The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1912-02-02
One Thing
| Do
BY Rev. E. P. Record. Pas
tor Of Church Of Unity,
Springfield. Mass.

: TExT-But one thing do.-Philippians
3:13.
The life of st. Paul Is conspicu-
Gus example of the power OF fixed
purpose. For years he was the most
hated and feared Of all the enemies
of the infant church. And yet when
converted to the new faith he be-
came as ardent In its advocacy as he
had been jealous in it's persecution.
The same concentration OF EFFORT and
focusing of energy which gave us Saul
the prosecutor gave us also PAU the
apostle Take away this power OF
concentration and he might have held
the same convictions. but they would
have been powerless for either good
or ILL A large part OF the tragedy
and pathos of the world comes from
the existence of SO many thoughtless,
purposeless lives. Talented men ana
women fail to attain the goal to which
they aspire through too great d1nu-
sion Of effort and dissipation OF en-
ergy. In the field of mechanics we
have the man who is 1ack-of-alltrades
and consequently good at none. In
business we have the industrial vaga-
bond who drifts from one position TO
another and never makes good In any
one. In college or university life we
have the student who comes almost TO
the end of his college career before ne
gains any adequate idea Of why he IS
there and then looks back with regret
over O long array Of wasted 'opportu-
mites.
The only remedy for the pervers1on
of many a good and wholesome insti-
tuition is the concentration of all ones
powers and faculties upon what Is
vital and essential to the institution
itself. AS we open the doors OF our
public schools we need to remind our
selves and those to whom we intruse
our children that a system OF 1nstruc-
ton which stores the mind with facts.
but fails to impart strength OF VIII
and strenuousness Of purpose Is bar
rem. And as we open the doors OF our
Sunday schools and churches we need
to remember that a religious instltu-
ton which makes the supreme end OF
It's existence anything but the cult
walton of a religious spirit and the ap-
plication of that spirit to life Is
sterile.
1t is often said that the church
keeps itself too remote from human
life. that it does not concern itself
sufficiently with the practical details
of everyday life We are told that 1T
must enlarge it's function and diver
sify it's activity. 1t should champion
this philanthropy and espouse that
reform. It's ministers should become
EXPERTS in scientific agriculture or in
economics or sociology. The crltl-
cism NAV be Just. 1t is possible that
there has been too great a gulf be-
tween religion and life, between the
church and other human institutions.
It is we'll for the country minister TO
know something of scientific farming
and for the city minister to know
something of economics and sociology,
but for either of them to regard this
as the essence of his ministry and
therefore as the supreme business OF
the church would be nothing short or
a calamity. The church has no right
to become so deeply interested IN sub
ordinate ends, and aims that 1t neg
lects the fathers business-the re-
demption of human life and OF human
society through the cultivation and
diffusion of a genuinely religious spir-
If and character.
The real test of the worth OF any
church members is his ability to put
first things first and keep them there.
And foremost among these first things
Is the institution of public worship.
Church attendance is the first duty to
be entered upon and the last to be
given up, for it is dynamic to them
all. With this duty fulfilled we shall
be all the better prepared to serve in
other departments OF the associated
life of the church. This community
needs the service of liberal Chris
tan church. This church needs the
services of liberal Christian men and
women. These two needs must be
met together or not at all. Ii we fail
in our duty to the church. the church
must fail in its duty to the commu-
nifty. AS we meet together after the
vacation period can we not say, This
one thing L do; by the grace OF God
and with the strength that he has
given | will do all in my power. to
make this church more efficient fac
tor in this community and in the
world"