Evening journal., 1908-05-09


In ancient times a distinguished
father gave his name TO his descend
ants, and this paternal name became
the bond of family or tribal union.
Every family has a history and
character Of its own. Some are heirs
to inspiring memories. Many search
musty records to trace their pedigree
The apostle compares the church
to a family This is a beautiful con-
ception. An ideal family is one where
the parents pour out their affection
upon their children who in turn seek
TO do the will Of the parents. It is the
home where love and union dwell
| Parenthood Is the basis of this unity.
The text teaches the unity Of the
church. This unity is a spiritual
thing. It is not the repeating of any
hibboleth-Union is not unity. II
does not rest upon a physical basis or
upon organic forms. Jesus prayed,
THAT they all may be one" as thou,
Father, art in me, and I I'm Thee, that
they also may be one in us.-St. John
1921. We are one in Christ Jesus
AS many as received him, to them
gave He power to become the sons
Of God, even TO them that believe on
His name; which were born, not OF
blood, nor OF the win Of the flesh.
nor of the win OF man, but of Cod
John 1:12-13.
Abrahamic descent could not put the
Jew into this family. ST. Paul says.
fe are the children of God by faith in
Christ Jesus.-Gal. 1926.
We become His children by regen-
eration, and not by physical generation
Jesus declared-Whosoeve shall do the
VIII of my Father which is in heaven,
the same is my brother and sister
and mother-Matt. 1850.
This is spiritual kinship. They differ
widely in temperament. in social and
intellectual standing, but they carry
an indubitable sign of their adoption
into Gods family. There is a spirit
ual likeness. They speak a mystic
language, which the world knows not
but which draws and binds them to-
gether.
An eminent Christian traveller met
an Arab in Jerusalem. The son of
the desert seemed desirous OF inter
viewing him, but they had no Ian
guage they could speak in common.
AT last the traveller pronounced the
word "Christian"--the eyes Of the Arab
cleaned with intelligence. Christian"
said the Arab, Christian" said the
traveller. Immediately the Arab fell
upon his bosom and wept with ioy. The
traveller was in a strange land. but
he found a brother. All members OF
this royal family share in the purposes
OF God towards men, and these pur-
poses are benevolent. All the citizens
of Christs kingdom, all the members
Of this great family share in the life
of Christ II any man have not tho
Spirit of Christ he is none Of His. II
Is of prime Importance that the citizens
OF country should be HOMOGENEOUS.
The heterogeneous nature of the pop.
ulation in our great cities is Just ground
for alarm. To make the people homo
geneous we must make them Chris
tian The indwelling spirit Of the
Master is the bond Of union. and this
preserves the unity of the family and
makes it homogeneous. The unity OF
this family is unbroSen by national
and denominational boundaries anc
social distinctions.
The terms Methodist, Presbyterian.
Baptist, copalian-Catholic are
nicknames to be laid aside. In heaven
we shall be known as Christians. one
Is your master. even Christ; and all
We are brethren.--Matt 1913. This fam
lily is both ancient and royal. The name
Is derived from God. The family be-
longs to two worlds. heaven and earth.
Christ is the golden link that unites
the two divisions Of the family.
There is only one family record. Tho
name of every child of God both in
heaven and on earth is recorded in the
book of life-the family record.
Let saints on earth unite to sing
With those to glory gone,
For all the servants of our King
In earth and heaven are one
one family we dwell in Him
one church above beneath,
Though now divided by the stream,
The narrow stream Of death"