The San Francisco call., 1906-09-17
CHURCH PROGRESS
PASTORS THEME.
Rev. w. E. Dugan Points
Out Necessity Of Advance
ment in Spiritual Matters
DIR. BURGESS SERMON

At the Stewart, Memorial Church on
Guerrero street, near Twenty-third.
Rev. W. Z. Dugan preached the morn
ing sermon on Progress on Old
Paths" In part he said:
The occasion of the writing of this
short epistle was the coming Of un-
godly men who turned the grace OF
God into lasciviousness-that is, into
lawless freedOm-of thought and con-
science. We hear much about a theo-
logical renaissance, a new theology, a
new Christ Consider some facts:
The world moves. Civilization is a
glorious fact The church must also
move forward. If Solomon were to
undertake TO build the temple today,
lie would not float his logs along the
coast OF Palestine. but by steamships
haul them from Tyre to Joppa and
employ a locomotive TO pull them TO
Jerusalem. In the same sense, in q
spiritual way, the church must keep
abreast Of the times.
SOME THINGS UNCHANGED.
But there are some things that must
remain forever the same. God is the
same IN all ages. Mans outward con-
clifton may be improved and the level
change in the constitution of the race
or Of human nature. Sin, responsibility
and spiritual death are the same as
when Cain held up his bloody hands,
and said: Ny burden is greater than
] can bear"
The Cross Of Christ remains the same.
irrespective of ten thousand theories
concerning II. The Bible remains the
one book that needs no additions.
As earth, air, FIRE and water remain
as when 1rSt created, so the fore
going facts. But as we find new meth
oos, adjustments, applications and COM
blnauo1s of fire, water, etc, so we
should OF spiritual facts and forces.
therefore, the church should be NOV
ing, forward in: (a) Larger faith in
God
Cb) Larger conception of the dignity
and possibilities OF man. The daily
prayer Of London weaver was: Lord
Mhy notZ Are We not created in
Divine likeness. and only a little lower
than the angels? Do we not stand
erect with power to face the great
problems and apprehend the sublime
truths of eternal lifeg
(c) A higher conception Of the Cross.
We are too prone TO regard the Cross
as an objective fact, the symbol of a
sublime tragedy enacted 1900 years ago.
But this is an eternal tragedy sweep
ing down the ages. This is z tragedy
Christ is the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world" He is as
truthfully being cruelty crucified in
san Francisco today as on Calvary of
TALKS OF JUDGMENT DAY.
Rev. Hubert T. Burgess of the Sec
ond Congreg egational Church spoke on
Judgment Day taking his text from
Acts 2425. he said in part:
Mankind believes in a Judgment day.
Many seoffers pleaded for mercy on
April IS 1t appeals TO reason. Stu
dents must be examined, contract-w k
inspected, accounts audited and human
life. with time, talents. possessions and
opportunities, must have its day of
reckoning. As violation OF natural
law brings penalty, so does violation
Of moral law. An awakened conscience
condemns Us. Dollars: how obtained.
how spent2 Votes: how cast in lodge
room. corporation meeting, public Office
or at the pOlls2
Other scandals viii be revealed be-
sides those OF banks, insurance COM
pan.es and packing houses. Every un-
paid car fare, profane oath and broken
sabbath viii accuse Us. Lost innocen~se,
wicows and orphans VIII testify
against Us
Is there anyone to act as counsel in
our defense? Yes. Jesus Christ prom
ises to get our case dismissed II we
Jet Him plead for Us in HIS own name.
We should engage II IN now and begin
10 work Cor Him as "a retainer. VIII
you trust your case 10 Him?