IS ever accomplished for Christ b!
theft. What you should do is TO go on
and get your own Sunday school class
There are scores and perhaps hundred
OF little children living near you wh
may never have heard the name OF Je
sus uttered in prayer. Go after them
Go after them as young Dwight J.
Moody while still an illiterate youu
went after his Sunday school scholars
Go after them whether they are dresser
I'm rags or in silks. Go after them eve
though you must beg shoes for thei
feet and clothing for their backs. G
after them whether they may be b
palace or in hut. Go after them an
beg them TO come. Go after them eve
II you have to bribe your way int
their affections with candy and doll
and with social calls.
Sunday school work is Of the mo
vital importance. Among all the fell
onop for qosnel labor / have purpose