The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-02-21

John Watson says, "a sermon should
be suited not to the Inhabitants of
Mars, but to the jewellers on this
EARTH" The loving, earnest, tactful
preaching of divine truth will not
fail to arrest and hold the attention
of men. This is the preaching which
the present age demands.
Another thing; mel should be
more used in church than they are.
There is a tendency in many churches.
to rely too much on women to con-
duct the affairs of Gods house, in
stead of pressing men into this SER
vice, that they may bear their share
of the work and responsibility. Wo-
mans societies in the church are
common and they are indispensable
too. But why should not mems So
cieties in the church be the rule
lIioISSN VI IL SASCpI4OI. Liz CluICll
needs the active services of both
men and women. What we are say
ing is no disparagement upon wo-
mans work in the church. No one
values more highly than we do her
noble influence in the Christian ac-
Invites of the times. But she should
not be called upon to do ALL this.
work Every man should feel his
individual responsibility to render
the same kind of service for the glory
of God and the supremacy of right
euosness in the world. And we have
that much faith in men that we be-
lieve they would do more work of
this kind, if they we're more relied
upon to do it:
Many Christian people are too
much influenced by the impression
that men cannot be reached. If it
is difficult to meet men in their
homes, let them not be socially neg
lected. They can be visited in their
places of business, even If it is but
for a moment or two. The personal
influence Of the minister or of an
interested church member means a
good deal even to a busy man.
The fact is, the church needs men
and men need the church. Christ
planted his church in the world to
save men as we'll as women, and
there can be no substitute for the
church. Secular and ~fraternal. So
cieties have their place; but they
cannot fill the place Of the church
which is the only institution on earth
that has been divinely ordained for
the salvation of the soul and the de-,
velopment of Christian character.
Men cannot, therefore, ignore the
church without seriously wronging
their higher nature. q"
Through the teachings of the
church men are invited to rise from
materialism to the spiritual. Fathers
are invited to set a noble example to
their children in moral and Christian
living. The church wisely enpha-
sizes the Importance of the spiritual
over the animal nature, and urges
men to respect the claims of God
upon them, and to live lives of faith
and prayer and obedience to the
divine will. The man who does not
recognize the claims God has upon
him, is not honoring his best self,
nor is he fulfilling the divine pur-
pose in his creation. No neglect is
SO serious as the neglect of ones
soul interests.
1 would that this message could
be heard by every man who is in
different as to spiritual things; for it
is sad to think how much the spirit
ually careless are missing. The call
to a religious life is a call to the
greatest power, to the highest honors,
to the richest experiences, to the no
blest manhood, to the most perfect
freedom. Happy is the man who
obeys that call. Happy is the man
who stands up boldly for the truth
and Righteousness, remaining firm as
a rock amid the currents Of skepti-
cism and worldliness and business
temptations and evil associations
that sweep threateningly around him.
I tell you. there is no grander hero
under the stars.
Men are fighting hard battles in
the great world Of business, and they
i mood God t4 h01o <h0~ 0NN>., go
forced out into the cruel strifes of
traffic and trade. into the temptations
of the street, into the complications
of business and into the atmosphere
that In hliohfino fo thu .oll.lo..