The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-11-30


of truth for truth'S sake. While the
great mass of men outside will tell you
that they are not interested. This hour
and half each week of hymns and
! PRAYER and sermon does not seem to
them to be vital thing. To hear some
speaker who can touch the heart or
head they will come, but not for the
church as church.
If the church is 4 class organization
its love is rot Christian. for Christ'S
love knows no distinctions. If the
church. as socialists claim. is merely
poulticing wooden legs in its charity.
then il has no love Of fundamental
Christian brotherhood. II the love or
truth is wanting its lore Of God is a
sham. What the church needs. il
there is much or little in this criticism.
is not multiplication Of its philanthroD-
les. nor concentration Of them into
few that would compete with the state
and stamp their character more firmly
| OH the world. but 4 filling of the church.
itself, OF YOU and me who do spend
this hour here on Sunday and have as
sumed membership in the church with
the love of Christ.
Let me try to tell you what that
love Is. 4 man once went to Christ
with the question. who is my neigh
bor? But the Master gave no answer.
lie was not interested in knowing or
showing who our neighbors are. What
He showed that man was how he
might become 4 neighbor. He t0lu
that man the story OF the good Sa-
naritan aud said to him and to us
go thou and do likewise. Do not
stand there asking who is thy neigh
borS. Be on the lookout for SomeeOne
to whom thou canst show mercy md
goodness and so become neighbLf.'
You can put no man outside the field
of Your mercy. Even though man
nav hate you. and be your enemy,
Jesus SAYS the great duty for you is
to seek him and do him good. II he
rejects you and will have none OF
Your mercy and goodness. your efforts
should not end. You can at least pray
for those who despitefully use you
and persecute You.
A member of certain parish once
told me that while he wanted the
church to reach the poor. he did not
want the poor to attend the same serv-
ice that he attended or sit in the same
service that he attended or sit in The
same seat because they were too Odor-
iferous. I suppose this person stands
in his modern temple and cXclaims:
God, I thank Thee that l am not as
other men are-unlaundered and I'M
washed. even as that poor man yonder.
bathe every morning. l wear two
collars q day and use patent prepara-
tons for my teeth and face. Such
cleanliness is as near godlneSS rs the
Pharisee in the Masters story o. the
publican was near the kingdom OF
God. Suppose that man IS unwashed
ard his presence is disagreeable, the
thing for you to consider is not what
he is, but how you may become neigh
bors to him. Introduce yourself. Be-
come his friend. Show him the cX-
ample Of cleanliness and godliness. ard
the time will come when You can make
him clean and GOdiike.
On the night before He died He laid
aside His robes and washed the apoS-
tles' feet. to SHOW men that the great
est is he who serves the most anu
that no service. however menial. is
too low for even divinity. Whom DO
YOU and l love to honor? The man
who serves or the man who rules!
Whom do We initiate? Those VINO
lead in business and society or
those who serve? Until the men ana
women in our churches honor the
Christ as He who serveth. not by
singing hymns and saying creeds. hut
giving and doing likewise. the church
may give money generously ana en-
! ploy costly choirS and pulpit orators
bat it will not impress the world.
And then for those without there
mWt be goodness Of heart. That the
Christian church is undergoing the
severest fire of criticism since the
early days is manifest to anyone who
reads. Much Of the criticism is just
but much of 1t is unfair and one
sided. Some requires that the church
should listen patiently and acknoWs-
edge what is just. and to those VINO
hate her should she return good FOR
evil, blessing for curSinS, benehcence
and intercession for persecution. NO
heart that is susceptible to the divine
can long withstand the love that seek
eth not her own.
4 picture has been on exhibition 1n'
England and has strongly Appealed
10 the imag gination Of men. 1t Is Gil
titled. rs it nothing to you. all ye
that pass by" Christ stands on ped,
estal before st. Paul'S. as he stood
before Pilates palace. with hands tied
over head crowned with thorns. Wmie
the crowd that passes by. absorbed in
its work or pleasure. is you, working
man. lawyer. doctor. men OF a1airs'
Won women of society. working women
and boys. and 1. priest of His church;
with never glance - Him who died
because He loved. or to the poor
mother and her child who have taken
refuge from us at His feet. While the
motto on the pedestal before His ca
thedral, His people, His city is, to the
unknown God. Oh, men and women,
is that picture true Of you: ..