The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-03-15
The Church, It's Benefits


the Methodist church Sunday morn
ing to hear Rev. Graham on his an
nounced subject. The Church, its
Origin, Organization and Benefits. !"
The text was from Col. /: Is.
"And he is the head Of the BODY
the church. He said in part:
''The word church is quite eIasti
We say Are you going to church,
meaning to preaching. The word
also applies to the building. Then
we say the church will give an en-
tertainment, meaning people. We
speak Of the Methodist church.
Presbyterian, ETC.. referring to an
organization. All believers taken
as body-are called the church,
and we have the church militant
and the church triumphant. But
the church is an organization of
true believers where the word Of
God is preached and taught and
where the sacraments are admins
tered.
"Some tell US they just take the
bible. but this is not sufficient be-
cause there is no band that has not
exceeded its methods Of teachings.
Jesus gave 20 systematic instruc-
tions simply fundamentals. He
gave no model of organization-we
only know that they met for pray
ers, ETC., in an upper room. The
bible says nothing about Sunday
school, and, isn't it strange? no.
thing about young peoples societies
that are doing such good work; no.
thing about Y. M. c. AS. that are
saving thousands every year; no.
thing about women's work; nothing
about mid-week prayer meeting.
Most of the useful. helpful methods
we have to-day were not mentioned
by Jesus. He simply got together
a band of believers drew them to
him by such bands that nothing
could separate them. He said 10
them take these doctrines, go out
into the world and preach them.
He left them to use their good
sense, their better judgment, as to
how they should get hold of the
people. He brought life and i'm
mortality to light we are to- use
these in accomplishing results.
What did he want the church
for? He knew we were social be-
ings. and would band together to
carry forward his work. Politicians
organize their followers in order to
influence the people. Our school
system would not stand without Or
ganization. The church should not
be behind it should use her best
talent in planning its campaigns.
What are the benefits of the
church? Its general influence
is the greatest instrument for good
in the world to-day. In its Sunday
schools thousands of children, who
are to become future citizens, are
Developed and rounded in charac-
ter. Its schools, hospitals, temper
ance work, homes. prison reform
work, are of inestimable value to a
community and to the world. It
has ever blazed the way for better
things. It's ministers are leaders in
all reform movements. When the
legislator wants pressure brought to
bear to pass a good measure or de-
feat a bad one, his appeal is to the
better element through the church.
It is of great value in relation to
the social welfare of the commun-
ity- hearing the word preached
prepares the mind for better things
helps US do better the duties of the
week.. 1t has refining influence
on the community.
ut is the business of the church
to preach the word Of God at all
times. If she fails to do this she is
falling below her privileges, her
calling. The church is of divine or
igin-"On this rock ! will build my
church." Jesus is the head what
kind Of a body has he? AS the
head controls the body. what kind
does he want? He wants a good
body healthy, strong. immovable,
incorruptible, blameless, clean -
and one that he can command. Be-
cause the world is influenced, moved
by the specimen. The church, the
body, is spoken of as the Bride, and
he who desires a bride seeks one of
clean, virtuous character. We, the
bride, the body, are to stand at the
marriage altar and be united to
Christ. that he may present it the
Bride unto himself. And is the
church as a body measuring up to
the standard, making due allowance
and taking into consideration hu-
man frailties, weaknesses, heredity,