Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1912-02-12
Rev. Charles H. Ricketts, Speaks on
Passion for the Kinadom.

AT the Congregational church Sun
day morning Rev. Charles II. Ricketts,
preached on Passion for the Kingdom,
taxing his text from Rom. 1871, "Breth-
rem, my hearts desire and PRAYER to
saved"
He said in part:
This sentence is Characteristic of
PauIs spirit. 1t shows that he had
passion for the kingdom. 1t was quite
natural that the Kingdom nearest his
heart was that of mis- own countrymen
knowing the man as we do, it is not
strange that ne pOurs out his heart for
the salvation Of those who are near
and dear to him. He bent every fibre
OF his great mind and will to whatever
ne undertook.
To my mind there is no doubt that
Fauls great success was due to this
great characteristic more than to any
thing else. And, after all, is it not the
secret OF every mans success? Let
anyone read that long catalogue of
hardships which Paul endured for
Christ's sake and then dispute if he
can the apostles place among the
worlds heroes. There is only one ra-
tlonA explanation of this great career
and that is that st. Paul had a pas
sion for the kingdom as it had been
revealed to him in and through the
person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul
had a great ideal before him and that
was to make people see the reasonable
demand that Jesus Christ had upon
them and that he was Lord above all
Lords by the side Of whom local di-
whites were not only provincial but
dWarfed into utter insignificance. Paul
CnnnehdH6 Safa t1Ii Va
ceeded. by letting his ability and gen
ius Oe touched with inspiration; in
faE1ing an intense passion for some
great thing that was worthy of his
best effort. There Is the same idea in
other departments of life; it has al
ways been perfaot passion for a Ger
tain definite thing thai has urged g
man to give time and strength to the
exclusion of all else that has brought
/ the highest success.
Let us now apply this same thought
! 10 church life. How is the church to
meet with the same measure of sue
! cess that is found in other things ?
There is no secret here scarcely any
problem. Paul the apostle found out
| tho secret centuries ago and solved the
| problem. What the church needs to-
day more than anything Is material tc
work with And this material is not
self productive any more than cotton
and wool are self productive. A quick
glance over the average morning con-
gregation shows that the base of sup
ply needs to be bolstered up. The
church needs to be live recruiting
station In which new soldiers are to be
mustered into the service Of the Lord.
Now l have q little plan whereby va
may boom this church if we will If
from the Men and Religion Forward
Movement, we can carry out the plan.
1t was suggested al the meeting of the
standing committee last Thursday, and
that is to divide the standing commit
tee into department heads to have
charge Of the different phases Of the
church work; to create new interest
along the various lines of ordinary
church work. I would have this sec
ton of the city. carefully mapped out.
] would have every non churchgoing
family located. | would discover what
may be the social conditions of that
family. it's hindrances and possibili-
ties. I would have the claims of this
church presented so as to make it APP
pear as worth while. If any family
should express a preference to some
other church, ! would put them on the
track Of said church. l have held for a
long time, and still hold, that if the
people went to church as they do in
Toronto. Canada, or as they used to in
Rockville, the cry about too many
churches would disappear will ad-
NIT that at present judging from
church attendance. there are too many
churches But let us see what the
condition would be If all Protestant
people did their duty in going to
church. Now. then, have we as mem
bers Of this church a passion for souls
and the kingdom of God? If not, why
not get It by first getting ourselves
right in the sight Of God? You know
what Andrew did when he found the
Lord; he first findeth his own broth
err" He wasn't satisfied to receive the
glory until he had shared it with
somebody else. When we get into this
state We shall show the same spirit
that Paul did when he wrote: "Breth-
rem. my hearts desire and prayer to
God for Israel is that they might be
saved