The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-18

good music, and evening and mid-week
services well attended because there
are 70 be Illustrated sermons.
In the audience there would be the
same reverence there is in the theatres,
no hats would be in evidence, and
therefore more men would be present!
Instead of pulling away from the
church then real live men and young
people would throw themselves into
church work with new enthusiasm,
there would be electricians volunteer
ing to run the picture machine, and
doctors to look after the sick, and
business men to take care Of the poor
and distressed.
When 1t came to civic or social ques-
lions, most Of them would be solved by
this kind Of church. The amusement
question among the young would be
answered in the best way. Reform
would have intelligent minds ready
prepared. Talk about the holy wars OF
the past! Why there are holy wars Of
the future to be waged yet. The slaves
or the sixties have been liberated but
what Of the white slaves? What OF
the curse of ugliness and uncleanness
In our cities? What of the blots Of
liquor and brothel upon our fair land?
"ONAu NC d pIOpeE DdSlS III IlLllC
through such social work for a city
beautiful, where no unclean thing
cometh to defile what is fair.
Now are you saying, THAT is CHI
mertcal. God never wanted the church
to do all that" The church will do all
of that and more. Remember, oh, we
observers of custom, of fasts, and of
rites, that the gospel began not in
houses with steeples and bells, and
priests, and stately services, but in the
open air among the neglected and IN
churched multitudes! Recall that il
was not such formal and imposing
worship that has advanced that same
| gospel to where it stands today, bat
that it was men whose hearts were oa
fire, preaching in school houses and On
cross roads the spiritual truth of
Christ. Methodists and Baptists have
done pioneer work, and without such
labors among the multitudes no other
kind of churches would have been pos
sible in America. Some one says, THE
Methodists get a fellow out of the
ditch, Baptists wash him, Presbyter-
| ians starch and iron, and the Episco-
palians put the frills on him.!
1t is evident that God did not want
| all men to continue to observe the
forms Of Judaism, for those things
were done away and the Holy City de-
stroyed. And these observances only
| suit people of certain turn of mind,
! and taste, and education. Whereas,
| the gospel was suited to all men every
| where. That is the spiritual content
| of the gospel. We can understand
Christ just as we'll as if we had lived
| in Palestine. and it is possible, even
better. His heartbeat is felt around
the world, and it has not been the
ecclesiasts who have recognized it Of
| tenest-
If there be any universal. lingering
| human demand for Holy days, then the
Christian has that in the simple, often
recurring, primeval Sabbath, made
| holy by the Creator, sanctioned by
Christ, and enjoined as a day of rest
and worship. If there be a demand
for visible ordinances and spectacular
In religion, then Jensus has provided
that in two simple ordinances. baptism
and the memorial supper. What God
has ordained let no man change or pu-
away! 1t is. in its simple and divine
form, suitable to all men in every ma
ton. If it be cramped into observ-
ances, and fasts, and creeds, and
rituals, it will unchurch thousands who
have no taste for mummery but who
demand the pure milk of the word
! Let US therefore fast in heart and life
and pray in the secret of our cham
| bers, but beware of the leaven of &c
clesiasticism which is not good leaveu
Do not let others know that you fast
but let your good works be known OF
all men.
The stereopttcon lectures in ceIebr,-
ton Of the tercentenary of the Kins
James Bible will be given in this
church two nights this week. This
will also conclude the "wednesday
evening series on the great events II
the life Of Christ which have been =
progress at the First Baptist churcf
for six weeks. known as Short Talks
The stereopticon lectures will be giver
by DR.. Chas. P. Hall, at the request
of the Ministers Association of Pensa-
cola DR.. Hall owns these pictures
and made them himself while pastor :.
Connecticut, and the committee which
examined them for this purpose pro
nounces them the most complete an
splendid series on the subject in eX.
istence. The lectures will be given n
s o'clock promptly, the nights to be
named as soon as the outfit can be
tested, perhaps the first one being
. Wednesday night.