Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-10-24
IS THE CHURCH A MENDIcANT?
BY REV. HARLAN PAGE CoRY.

Is the church a mendicantf
 By this I mean, Is the church a dependen pauper!
 Is it to be classed among the charities!
 Is its claim to support simply upon the basis of benevoence!
 Is it beggar, appealing for support without rendering any equivalent?
 Or, is it an almoner, does it give value re ceived at least, for all that it costs to maintain it?
 Does its claim for support rest upon its valu, as public institution9
 To a considerable extent the sentiment pre- vails that it is public charity; that money given to the church is simply so much money given away. This is evidently mistaken idea
 In the first place, what the church stands fol makes it worthy of adequate support.
 The church stands for the idea of God as practical force in life; for the sense of obliga tion to God as motive of righteousness hon esty, purity, industry, altruism and brotherli ness.
 Common law grew out of the ten command ments. Therefore, public safety, favorabl, business conditions, elements of perpetuity il the social fabric, and the sacred influences tha gather about the home are directly traceable tt the principles for which the church stands anC for the prevalence of which the church is largely responsible.
 Let anyone ask himself the question: How would like to live in community where ther, were no churches and where none of the princi ples for which the church stands prevaila
 The longer one dwells upon that question tn, greater will the value of the church bulk in his mind. It is easy to realize the aptness of the story of the company of sailors who were ship wrecked on what was supposed to be canniba island. After many days of hiding until they were on the point of starvation, one of theil number climbed to the top of hill to survey conditions in the valley that lay beyond Wher he reached the top of the hill, he threw his hal into the air and shouted: "Come on, boys we 'rt all right here s churchg' There isn't mar or woman in Globe, but would feel the same way
 Besides these general principles for which the church stands many specific items might be mentioned
 For instance, there is the intellectual value of the church. It would be hard to find a greater thought guidance than the pulpit The solidity and practical value of the themes discussed: the range and variety of the discourses presented and the continuity of its influence week by week these place the church in the front rank as ar intellectual influence
 Another item is the social influence. The church has always stood as bulwark against socal practices that endanger the moral char acter of the people. It's influence is always fo, elevated and advanced social conditions. It is a center for healthful and normal social life. IT extent of influence no other on institution sur passes it and in quality of influence none eoual, it.
 Many other items might be mentioned. sucl as It's safeguarding of the young at the forma tive period in their characters; its important place in social reform movements; its inestima be value as a dispenser of charities as seen ir It's orphan asylums, it's hospitals, it's settle ments, and the vast amount of individual chari ties due to its teaching and influence Just on. more item deserves mention, the most important of all, viz. the preaching of the gospel of Jesu, Christ; the instilling of the word of God. where by lives are transformed and put upon new center to work out the process of growth into godlkeness. The value of this is infinite. anf the fact that the church is the channel for ;t makes the world the dependent and the recipient of benevolence
 Therefore, the claims of the church for sun port for equipment and for facilities for worl