The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-23
ON RECEPTIVE MOOD
MT. Gammack Delivers Helpful Sermon at Christ Church,
 West Haven.
TEST FOR INFIDELS
Preacher Says Many Men Fear the Awful Question of
 Life.

Rev. Arthur J. Gammack. the rector of Christ church, West Haven, deliver cd a helpful sermon yesterday morning in his church upon the subject of "The Receptive" MT. Gammack pleaded that especially during Lent that the people of the church give God chance to be alone with them" He said there were alone with themselves for fear of the sober thought of the awfulness of life that will be sure to come So there is for them the continual round of social frivolities and entertainments that blot out the more serious thoughts.
 MT. Gammack told two interesting stories in this connection. One was of a man given to swearing in terrible manner. A friend made a wager with him, telling them he did not dare to go out into the church yard at the hour of midnight and there utter his foul lan- guage when he was alone with God. If he could do it. the friend was willing to lose his wager The man went out in the church yard at the time appoint ed and took breath to speak after his accustomed way but he could not. The awfulness of 1t came upon him as never before.
 The other story was of a man who was an infdel. He was asked if he would go up on the top of high noun tain with beautiful nature all about him and there in the stiffness curse God. He, too, failed.
 Mir Gammack said the thought of life was truly terrible one, IL has set men insane. It has made other men taste the pleasures of the world in their desire to drown the thought Those only can look upon the serious ness of life and not fear it who have their trust In God.
 The preacher said 1t could be taken almost as automatic that the man who begins to argue about religion is neith- CT a Christian nor is he in a way to be made a Christian. He told story of the great evangelist, Moody, who, when he was in New Haven, was i preaching to crowded house one | HiSHts A ttlSbidNtu lHlutI 'dtlic liltp | the church and Moody was at once made aware Of the fact The infidel at once began to argue with his neigh bors according to his fashion Pay at tention to him." MT. Moody was advis- l cd in whispers But the celebrated evangelist consistently refused to do so. 1 saying to banter words with him would be worse than useless.
 When a man begins to argue with 1 you, then, about religion, said Mir, Gammack. "be sure that 1t will not do you good to argue with him or him any good to argue with you"
 In closing his sermon Mir. Gammack said he had one suggestion to make l to the members of his flock. It was a suggestion in line with his talk urging | them to have receptive mood to God. 1 Come to church a few minutes ear l ly," he said, "and get prepared for the service. Sit quietly and think When i the service does begin 1t vii. do you much more good. And anothei sugges- l ton might make would be that when ] you say your daily prayers you remain in silence, in a receptive mood for a minute at least before vol begin to pray. In that minute God can get into you, You will be in a receptive mood and He can do you, oh, so nlncl moro good,