The Newtown bee., 1909-01-01
The NeWtcM.:'n!, r, Bee.
 Newtown. Friday, January 1, lNO9.
SERMON

BY REV DR MARION BURTON
 PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF
 THE PILGRIMS, BROOKLYN
 PREACHED AT THE 0RDINA'
 TON OF REV B. F. INLAND IN
 SHERMAN.
 This occasion marks the beginning not only of a new pastOrate but thu official and ecclesiastical beginning O a new ministry. It seems peculiarl! fitting ard appropriate, therefore, tha we should devote our attention to thu consideration of that organization il and through which the minister of thu gospel is to toll. This is the timt and the place to consider the work O. the church.
 In Revelation, the second chapter ant seventh verse, we read:" He that hati an ear let him hear what the spiri saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will l give to cal of the tree of life." The author o1 the Apocalypse is uttering messages to the seven churches, and throughout these chapters there reverberates this appeal: "To him that overcometh. '' It occurs seven times, and seems to bear the burden of the seer's mes- sage. While addressed apparently to the individual, it is addressed to him as member of the church. The wri- ter pleads for a church that overcomes, that conquers. that wins the victory against its foes and assailants. We come naturally therefore, to the con- sideration of the theme: "The church that overcometh."
 The present condition of the church. But before we can rightfully appre. . eiate the significance of the overcom- ing church, and consequently the i'm. portance of our subject, we need to be. gin with actual life and to put before ourselves the facts concernng the pres. ent day church. And yet any attempt to do this, even imperfectiy, would carry us far beyond our time limita. tions. Consequently we are forced to generalize and in our generalization peculialy liable to err, for as a rule tc generalize is only to unjustly treat specific or individual cases. Conse- quently we must endeavor to speak ot but one aspect of the present condi tions of the church and to do so fully conscious of the inadequacy of the effort.
 With this predatory word let us then consider the popular conception of the church's present condition. II is TO new thought that church stock is decidedly below par. The church is under cloud. Various articles are published containing laboriously elab orated statistics to show the decline in church attendance and accessions, It is alleged that the church is losing it's grasp on the men and that the young people find little attraction with in it's walls. There is no need of citing here the statistical proot of these affirmations. It would only burden you. Likewise it is often asserted that an ever widening chasm exists be- tween the church and varied classes of society, while often the sweeping ac- cusation is cavalierly made that the church, has utterly failed to adjust it self to modern thought, conditions ant life. In fact, the present great wave of sentiment demanding high ethica standards in business and politics i! attributed to non-church forces.
 Moreover, the ministry is often char acterized as weak and inefficient, th' diminishing number of theological stu dents is widely depIored, the organi- zation, curricula and faculties of thu ological seminaries are attacked ant the assumed chaotic condition of theo logical science is deemed suicidal.
 Again, while this may be one aspect of the present condition of the churcl as reflected in popular opinion without the organization, it is of interest tc turn our attention to the inner spirit of the church and ask if we find any confirmation of this extreme opinion, Agaln we must emphasize the neeC of remembering that we deal here with one aspect of the church's life, But in general, is it not true that tEere is an all too willing admission and acceptance of these opinions and assertions? Is it not a fact that this popular opinion of the church is thor oughly believed by large numbers of church members that in many quar-