The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-11-15
THE WORK OF
" The KINGDOM
THEME OF AN ABLE AND EARN
EST DIscegRsE BY REV.
CLEMENT, ~
AT FIRST METHODIST CHURCH
Emphatically Denies That the Cnurch
is Losing ITS Power.--
Social Evils. 81

Taking as his theme The work OF
the Kingdom" and preaching from the
text found in Luke II, verses ~ ana
21. Rev. A. E. Clement yesterday
morning preached a strong sermon to
a congregation. that was large enough
to fill every seat in the First Metho-
dist church. In the course OF MS
sermon Dr.. Clement vigorously COM
batted the idea that the church was
losing power; h ealso made convincing
answer to the criticism of the church
because of its activity against we'll
known social evils. He said In part;
"Pessimists croak that the church
is losing power. But, to the contrary
there are more loyal hearts today and
a mightier work. being wrought than
ever in the history Of Christianity.
The prophecy of the birth OF 2 nation
lin a day has been almost literally full
filed and salvation has never swept
the fields of the world shBclean as to-
day. The pessimist looks at the small
congregations assembled at the ordi-
nary service of the hour and straight
way .forgets that there are ten others
within almost a stones throw of this
pulpit; that there are ten Sunday
schools as well, teaching this same
gospel to as many tender hearts; that
religious literature for the conveyance
OF knowledge has increased with the
increase of years; and that the secu'
lar press itself is saturated with mes
sages OF gospel truth. And the infiu-
enee of the kingdom is reaching far
beyond those actually saved and is
commanding the influence of men OF
strength who make no pretense what
ever of being religious.
What means this noble band OF lay
men springing- into activity at Phil
adelphia. at Knoxville but to supply
breach in our advancing hosts? What
think you of the Student Volunteer
Missionary Movement with it's band of
workmen in training for the fields?
Do you not behold the thousands of
Christian Endeavors, the hosts of Bap-
fist Young Peoples Societies, and our
ever increasing ranks of Epworth
Leaguers marching TO the front for
battle? What does this mean? In
evitable victory to Christ our King.
The church has rightly entered the
arena to help settle the social Ques-
tons of the day. Too long already
have we been pushed from the fields
as being too corrupt and the church
too holy to grapple with the enemy on
this level. Here is where God needs
us, and here we must stay till the
glorious day of freedom comes to the
whole world What think you of
Isaiah, Ezekiel, or st. Paul having
their mouths closed by a jeer from
the politicians and business men of
their day? The facts are that though
Christ himself said very little about
rulers and their policies, yet he laid
down principles for society business
and government, as he did for church
es that are working out the salvation
OF the world. And these principles
alone can solve the problems con-
fronting us.
The morning papers are filled with
news Of strikes, labor and capital ar
rayed against each other; with items
of political strife in their endeavor to
clean up municipal and political af-
fairs; with the exposures OF crimes
and court proceedings in divorce suits
The remedy of our Lord alone can
cure the disease, for II is a spiritual
Here alone can the rich and
the poor meet together; here divorce