The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-24

as "The Failures of Protestanism." The statistics since 1899 show a multitude of human beings not influenced by the gos- pei. that Is simply appalling. Since that time preachers, in special efforts and with special prayers, have tried to side- glance the criticisms but with little ef- feet The trouble is too deep seated to be overcome by such means, however worthy In themselves. There is q phil osophy of events in things religious as well as in things secular. Poor preachers, those under whose discourses one might maue a dress or trim a hat or plan a reception in the costumes of Louis the XIV, III gody singers, who sing only fan tastic music, without the spirit of the sospel have been charged with the in- ability of the church to reach the lost.
 Indifference of the Age.
 On the other hand, there are those who lay all the blame on the world. Materialism and sordldsm, which deal in the sense of the appreciation of things pure and good, makes men indifferent on Sundays. They become interested in tho Sunday newspapers which have mighty little that is worth while. and golf, which is destroying the American Sunday as fast as any gentleman's game can, and so the indifference of the age Is ex- plained.
 These explanations are so familiar. as coming from pous peopIe and worldly don't cares," that l am ashamed to produce them in discourse of the pulpit. They are nonsense. You know it and I know it, and yet all of us have lived un- der such explanation of the world in which we live. To be honest the whole trouble is in Professionalism not being able to bring the conscience of every ind- vidual to the bar of God, in the light that each individual is responsible for tho general good of society
 This has been overlooked in the making of history. Luther, Calvin, Zwingle and others thought they had enthroned Jesus, when they only put Jesus in the place where men feared Him as they had for merly feared hell or purgatory. They saw people going to church and thought all was well. For a thousand years our ancestors were drilled to go to church. State and church were united. A man was suspected as q traitor if he did not attend church. If there was such pub lie sentiment now, every church in Chris tendon would be overflowing. But the pressure of civil law has long since ceased. Liberty has been the curse of church. going after this fashion Civil law has never been strong, because 1t Is a reflex of the divine law, consequently the divine law in the Roman Catholic church, being replaced by the civil law, gave that church q hold in the middle ages that no force known in religious circles could ever have equaled.
 In the days not far back, men used to go to church when they thought some one would speak who could teach. The pulpit has ceased to be a teaching place, so q. Iao. fu
 It is possible for one to lay on his age all the sins that belong to the man. When he investigates he will find that the age of Corinth, that Caesars household, and even Jerusalem, in the time of Jesus were sordid.
 Problem of the Day..
 The problem for us to solve Is: What are we going to do with the unsaved around us? The lost?
 The strength of Christianity must be in its absolute control of men through the love for it's founder. The activities of the church will correspond to the ap- preciation on the part of her members of the love of God in seeking their salvation. With no other power for enforcing His command "Go seek and save that which was lost" Jesus called the seventy to him and instructed them in their work. To the six hundred on the ltil in Galilee, just before His ascension, He gave the command again, and if we have ears 10 hear even now 1t Is being spoken from the heavens Into which He has ascendsd.
 Problem Before the Church.
 But it is often asked whether the church has not lost this note too largely out of it's thought and life? And it must be confessed when one Is confronted with the difficulties Is the way of those who have gone wrong. that the church has no adequate conception of the seriousness of the business her Lord has given her to do.
 The other day l was called on to try to save to society whole family of human beings, in the hold of habit that must destroy both body and soul. l was forced then as I have often been before. with the difficulties of coming in contact with that influence that the church of God