Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1906-02-05
HUMANITY is ANCIENT,
DECLARES PASTOR LEE
GOOD OF TODAY is FOUNDED IN
THE PAST
Human Nature Hasn't Changed With
Silks and Satins, and Religion
and Prayer Are as Potent as
Ever

"And the publican, standing afar off,
would not lift up so much as his eyes
unto heaven, but smote upon his breast,
saying, God be merciful to me a sin
ner," Luke 1918, was the text chosen
yesterday morning by Rev. Baker P.
Lee in an eloquent sermon on the Pub
1ican and the Pharisee, bringing to the
lesson a modern significance.
He said in part:
1--WE hear much of this wonderful
age of ours, as contrasted with other
ages and we are not to be governed by
the thoughts that governed our grand
parents 1t is a practical age of reason
and research and yet when we make
this boastful assertion we refute the
old things. Humanity is ancient. Our
spoken and written language is an
cient; law and order are ancient: Gull
| ture, art, poetry, drama and oratory
are ancient. Whatever Is good, true
and beautiful today was founded in
the past
"The old, old thought of religion and
prayer is ancient. 1t Is only the fool
that walks out into the sunshine and
closing his eyes, says: I see no sun
shine
"These men of the text went to the
temple, not merely because 1t was
fashionable to hear so and so preach,
or to listen to so and so sing but they
went there before God to pray. The
main purpose for which we go to
church is to there behond the King
and to worship and pray. Oh, If 1
could bring 1t to you of the lonely
heart the one who is losing hope,
that Jesus Christ will hear and answer
you Not to pray is to surrender the
noblest attribute that differentiates
man from beasts.
81 am not talking of the man of
1000 years ago, but to his great, great.
great great grandchild. The Pharisee,
in his fool pride, thanked God that he
| was not as other men. Thank God
| that you are not as some other men,
but don't let your self-righteousness
get the better of you-you, that the
Savior died for. There was not a trace
of devotion, but he tells God what he
has done. What is 1t to thee? Fol-
low thou me- and it will keep you quite
| busy keeping up with the standard
that Christ sets.
"The publican did not even look up,
but said be merciful to me, sinner.
Morally he was not as good as the
Pharisee, but he showed more devotion
and acknowledged his sins.
1--WE may say what do we need or
the sacraments, the prayers of the
church, baptism and confirmation.
God help you, you poor pitiful fool, for
| the time will come when you are on
the edge of eternity when you will
call out, have mercy!'
Just notice the arrangement of the
wording. On one side the deity, the
grandest name, God! On the other side
the poor, pitiful human being. God be
merciful to me. a sinner, is the one
| link that spans the mighty chasm be-
tween God and humanity. I believe If
ministers would realize that it is not
large congregation, but the individual
men and women to be preached to, 1t
would be better.
1--WE ask so much mercy from God
and have so little mercy for our fellow
men when they sin In their human
weakness.
"It is not fashionable to talk of sin.
1 am not fashionable preacher. HUI
man nature hasn't changed with silks
and satins. The publican condenses
the whole liturgy into one sentence,
God be merciful unto me, a sinner B."