The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-12
BY WILLIAM 7. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
1t is easier to praise Christianity
than to practice it. Persons not d few
are trying to substitute the former for
the latter. They pay glowing tributes
to religion-but are never seen in
church on Sunday. They extol the
beneficence of the church, but they
are not enrolled in her membership, or
among her contributors. This is mean
err than the war time practice of send
ing paid Substitutes to the front. In
common consistency and honor, a man
should refrain from expressing senti-
mentS which his conduct does not en-
dorse. If Christianity is great and
glorious and beneficent and indis-
pensable, then, by all considerations of
logic and fairness, the person who so
avows should enroll himself among the
open and confessed disciples thereof.
The best people should stand for the
best things. That is why, happily,
among Anglo-SaX peoples, it has al
ways been considered somewhat of
social obligation to go to church. The
underlying reason for this practice is
that thoughtful men and women have
regarded the church as the prime
conservator of those ideals which I'M
derlie civilization, and as the agency
and progress of mankind. To support
the church, therefore, is to support
the forces of law and order and fra
ternity and philanthropy and intellect
uality and idealism.
The habit of church going provides
the soil for the growth of many other
good habits =z
If there are truth, purity, sound
morals, and right aims anywhere, you
may find them in the Christian church.
j. P. Thompson.
Because the young peoples move
ment in the churches has not. within
twenty five years, brought in the mil
lennium, there is q. tendency to find
fault with it. 1t must not be overlook
ed that the societies have fixed GER
tain great and profitable habits in the
lives of millions of young people.
Among these is the sense of loyalty
to the church. For Christ and the
Church" is their ringing motto. They
have, by repeated discussions such as
the present one, inculcated the idea of
the sanctity and practical beneficence of
the Christian church. Moreover, they
have made trained church workers and
regular church attendants of myriads
of young men and young women who
would otherwise have been lost to the
| church and to altruistic ministry of
mankind.
There is no institution on earth so
worthy of human ministry and entfu-
siasm as the Christian church. Who
ever becomes her defender and cham
pion and servant is making his life
count greatly in his time.
Christian Endeavor can best be "for
Christ" through the church.
There ought to be such an atmos-
| phere in every Christian church that a
| man going there and sitting two hours
and carry home a fire to kindle the al
| tar whence he canne.-Beecher
There are better reasons for going
to church than that of commencing
Christian Endeavor, which is the reas-
| on suggested by the topic. This lat
| ter suggestion savors too much of a
| cheap exploitation of Christian En-
| deavor itself; whereas by it's very ma
ture, Christian EndeaVor exists, not to
commend itself, but to commend
Christ and the Church. The day of
certain decay has dawned for the
young peoples movement when it be-
gins to look within. at its own virtues,
| and to take thought for its own honor
Better far is it to emphasize the watch
word of the early days of Christian
Endeavor, s'Not to be ministered unto,
but to minister"
In that interesting and thought
| compelling little volume, 1.-THE Work
| ingman and Social Problems" Charles
Sickle makes an important point,
worthy of the consideration of all who
| are prone to grow impatient with the
church. He says: '.Since the success
of any great social reform is dependent
upon high. unselfish moral character
and since Christianity makes the de-
Ivelopment of this character its chief
business, it follows that the church has
a most important part in the great
work which concerns the social life of
mankind. And the church is trying
to do its part. The preacher who left
the masses, feeling that she was not
doing enough for them. was glad to
come back after a two years cam