Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-09-15
The institutional Church.

The institutional Church.
But we must do more than simply
,ol0nize our boys and girls in country
places. We must carry the institution
al church into our poor districts and
fight sin on It's own ground The sim,
pie fact is that many of our churches
are going to pieces simply because the
congregations listen to sermons but
do not work for Christ.
When Jacob liiis started In his long
ten years war 10 give Fairgrounds 10
the children of the cOngested east and
west sides of New York he could not
find enough room for the poor. even
though millions of dollars worth OF
buildings We're condemned aud turned
into public Fairgrounds. Then happy
idea struck him. why can we not
turn the roofs of our public schools in
To Fairgrounds for childrenT "Ab.
surd, said the politicians. Absurd
said the teachers. Absurd" said al
most every one. But Jacob Riis kept
on. and now the roofs of many of
those public school buildings nave
been turned into Fairgrounds for the
scholars. At last the common people
have come to learn that magnificent
school building is not 10 he kept idle
all the time with the exception of the
few hours when school is in session.
The public school buildings are now
used for public libraries and public
lectures and public concerts aud public
Fairgrounds, Why cannot our church
learn the same lessonf
The churches are gradually deserving
the poorer sections of our cities not he
cause they are not needed there. hut
because they do not do their duty as
they ought To do II. The poor OF ouI
large cities need II church building fot
something more than place where
they shall attend divine service once
or twice on the Sabbath day. They
need Il church building where men and
women can come and find Christian
fellowship and help in social inter
course They need Il church building
where poor mothers can come and
leave their babies while they them.
selves 20 ont for days work. They
need church building for an lntelli'
gence office and n dispensary. They
need church building where man
or woman can 20 In all times OF
trouble and always find II temple OF
refuge" Oh why do we not as Chris
tian people grasp the gospel Opportu
nifty and 20 back into the poorer sec
tlons of the city and teach women how
10 sew and how to keep the babies
clean aud teach ignorant. tired meu
how To work as we'll as how TO pray
and to sing aud 10 listen TO Gods
wordi
want you to realize that Christ was
preaching practical gospel sermon
when he told the Pharsee the parable
of the good Samaritan. | want you Il
remember that Christ meant just wha
he said when lie took little child II
his lap and said. ut is better for yol
that milestone We're hanged abou
your neck aud that you were drowned
Ia the midst of the sea rather than
that you offend one of these llttl'
ones" have tried 10 show yon tina
even among the lowest and the vlles
of outcasts you can lind some WHOM
you can lead TO Christ II You will onl,
20 after them. Aud thus. my friend
ON this beautiful Christian Sabbath
day invite you to help bridge Over
the ever widening chasm that Is sepa
rating the rich man from the poor maj
aud the so called respectable man from
the social outcast by throwing across
II the strong. broad. central beam ol
the cross Of Christ's sacrifice. VIII yoI
hecome n brofher to the poDr In 1