Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1911-02-23
The Church and The World.

yoa heard from pulpit in Willisms- ,
burg and some comments by your
self.
1t is obviously unjust to single out
one sentence heard IN a sermon and
eri6cise it. One sentence is not a
sermon, nor can il sum up a sermon
that's worth hearing. NV criticism,
therefore. is not OF the sermon but
OF the sentence as you quote it-"If
I were soliciting money to aid
poor family in Williamsburg the
man should approach first is not a
member OF any church 4"
This comparison OF the church |
and the world is as old as the church
perhaps. But II comes. as a rule, |
from the world and not from the |
church.
Thousands o. men who are out OF
the church and by their manner OF
lite ought to remain outside until
they are converted, bring up this as
reason for not uniting with the
church, These men point to some
weak brother who is an unworthy
msmber-PeThaps the sorrest OF the
10: and call him the church.
Vita like injustice they have in
mind some kind hearted man OF wo-
man. Ike the one thought of BY the
preacher. and praise his OF her good
qualities as those OF the world.
This IS not only an unjust mode
Of comparison but 1 accuse any man
OF insiuoeri1y who proposes il.
Now We truly admit that the
church has men aid women among
its membership who are unworthy
and are worse than many who have
never mace any profession. This
Is true OF every organization. The
lodges have men who are untrue,
90 have the frsteTniuss OF every
KIND. Is this an argument against
rhemP There are bank officers who
nave proved unworthy and have
gene 70 prison foI their dishonesty.
Shall 80 say therefore that banks
sse dishonest institutional
Yes. We admit that there are hyp-
ocntss IN the church but for all that.
the church is a collection o. tie
highest type OF manhood the world
has ever seen and known; this fact is
recognized by the men OF the world
The c-urch CT Jesus Christ mas the
eighest spiritual characters in Il.
Men OF the broadcast intelligence and
ksenest intellect are her products.
Her sons stand for honesty 10 bu J.
ness and purity in politics and as 70
her homes they are the models fol-
the world. AS in the past, 50 is she
today. and her sons are sought after,
fhev are the men who are doing the
7est ard noblesi things the ~orlo
ices. Take the men OF the pas
and who are occupying the position.
OF trust throughout our great repub-
liz an6 they are men OF the church
The leading political refOrmers oil
today are sons Of ministers and non,
VIII question their worth. Here az,
> their names: Harmon. OF Ohio
Folk. Of Missouri; Wilson. of Nes
Jersey; and Hughes. o. New York
Grover Cleveland was also z minis
,er's son and the most prominen
governors OF the union are LEADING
men OF the church.
Yes. some men OF honesty an,
true worth. men OF high type, ar
outside OF the church. But there ]
one debt they owe and are not pay
iug. this fact makes this question
pertinent. Can a man Be honest an,
pay al &c owes when Il is in hi
power 70 pay alp We say ther
are many men OF lofty characte
outside OF the church. but what Ia
made them what they areS Ar
they wiling 70 say the church Ia
had no hand in creating their char