The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-05-24

Was the Plea Of Rev. J. p MacKenzie
to Fraternal Organizations,

"rhe duties and obligations Of Chris
tim citizenship" was the subject Of an
inspiring sermon delivered BY the Rev.
j. y. Mackenzie al the Presbyterian
church yesterday morning before large
delegations from Clan Gordon, No. IL,
Q. S. O. and the Ladies Of Clan Gordon,
who attended the service in body on
their annual church attendance IN body.
The service throughout was most enjoy
able, the music including a selection by
the chorus choir, a selection by male
puartette, and q solo by Miss Emma
Phillips.
Before beginning his sermon, the pas
tor said that he wanted to take this
occasion to express his thanks 70 the
parents for their cooperation IN main
tanning the high success of the Sunday
school, which he said was one Of the
most important factors Of the church.
Two weeks ago he said the attendance
at Sunday school was within one of the
record attendance in the history OF the
church, and he hoped with the continued
assistance from the parents OF the chill
dren 10 soon increase even that number
He also spoke in conqratulation to the
officers OF the two orders for the large
attendance Of their members at the ser
vice.
He took for his text Genesis os4, "And
the Lord said unto Cain, Where is thy
brotherg And he said / know not. Am
/ my brothers keeperp He said in
part Am my brothers keeperg was
the great qeustion asked by Cain who
knew not any Of the obligations Of broth
erhood, II was shown that Cain was his
brothers keeper and SO are we al our
brothers keeper. The Lord is the Keeper
Of all Of US, and He win guard and
preserve Us all from harm Every man
who is a member Of fraternal organiza-
tion to perform his full duty must be
greater than the order to which he be-
longs. There is a sense Of duty wider
than any organization and that is the
brotherhood OF all humanity God has
made us one great brotherhood and no
matter how we may divide ourselves and
though il is necessary that we should
concentrate our forces in organizations,
she or he IS a sister or brother unto
whomsoyer the opportunity comes to be-
friend.
No matter how great is our work IN
material things, there is a greater and
more important work IN the keeping of
our brothers. There Is no power like
the unselfsh life, The real service is
the desire to do good unto others Any
thing that is selfish or carnal should be
foreign to all fraternal organizations
We are called upon to keep our fellow
man from being lost unto himself, 10 his
country and to his God, and we must
do this by the power Of unselfshness.
"'Tis true that our efforts win not
always BE- appreciated, but we must not
be cast down The great thing for US
is TO be faithful wherever God has
placed us. We are our brothers keeper
in the maintenance Of Christian insti-
tutions There are mon and women hv-
ing under the shadof Of the churches,
yet deny them and live as If they were
not dependent on them for their well
fare. ] challenge any Of you to name
me place that is a safe community in
which to i've except where the Bible
and Christian institutions have been
sent. You OF the Ladies Of Clan Gordon
and clansmen be true TO the principles
Of your orders The only way we can
serve God is by serving onr fellowmen
and by keeping ourselves unspotted in
the world"