Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-03-22
QUIT YOU LIKE MEN, BE STRONG.
by Rev. Roy M. Houghton-Why Men
Ought to Go to Church.

ought to GO to Churcn.
Reasons why some men do not attend
church, the excuses they give, reasons
why they ought to go and an appeal to
men to identify themselves with that
great moral and spiritual force constitut-
ed the substance of Rev. Roy NJ. Houg-
toms evangeistic sermon in the Con-
gregational church Sunday evening on
the theme, THE claims of the church
upon strong men," A congregation. of
$50 persons listened to the most vitaliz-
ing sermon in the series. Speaking from
the standpoint of a specialist in regard
to the things of the spirit, the speaker
said he wanted to state a few eternal
truths, but not in a censorious spirit. His
text was Cor &c. 49, Watch we, stand
fast in the faith, quit you like men. be
strong" These were words of st. Paul,
one of the most powerful personages in
history. man Is not strong In manliness
until he has found himself in Jesus
Christ. Strength in manliness has to do
with the moral nature. A man who can
not stand up to moral things is not
strong.
There are several reasons why man
needs the church, () He needs food for
the soul and the only place where 1t
can be found is in the Christian church
There is no other name under heaven
whereby we must be saved" The church
is the power house of the spiritual lie.
(2) Mans moral life needs constant
stimulus. We as moral beings come up
against evil all along our way. (S) Inc
churches are here and men are going TO
get a taste of religion in spite of them
selves 1t is dangerous to have smat-
tering of religion. Here, II anywhere, "a
little learning is a dangerous thing Inc
victorious man is he who is big enough 10
stand on both feet and talk ABOUT MS
religion.
If men need the church why are not
more of them in it? The strong men
are not out of the church. There are
more men in the Christian church than
in any other organization in the world,
but the average men are not idetified
with 1t as they should be. The speaker
then exploded some of the excuses he
had heard for not going to church. One
man said he was made to go when boy
and resolved not to go when he became
older Such men would have been spirit
ually worse off than they are now If they
had not been made to attend church. If
a boy doesn't go to church and Sunday
school while he is a boy he will not go
when he becomes a man. Other men say
they are too tired on Sunday morning.
Poor dears! Couches ought to be placed
around the church for them. Some say
they are not good enough. They might
as well say they were not going near the
water until they had learned to swim.
better. A man says he can be just as
good outside. Such a position is supreme
ly selfish. If everybody took that atti-
tude there would be no churches at all
Men say that they worship in the woods
among the birds and trees. Senseless
The only man who ever worshipped in
the woods was the Indian. Some say
that there are hypocrtes in the church
There are bad men in every business
Would banker give up his business be-
cause some other banker had gone
wrong? There are fewer bad men in
the church than in any other organiza-
ton in the world. Men ought to say, in
stead: Most of the best people l know
are in the church."
These are all fiimsy excuses. The
only two reasons why men stay away
are lazness and Indifference. The be-
nevolent and charitable people who are
doing the Christian work of service are
in the church. Not many men would
care to live in a community where there
was no church. Then why not support
it instead of making thrusts at it. Re-
move the churches and real estate in
Brattleboro would decline so per cent in
two years. Nothing brings so much joy
in community as the Christian church.
The things that put joy into life perma-
nently are those which are approved by
our Heavenly Father. Men are the eX-
amples by which boys build up their
ideals. Where men go boys will follow.
Any man can go with the drift, but it
takes strength to confess Christ. God
needs you and loves you The church is
daring you to come out and stand four
square for what is right.
The musical program included special
hymns by the chorus, a bass solo, "Out
of the Depth" Rogers. by Arthur l..
Clapp, a violin solo by C. NJ. Dugan and
a selection by male quartet
Ffty-six persons, including Sc men,
signed cards expressing a desire to have
their lives count on the side of Christ
and the church.