Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-15
PASTOR HOME
Big Congregation Gathers to Hear Rev.
A. c. Smither on "Love" ...

Rev. A. C. Smither, the popular pastor
of the First Christian church, who has
just returned from a tour of Europe and
the Holy Land, preached at his church
yesterday morning on Love" to a large
congregation that turned out to welcome
him.
Rev. Mr.. Smither has, with one excep-
ton, served one pastorate longer than any
other clergyman in Los Angeles and has
won hundreds of friends by his untiring
work in behalf of his own church and the
Christian denomination generally through
out Southern California.
Commencing next Sunday Rev Mr..
Smither will give short talk each Sun
day evening on his travels and the vari-
Gus places of interest as a prelude to his
regular evening sermon. Rev. Mr.. Smither
pursued this plan following his first trip
to Europe, which proved very interesting.
Best Definition
Rev. Mr.. Smither said in part:
",The Holy Scriptures say that God is
love- This Is Revelations best definition
of the Supreme Being. In this statement
is set forth the essential element of the
divine character.
Goods love to man is expressed in
mans creation. The gift of being, Of the
greatest heritage of man. This is all from
God and expresses his love for the crea-
lures of his hand.
His marvellous provision for the need
Of his creatures amply bears witness to
his love for man. For every wing he has
provided air, for every fin he has made
water, for every need and instinct of the
human soul he has made provision and
satisfaction
1.-THE highest token of his love is that
set forth in the gift of his Son to the
world This was at great cost to himself,
and bears infinite witness to his love for
the race.
"The church of Christ rests upon Gods
love to man. 1t was projected by Gods
unfailing pity and love for humanity. All
Christian service Is actuated by this mo-
tive. In no other way can the sacrifices
of the God fearing men of the world be
accounted for.
"The supreme purpose of Christ's COM
ing into the world was to bear witness to
man of this love and to beget in man a
love for God and divine things In return.
We are his offspring, bearing in our
bosom his image. We are brethren In the
flesh of him who came with this flaming
message for mortals. We are brethren
each to the other because Of these reve-
lations of God and ought therefore to be
filed with affection for each other.
1.-The followers of Christ ought to pos
sess in their souls this matchless love
each for the other, and ought to recog-
nize each other as the children of a COM
mon Father, and that they possess COM
mon interests Ind attachments. Growing
out of this recognition there should be
protection of each others interests In
every possible way. They ought to pro-
woke one another to good works in every
thing that pertains to spiritual life and
religious activity. Such relations would
bind the followers of Christ into one great
bond and cement their lives into one su-
preme fellowship.
Goods blessings would abundantly rest
upon such loving relations. The follow
ers of Christ. would thus come into the
sweetest religious experiences. Life would
possess an added attraction.
Joy would be unconfined. This feeling
would largely permeate others and woult
minister to the we'll being of our fellow
man. Such service and character would
present an uncontrovertible argument fol
the religion of Jesus Christ; would com
mend it to the world as nothing els'
could"