The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-08-25
THE CHURCH IS A NECESSITY
Subject Of Sermon Delivered by Mr.
J. B. Boon Sunday Morning.

Mr.. ]. B. Boen, pastor of the Main
Street Christian church, delivered
the following sermon Sunday morn
ing on the subject of The Church a
Necessity Text: and He is the
head of the body, the church" Col,
lis. The minister said:
The greatest organization in the
world is the church. Its greatness
arises from it's origin, its mission
and it's accomplishments and its
power for further accomplishments.
The history of civilization is in a
very true sense the history of the
church
Each week multitudes of people
in all parts of the world are assem-
bled in churches to express their
faith and to intensity their right
eousness. No other institution gath
ers together so many moral citizens
Not long since an article appeared
in one of our leading magazines, in
which the writer endeavored to
prove that the world had out-grown
the need of churches; that the func-
lions of the church had been sup
planted by more efficient organiza-
lions and that we could consequent
ly dispense with churches without
feeling their loss. This conclusion
the writer deduced from something
like the following premises: We
have civil government for the pro
lection of personal property; ethical
society for self culture; gymnasiums
for the physical development of the
body; the stage for art; lodges fol
the sick and unfortunate homes fol
the widows and orphans; prisons
for the criminals; reformatories fol
the erring; libraries for the student
and science for the sunlight of all
Fully confident of having shown
that ell the wants in mans being
W re not met by more efficient or
ganization, no alternative remained
in his Judgment for the churches
but to close their doors or shift
their basis of operation.
Other writer's less radical in theil
progressive views have urged from
time to time that the churches are
guilty of an inexcusable waste O.
time and energy and that they are
not producing results compatible
with the outlay and that they should
be made more efficient in their min
istrations for mans improvement
and elevation. How to make ou1
churches more efficient. therefore
has presented one of the pressing is
sues of the day.
There are other organizations il
the world involving far more capita
than is used by the combined church
es, but when we consider the cost o
the vast number of church building
temples and cathedrals, the grea
army of salaried officers, evangelists
pastors, teachers and the countless
books, journals and tracts and al
the schools, colleges and universe
ties, we shall have encircled an out
lay OF money of such vast proper
tions as compels us to render some
account to enlightened reason ant
to God for this expenditure.
There are now so many demand.
upon mans time and purse by ben
evolent and other organizations il
the land, recognized by the world al
good things, that we may we'll ash
ourselves, Does 1t pay to go t.
church? Can we afford the time? Dc
we get value received for the money
we contribute for the support of tn,
church,
The time has come when the en-
croachments upon the churches will
compel an investigation of their val
ue to the world.
Towering grandly above all i'm
church are the great centers O
learning; the great books of the
ages; the great minds which have
been instruments in the hands O.
God. by which he has guided the
world into its present civilization.
1t is the work of the church tc
scatter the seeds of the kingdom; tc
spread the leaven of Righteousness
and to extend the domain of the
truth 81 the earth.
All that the church accomplishes
for the elevation of mankind is moi
contained within the circle of hel
organic being. The good in our laws
In our state, in our benevolent or
CARNATIONS, is purely the out
growth OF the spirit of Christ, exert.