The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-03-10
THE PULPIT.
AN ELOQUENT SUNDAY SERMON er
The REV. w. NJ. BRUNcASE.
Subject; True Mission Of the Church.

The True Mission OF the Church"
The text was from !. Timothy Ill:
IL: THE church OF The living God.
In the course Of strong sermon, list
ened 20 by large audience. be said:
From the conditions which prevailed
q few centuries ago. when the church
vas without a rival 10 contest its au-
thorify 10 its present condition, when
II must contend with numerous COM
petitOrs for the very right 10 exist.
humanity has taken long stride Tor
ward. Freedom has come 10 be more
than a mere name. Multitudes OF peo-
pie have seriously begun 10 think and
act for themselves. Less and less is
the church able 10 live upon its record
in the past: more and more has IL be-
come manifest that ii must justify lis
continued existence by the work that
il does, 10y the service that ii renders
10 society. Unless our churches OF
every name can be brought into vital
and helpful relations TO the real life
Of the people. they are doomed TO per
ish. The traditions OF the past cannot
save them. Their service In the past,
great though il has been, cannot JUS
tify their present existence. Do they
minister in an essential manner TO the
best life Of to-day? An affirmative an
swer 10 this question constitutes their
only Justification BrOtherhoods, clubs,
philanthrOpic associations without
number are competing with them; Ii
brdries. newspapers and periodicals.
and educational! institutions are doing
much Of the work which they once
did, work that was formerly left eX-
cusiVely to them. We find nothing in
the origin OF the church that entities
il TO claim a divine right 10 persist.
If it persists il will be because il does
a better work for society than any
other institution can do.
What is this work that the churches
are qualified 10 perform better than
other institutions? Can they feed the
hungry. clothe the naked, visit and
comfort the sick and sorrowing. care
for those who are in prison. minister
10 the orphan and the outcast, in fine,
engage in all sorts of strictly philan-
thropic activity better than multi
tudes of existing benevolent institu-
tons? Certainly the churches viii
continue to do such work as this, be-
cause they are organizations Of those
who love and serve their fellowmen.
But clearer and clearer does it become
manifest that other institutions can do
most kinds phianthropic work as well
as. if not better than, the churches.
On the whole. the great fraterni-
ties everywhere established In our
times can do it better. The organized
charities OF our cities. the prison re-
form associations, the humane socie-
ties and others can do it better, more
economically. more effectively.
Can the churches, however. continue
to maintain themselves as centres for
the propaga ton of great dogmatic sys-
TENS. or. on the other hand. as centres
Of mere protest against the dOgmatic
systems of the pastf | do not believe
that they can. The forum for the dis
cuSsion of such systems is being rap
idly shifted from the pulpit to the
press. The great magazines and re
views and religious newspapers of our
time afford more favorable field for
their discussion while the masses q
the people care less and less for them.
Incidentally the churches will continue
to urge upon their people what they
believe 10 be n true philosophy Of God,
Of the universe and of man. but this
work alone cannot justify their con-
tinued existence.
Neither as purely sacramentarian in-
stitutiOns can the churches long retain
their hold upon any large number Of
the people. because with the growth
and extension Of Lew knowledge the
claims of recommendation are rap
idly becoming discredted. What is
called the high church reaction so
widely known is after all but a rene
tion and cannot he permanent in its
influence 1t is but a return 10 the
childhood Of religion. and the thinking
world demands the religion OF a man.
Can the churches. however, continue
to maintain themselves as social clubs,
rs organizations of congenial people
who come together 10 enjoy one an
others cOmpanionship?
But when there are 81 many social
clubs in every community, membership
in which can be restricted 10 people
of Congenial tastes and kindred pur-
suits as membership in even the most
exclusive church cannot be, l do not
believe that the churches can long
Justify their existence as the mere com
petitors OF these clubs.
Has the church then outlived is use
fulness aud is il about to pass away
Certainly not, If il arOuSes itself and.
becoming conscious of its true mission,
resolutely devoteS itself ~ its dis
tnctiye work. This. | believe. is what
the churches can do better than any
other nstitution--they can and do. in
multi,udes OF Instances. act as great
| irSpirati tioual centr : ministerinr 10 the
/ life Of the spirit. to the lie OF the
I 90 Ia. nF Oh I'm h. ~
man. They come into vital md helpful
relations with the people i sust SO
/ as they inspire To high thinking and
/ feeling and loving. in just so far as
/ they inspire and quicken the religious
] life of the community.
Let the churches therefore. cea
regarding them mselves as authoritative
! ecclesiastical institutions. authorita'
/ tive sacramentarian or dogmatic in
\ stitutions. and become free democratic
religious societies for the propagation
/ Cf pure and undefled religion. for in
/ Spiration 10 high and worthy ideals
for actually helping men Ito do justly
and love mercy, and 10 walk humbly
with their God" The churches thai
aSe most truly and profoundly religious
forces Will best justify their existence
in the twentieth century.
To foster and develop the distinct
lively religions life OF humanity. thi.
is the true mission Of the churches
They must be lightgivers and life
givers They must be spiritually
alive in order that they may impair
life. for life is what most counts. Th'
outward activities of the churches
must be the natural expression OF wha
[ they are.