The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-27
PRACTICAL RELIGION
SUBJECT OF SERNOR
Dean Benjamin Brewster De-
livers an Interesting Thanks.
giving Address.

"Practical Religion was the sub;
iect Of a forceful sermon delivered
TbanksGiving services of st. Mark s
cathedral by Dean Benjamin Brewster
Dean Brewster took for his teA1
James j., .: BE ye doers OF the wore
and not hearers only There was
fairly large congregation present, and
excellent music was rendered. In part
Dean Brewster said:
We all want religion TO be practical.
TO show It's power in acts Of mercy ana
henevolence. Such a text as TINS meets
with a response from the world today.
Tbich %iSh often finds fault with church,
going and the ordinary expressions o!
Christian faith. IS ocinS Impractical anu
merely sentimental How we may nest
reach the desired enn, or being o1SFs
OF the word" ig sot forth clearly In this
massage from the first chapter OF -.
James's epistle. Written, very likely
somewhat late In tbs apostolic aSe OF the
churcli-afteS the great Pauline doctrines
about grace and faith had taken root
this may have been designed 10 couh-
teract the abuse OF those doctrines which
led men 20 content themselves with a
merely subjective or emotional rGlSlon'
forgetting the example OF the Master
who went about doing good The
fundamental thought IS that the word oil
Cod. bringing salvation, is meant 10 be a
living power among men. emphasizing
the brotherhood that follows iTom ouT
common dependence upon COD grace
The hTst condition of our being IN true
sense "doers OF the word is 10 recognize
:hat dependence upon God. Ihanksgiy-
ing day reminds US OF this. and III IL
well 10 he so reminded. for In our pros
perity VIC Americans are too apt TO boast
like the lsTael!tes OF old whom Moses
warned, MY power and the might OF
mine hand hath gotten me TINS weaith |,
and this pride can never produce a sense
OF brotherliness, and n genuine purpose
TO show mercy. See how In reality God
has made us the inheritors of the ages
made US TO profit by the Inventive ge-
MUS OF a long succession OF gifted men,
who have studied the secrets OF nature
''What have We which we have not re,
ceived?" Let us, therefore. In THANKFUL
humility, seek out ways OF spreading
abroad the blessings In which we share
Tor, IN the next place, to be really do
crs OF the word we need TO study ways
OF doing Gods will ana not merely 10
do deeds OF impulsive generosity here
and there. II is easy and natural TO re-
lieve temporarily some distress that
presses upon our attention, but we nave
Gods perfect law. the law OF liberty
and CONTINUE therein" ii we would be
effective ''doers." and not .hearers only
deceiving our own selves Moreover
true, practical religion. means to be strict
with ourselves, As well as merciiul 10
others IF any man among you, says
81. James. seem to be religious, and
bridleth not his tongue. this mau's re-
iision is vain, Pure religion and unde-
7iIed before God and the Father is this
10 visit the fatherless and widows in their
afAiction and to keep himself unspotred
from the world" The mercirulness and
practical benevolence. which God requires
OF us, is sustained and effective only
when we cultivate self-discipline. tenn
perance and purity, Let the Thanksgiv
ing sentiment OF practical philanthropy
which is IN the air today. take root In
us. and In the community. and bring
forth In US the continual fruit Of good
works