The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-02

sacrifices He had appointed might be-
come denominations unto Him, that the
new moons and sabbaths, tho calling
ings. might be iniauity. Distinctly,
then, the glory OF the church ~ not
material, and yet there should be no
excuse for meanness In our service OF
God. Surely He ought to have the best
at our command. All things come OF
Him. and in giving what we have, we
give Him but His own. There Is no
more reason or Fight to-day than there
was In David's time why we should
dwell In houses of cedar and the ark
Of God remain ali the while In a mere
tent. We enlarge and decorate our
own houses, and we surround ourselves
with comforts and conveniehces and
luxures, too. It may be well, but let
1t not be that the houae OF God should,
amidst tho general Improvement, be
CONSPICUOUS for It's plalnness. II not
neanness. Certainly there ought 10 be
some due proportion. A mere tent may
do for the shepherd. small, plain chap
Ell for struggling mission. but when
the congregation is established. when
in numbers and mcans they represent
competence. 1t not wealth. then the
church In its size. beauty and appoint.
ments should show some corresponds
ence, should show that the people
have In their zeal for Gods home and
devotion to His worship there some
idea at least Of what tho psalmist
meant when he said, Lord. have
loved the hahitation Of Thy house. and
the place whence Thine honor dwell
eth" and for this among other rea-
sons that the stately and beautiful
church sbplldingr may teach that rev
erence' and Worship Which this age
needs so much to have emphasized.
Sadly Crippled. !. I,
Poor human nature must, however,
always stand upon It's guard and SO
thinking OF the church building as
representing tho congregation that
worships there, we must remember
that the true way TO add glory to it
| is not 80 much by costly adornment1 as
by the active usefulness and the grow
ing Christian character OF the people
There is such a pressure upon our
congregations to meet extravagant To-
eel expenses and to satisfy extravagant
local demands, that the benevolent
work and the aggressive power-of the
church as whole Is Eadly crippled
On this account 1t Is largely that we
are in continual trouble about our mis-
sionary work at home and abroad, and
that the wheels OF the gospel chario,
drag so slowly along.
I cannot but recognize the peculiar
difficulties which this congre CATION hal
had to face. They had to establish, q
mission where they would soon need 8
| church--yes. need church rn'ls., 4
dious and slightly, 80 that 1t would moi
| appear that they were content that til.
1 ark Of God should abide N tent
while all around the people were dwell.
4 ing in houses OF cedar. This has beer
your trying situation, and by nons
faced with more courage and tenacit,
OF purpose than by my brother. you,
4 present rector, who Is permitted to-
day tn rejoice in this happy carsumr,n.
ton of his prayer and labors. Thu
! glory OF the church L. to be found II
the presence and power OF Christ. 70,
remember the promise that the glor,
OF the restored temple after the cap
ttvity, should be greater than ever
4 the magnifcence of the hnus" to-
i Solomon builded. and that 1t was ful
4 filled when the Redeemer OF the Worlt