Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-03
ANSWERS
CARPING CRITICS
SAYS TEMPLE CHURCH IS
HOLY GROUND
Rev. Robert j. Burdette Makes Reply
to Those Who object to
Preaching In
Thester

After weeks of unwarranted abuse
and Misrepresentation and all sorts of
unkind remarks from fellow religionists
who wondered at his preaching In q
theater," Rev. DR.. Robert j. Burdette
| last night replied to his critics In a
strong sermon entitled "Consecrated
Places" The position of the Temple
Baptist church with respect to the Au-
dtorium theater has long been mat
ter of common misunderstanding.
At first outsiders declared that the
church had built theater for Its mem-
bers then the rumor was Circulated
that the undertaking was to make
money for the Baptists; and finally
some individual triumphantly an
nounced that the church was making
it's own expenses by running the the
ater.
Ever since the Auditorium was
opened members of the church nave
had to meet the indignant rebukes or
outsiders who did not believe in COM
bining religion and amusement ana
Dr. Burdette has had more of this 10
contend with than his members he
has kept silent, but last week man
wrote him a letter asking him how he
dared to preach the word OF God from
a theater." 1t was this that DECIDED
him to preach the sermon Of last nlgnt.
AS a matter of fact. the Auditorium
ia not owned by Temple Baptlsts.
Originally the plan was formulated by
that body, but when the affair assumed
such large proportions 1T was round 10
be too great an undertaking LOT lne
church. and outside help was enlisted:
Az present only about rs per cent OF
the stock is owned by church members
not enough to control the policy OF the
i management. For this reason the Au-
ditorium company has protested So
strongly against having the building
called Temple Auditorium. The theatre
cal performances given during M tne
week have no connection WIN the
church, that body renting the pulluiis
nv the wear for it's Sunday services.
THE Tennple Baptists are payingto the
Auditorium company $4,000 year Ior
the part of the building they occupy
Place Is consecrated
DR.. Burdette's sermon last night was
"Consecrated Places" his text pells
taken from Exodus, 3-b: Draw hos ss
nigh hitber: put off thy shoes from OH
th9 Feat for the place whereon thou
stsndest Is holy ground" He SAID;
"T,ast week a man sent me this mes
i co oe. How dare you presume "
preach the gospel of Jesus Christ III d
theater?' don't preach in tneaSer'
7 would like to- sometimes, but the the-
ater people will not permit 1t. preacn
the gospel in fitting place-a bap.ise
meeting house. We are assembled tiiis
moment in what is commonly calleu
nI,,,rcl,' This ia a. consecrated house oil
uorahin. consecrated SO far as men can
conaecrate a place, by the speaking lips
and reverent hearts of 5000 people te
, tha hrotherhood of man, the felloWshll
~ righteousness, the fatherhood OF Goo
3 the teaching and living OF tne "nor
eosnel of Jesus Christ, his son. oul
Savior. I not only dare preach ina !.
gospel anywhere, but L must pea pIeaoN he y
: everywhere And it can never "
|, preached save on consecraleu
before holy affairs.
/ "Sod called Moses to his mighty ms
, sion ont of the flaming acacia pusn
J In the desert without first having tne
hush consecrated and the ground naue
holv by an organization OF men an, any
women with psalms ana cnanl, VIZ "
liturgy and ritual, and with WoruS VI
o,1tsorotion falling from human lips
III, III the nomp and humility, the
: snlendor and simplicity of a religious
service. A. cod
Men consecrated a house TO Go9
: ono tine-the first house ever puiloeu
, to his name and under his own olrec-
! tion They made 1t as holy as men
could make anything, with song ,.t1 anu
rraise and music of Instruments VIII VII
escription of righteousness ana noll-
ness to God. with high priest stay
; ING the sacrifice, offering the people
I obiation. the sin Offering, the sacr',
!; Ace of peace offerings, fire from dou
Consuming all that was offered upon
tha altar. and in an instant the serV-
J ice turned into an hour or terror ny
: the flame of Jehovah's wrath oeVoui
u ing the sons of the high, priest Wno ie
haf0rG
, ai+ars The unholiness of men carry
! ino strange fire in their hearts, raise
worship in their souls, hypocrisy ID
, | the;y thoughts. can make unholy tne
| hoIIest place that human hanus nave
: Formallv consecrated to divine wor-
ship and service.
Holy Place Is Temple
, Tn the temple there was set ASIDE
the bolv place. sacred to the minister
ing priests and the most holy place
!. sacred to the high priest, ana ne coulu
enter but once year NO Iiihn y,
the congregation of Gods people dared
enter these two places; no priest 9L
his life dared enter the most noly
place. yet one day a Roman senS,a rnl.sd
at the head of his legions marcheu
into the city of Jerusalem. he en-
tared into the temple and followed MS
curiosity into all it's sacred places,
he stood before the veiled holy oi
!, holes. with awe upon his face and the
fearlessness of his nation within ms
heart With profane hand he parted
the holy curtains and looked into g
chamber, desolate, empty, In the awe
and mystery of darkness. The Roman
sneer replaced the awe upon his lips
and he gave Judaism in his mind It's
level place with all other religions
whose mysteries he had exposed with
the sword. There was not even the
empty ark in the most holy place; the
shadows were not dispelled by the
elories of the Shekinah that had
eiowed between the bowed cherubim'
The holy of holies had been trans
ferred It was far off in the court
/ OF the temple, where the publican with
unlifted soul and bowed head, not OAR
ing SO much as to lift his eyes, cried;
God, be merciful to me. a sinner
4 "Here is a scene of conservation
i out of the gates of beautiful city,
with profounder religious associations
than any other city In the world, out
of the gates OF Jerusalem, reels a
fainting man in the habit Of teacher.
the face pallid with fasting ana weak
--.... =, \ ~, a ,,,ad nv tha DuffetS or the