The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-09-17

.ce and convinced of the need for re-
sultful and helpful labor than she is
to-day.
The Protestant church Is In danger
If becoming priest-ridden-the worst
hat can befal the organization of the
shurch; ridden with priesthood
shorn Of compulsory authority and
In whom the authority of the Christ
Is too precariously admitted to re-
side. The laitv of Protestanlsm are
too largely guilty of hiring men to
10 their work for them-at salaries
On the average that are an insult to
he Lord whose work they send their
employees TO do--rather than of call
ing leaders whose business II shall
be to direct the energies. rebuke the
sins, vltalize the virtues, clarity the
thought. inspire the minds, intensity
the spiritual conceptions and percep-
tions OF the IONS of God who are
members of the church of Christ.
The church of Christ is full of men
and women who have their names
upon its rolls for no better, reason
han that It Is polite or proper or
polite or profitable socially and COM
mercially so to be enlisted. And the
consequence is that enthusiasm has
gone out Of the most of the meetings
Of the church, the gatherings for
nraver are generally so dry end cold
and uninteresting that they are a
distress to earnest pastors and a re-
lection not only upon the intelligence
and spiritual experience, but also
upon the gratitude of the church.
The reason for this is not far to
seek. The laity. and not infrequent-
ly the clergy, have been so busy seek
ing material success that they have
had no time to serve the Lord after
the manner of the Master. The dol.
lar has supplied so many wants that
men have ceased TO feel the pressing
need for spiritual supplies II has
Deen declared impossible for nation
10 believe Christ, disarm aud be pre-.
served against the rapacious agrees
sions of the armed. Business men
rave declared It impossible to follow
Christ and succeed. The best we
nave done. till very lately, in the
MANAGEMENT Of criminals has been
to Jail or execute them. The spirit
II the lex talonis-the lowest law of
Judaism-is rampant in the settle
ment OF disputes between nations and
nations. society and its members in
iividuals and their fellows. We have
forgotten the God of life in the ex-
cellency Of our liyings. We have
0rayed for reforms that we have
neither advanced expected or de-
sired. We have thanked God for the
might of His power while fearful to
trust His sufFclency against the on
slaught of Satan. We have talked
brotherhood and practiced an indi-
vidualism that has brought sorrow
where there is no need for aught but
joy, and strife where cooperation
would more thoroughly fulfil, the
plans of God, by and with the con.
sent-,tacit or active-of the church.
The situation cannot endure. The
church must reform or relinquish her
claim to primacy and to the prlvil-
eyes of leadership. Saying Lord,
Lord" will make her acceptable
neither to coming generations nor to
her bridegroom. Vain repetitions
are valueless to produce results. Ac.
ton only is qualified to transmute
Ideas into achievements. To do His
work we must do His will.
Jesus gives us a picture of the end
Of the institution or the man guilty
Of lip-se-vice or of lukewarm adher-
snce to the propagation of the truth
Not every one that saith unto Me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the king
dom OF heaven, but he that doeth the
will of My Father" He forecasts
the fate of those insincere and paltry
Christians who stand before Jehovah
at the great assiZe.
1t is to be hoped that Jesus pic
.ure Will not prove a photograph OF
is. 1t Is not necessary that 1t should.
We shall be recreant and without ex-
'use If it shall so prove to be. No
nan and no church need call upon the
Lord In vain. He who hath called us
md upon whom we call is both will.
ng aud able to perform through US
effective service for the welfare and
he salvation of individuals and the
ace. God summons us in Christ to
supreme labor. He provides contem.
)oraneouslv the power necessary to
succeed. He energies and verifes
and inspires and enthuses every soul
md every society that with high de.
sire and dedicated purpose calls upon
His name.
Not Lord, Lord" but Lord, here
I'm l, send me-" What wilt Thou
nave me to do?"
Brooklyn, y. Y.