The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-04-27

and ever receives recognition,
Someone doubtless would ask, or 10
now gsklng whether as a person OF
some experience, and In cold blood /
believe that this can really come true
IN this church.
Ny dear friends, ! have not taken
this text or this subject at random, ]
am not speaking OF thoughts which
hava suddenly come Into my mind. |
am perfectly sane. ! know whom |
am speaking to, / have asked this
question because ] desire to answer II
and because II Is fundamental. ! have
not asked II because we have espcc-
tally sins to forgive.
II is perfectly possible, perfectly
practical, and really easy to be done.
1t not only can come. but 1t must
come, and 1t will come, II means a
struggle and doubt and the charge
that 1t is merely another appeal to
nero sentiment. But as ] have told
you sentiment rules this world. All
that you have to do Is to form this
sentiment or purpose In your own mind
form resolution In your mind con-
corning your relatives or friends or
fellow church members that when the
opportunity comes you will forgive
them any wrong they may have done
you, and also that you will let them
know and feel that this Is your purpose
and desire. You determine that you
will come to this church to pray and
receive the sacrament on that basis
and YOU will not come here without
| that purpose and the work Is done. All
forms Of development and method VIII
care for Themselves. Does anyone pre-
tend to say of this church that It's
members are not manly or womanly
enough and strong enough Christians
to do this; that II the welfare and
power Of this church depends upon SC
doing they VIII not find way to dc
Il. | know that this is not true. | know
that the pettiness and jealousy which
often develops In church work does not
represent the real man or woman.
am perfectly convinced that the RICH
appeal 70 moral and spiritual greatness
will find an abundant response from
the heart and life Of most OF you.
speak plainly when say that we have
formed such a habit of speaking of th'
petty and the small and the meal
things that many have come to believ
that theee things represent the peopl
In this church. II Is the sin of thi
church and II Is as false as anythni
can be. It must stop or II Will ruiz
US. This is n church where we preacl
the forgiveness of sin and Chrlstia,
fellowship one with another and It
members are perfectly capable of an,
willing to practice this.
And the second thing is that W
should find in the church of God some
thing which we cannot find In tn
world. It Is folly TO make distinc
ton between material and numerical
strength and spiritual power. The
must in many ways go hand in hand
A decaying church can never represen
the full power of spiritual things. TIL
} element of zeal and earnestness is like
~ to be lacking. But TO allow you
church to even In your mind, TO liv
and work for material success alone
fatal We must work for materia
success and moral power. Men mus
find some Inspiration for worship an
service in spiritual things to ever ca
fourth their real devotion. The truet
minds forever dislike to associate III
eternal God and the life to come. wit
/ petty disagreements and selfish an
worldly purposes. All strong me
I know and understand that churc
l members and clergymen are but h,
Q man, with all the frailties which 8
= with human nature; but they do M
I care TO hear these things emphasize
{ and unduly discussed In the church.