The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-10
CHURCH SHOULD
ATTRACT PEOPLE
DR.. Branscomb's Forceful Ser
mon at First Methodist
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
The Distinguished Pastor Advocates TIL
Liberal support of Innocent Church
Amusements 10 Attract the
People 10 Service
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Declaring that the church must kee
pace and actively compete with I'll
world in amusements. and that ever
church should provide the younger foil
with the ADJUSTMENTS that are til
longings of their hearts, was the KEEL
note of stirring sermon delivered ye
terday morning at the First Methodil
church by the Rev. DR.. l.. C. Bran
comb.
His text was from the parable of I'll
feeding of the multitudes by Chril
from the small commissary of III
loaves and fishes. And in comparirI
church should not turn the peopI
away through a lack of amusement
an entertaining nature, intellectual e |
ercise and a preparation for the init
tive of church brotherhood.
The sermon of Dr. Branscomb wi
featured throughout with brilliant pa
sages. In part he said:
People Are Fed
THE deciples of Christ after a d /
of arduous duty were fatigued. TIL
had been overwhelmed with the null
tudes that had been following Jesus H
several days One afternoon thI
reached the seashore and thinking
secure a few moments of rest the Il
ciples suggested to the Prince of Nd
that the multitudes be sent away 4
they could not feed them. 1t was Il
impression that food should be sous|
throughout the villages near about. 4
when this was made , known
Christ he asked them whatAthey p9l
sessed in the way of food. He was t
of the loaves and fishes. straightwl
He blessed the food and even the m
titudes We're fed.
Not caring to waste any of
! food many baskets were filled W
the food that remained.
when the deciples desired to II
from Him the fretful and crying bah
and would have done so He said, IS
fer the little ones to come unto
for of such Is the kingdom of heavs
Time and again He would place
disapproval upon any one discourage
the presence of persons.
EXACTLY opposite to this was the
perience of the rich man and a ru
When he came to Jesus every ave.
leading to Him was opened and he
no uncertainty of his way. Howe,
he did not secure a place in the CO
ellis of the Savior OF Men because
would not subscribe to the terms
down by Jesus.
People would have our Savior CO
ed into a place. They would tell
that so-and-so was His place and
should do His work. When one g
to church one readily declares that
is the place to meet Jesus. But w
many business man reaches his
flee or the court room or any place
commercial activities he shuts il
out and Will have none of Him.
Hungry Souls
II preach to you today that in
mingham there are hundreds OF hun
souls who would be glad to feel
presence of a real brother of
church.
Il tell you in the name OF our
that this church has a duty to
form as we grow greater and shf
which were commanded us to do.
should lift from the eyes of our
fortunate brother the veil OF unbt
and heathenism and show i'm the
to Christ.
Our forefathers were not scho
in the living Christ The ancient
tried to preach that Christ was
them alone and He sent out His
ciples to tell the whole world
Christ came for us. We should tn
fore send some of the sunshine OF
knowledge to those who are nov
darkness and show them the tn
of Christ which will cause then
come to His kingdom"
In speaking of the local work {
done. DR.. Banscomb said:
II thank God with all my heart
the workers of this church. They
doing a work Incompatible. How
we are like the preacher and the
The story is told that a preacher ps
boy one day whistling softly.
THE boy said: Mister, / can
you whistling.
"'Can you; we'll, then. let us
YOU? said the preacher.
1.-THE boy whistled and beat
preacher
THE preacher then said: I can
what you did. The boy was dou
and the preacher turned In and
him badly.
Then the boy said: Mister, II
could whistle that way what made
| do so bad at first?
THAT is the way here. We
| been doing a great work but CO
| better. In Birmingham are many
pie who would be glad to get 1:
| brotherhood circles of this class.
| feel the hunger OF fellowship.
should not decry theatres and the
| sustain in our own church Inn
programmes and amu0ements to
tain our young folk. They year
this and should be provided witht
us. We should try every means
every one interested In our ohuFc'
Sunday school. We should class;
affectionately and let them knOv
glad we are to have them.
There should not be suffered ~
portunity to escape to render
every encouragement We shon1
deavor to keep pace with Ne W
attract iveness OF a proper KIND
would have our younger po9D11
= y rs and give us those talent
l.i'i. lh. sre crninentiy blees(