The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-05-20
ATTEND RELIGIOUS WORSHIP.

We say this is a fast age, "and il is, !
but we should not permit affairs tenn
poral to crowd out holy aspirations
and prevent u utilizing one OF the
basic means Of grace, ordained by our
creator himself, for the ~perfecting Of
our characters and moulding our lives
into Messianic symmetry of thought
and aspiration. In this age customs
become the unwritten laws OF social
life, and those who live and move in
good society are expected to conform
to these social regulations. Going to
church by people, who do not go aim
lessly, and for some purpose other
than that to see and be seen, is re-
garded as an evidence of the recogni-
tion of the divinity of Maker and
a reverence, whether much or little,
for the church which he has founded.
This applies to both church members
and non-members. We do not know
of any agnoStics or infdelS in u
midst and we therefore take it for
granted that everyone who has arrived
at the age of serious thinking-at the
age when they can contemplate the
law of cause and effect, acknowledges
the supremacy Of God, in all His maj
esty i'm this moral government Of ours.
Granted that this is true, where a
we find a better expression of belief
in this physical as we'll as spiritual
fact, than in attendance, at least one
day in the week, upon religious wor-
ship in some branch of the church in
the community? No one should allow
anything, but extraordinary circum-
stances, to prevent this. The Sabbath
day is the special day set apart for
such services and in attending upon
them a respect and Difference is shown
the people who compose the congrega-
tions. Dwelling in the same COM
munity, and bound in the same social
compact by all the ties of society and
business relations we should conform
to customs which are, at all times,
proclaimed to be for the SOftening of
the lives of mankind, purifying the
impure and giving all a broader con-
ception of duty owed each other.
This is what the church is intended
to be. Oh, it may be said that it
does not do this and that it's member
ship falls far short of the high stand
ards preached about. This may be
true. 1t is true. Nevertheless there
is no perfection in any institution
never was perfection in n in which
man was a component part, but it is
the ideal that we should attempt to
attain. The church is the photograph
of Gods wishes and mans holy de-
| sires. 1t is the link by which life is
welded to eternity. 1t is the inspira-
| tion point at which man is lifted out
of selfiShness and unrighteOus ways
into paths that lead to better and
nobler things. All mankind needs its
helpful and restraining influences,
Those who do not attend would not
have the churches abolished and will
acknowledge that they are divinely
ordained.
No man can eve point to attend
ance upon church as the cause of his
downfall. Many do say that theil
failure at this point has brought then
much suffering and untold misfortune
No business man eve objects to EN-
ploying a man, either young or old
because he attends church., but OF tn
contrary a regular attendance upol
religious services is one of the higheS
recommendations. So we suggeS
that it is wise, right and the duty o
all to go to church at least once
week.