The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-10-29
KEEP UNSPOTTED
 FROM THE WORLD
REV. HOYT DOBBS SPEAKS AT THE Y. M. c. A. ON THE POSl. TIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE-END OF INTERESTING SERIES.

The Rev Hoyt Dobbs in the final ad- dress of his series at the Young Mems Christian association yesterday after noon drew vivid picture of the Posi- tive Christian Life" He took his text from James 1-27: Pure religion and unde- filed before God and the Father is this; to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world"
 MT. Dobbs said that the question up- permost in the minds of the masses, that which causes most doubt and discontent is, what is religion? James speaks of two distinct phases of religion the pos itiye and the negative. Keeping unspotted from the world is an important part, but merely selfish and negative, life is not complete unless it be also active in good work, visiting the fatherless and widows bearing fruit. Both are necessary as characteristics of the true Christian en- abllng him to move among the sin and strife of his surroundings, peacefully and confidently, drawing others after him with an unvarying attraction, as did the Divine Magnet Jesus Christ, who quietly passed along the roads of Palistine, fol- lowed, as easily as the tides of oceans obey the attraction of the moon, by wave on wave of earnest disciples
 Christ would have been at home any where, as much so in the nineteenth cen- tury as in the first. or in Birmingham as in Jerusalem. Neither time nor place nor circumstances would change Him."
 CnpffpItfper ba nIra,, "a itive stand Is necessary to men: that he hoped the time will soon come when there will be one standard for man and woman. and all will be guided by the word and example of Christ to d standard of clean ness and purity, the basis of all power
 Not the purity of the iceberg, with its death-like grasp, cristalized selfishness and pharisaic hypoeracy," was MT Dobbs meaning, but the purity of the flowing constantly into the darkest cor ners of the world. Purity produces life coming, as 1t were, from the bosom of God Himself.
 A few weeks ago, the minister said. he had slSirted along through the forests on railroad trip. when Joking down the course of q turbld stream, he saw a harvest moon, clear and brilliant, rise from the foul and muddy water. "so may we in life.' said he, reflect the divine life of Christ, notwithstanding the dirt and filth and sinfulness of our surround- ings.
 But we must be active and unselnsh; filters, not leaners; tollers, not takers; owners, not consumers; givers, not beg gars, and shepherds, not be herded These are the requirements of Christian" he said, do you possess them?
 "Then, too, one must have an intelli- gent perception of Gods intention for his life. We are stewards of God, and we must SOW and reap where He places us He will never leave or forget us; the crop never fails"
 In conclusion, Mr. Dobbs divided work CTS into three classes, pioneer, conserva- tive and retaining. The pioneers are all dead; they have opened up nearly every field, and their work in America is almost finished, but the conservative has now come to his day. He is needed to care for what we already have. There is q common opinion that a conservative is too cowardy to fight; too fat to run; but he is really man who preserves, not in the sense of being dead. of the salt hath lost it's saVor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
 "The reclaimer is one who Is behind the reform of today. We need magnani- nous senators, representatives and of- fcers to challenge the difficulties of gov ernment; and Christians to bring the sick and weary up into the pure light of heaven Men are not ashamed to talk and work for their fraternity or society. but many are actually ashamed of Jesusl
 ''The real Christian is never ashamed of Christ. He takes the light dowth into the sinful world bravely, and returns with a harvest of riches; he is a toiler, a litter, and good shepherd. His reward is everlasting life"
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