Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-19
In the Par1or.

Christ in the parlor and in the midst of
the great social gathering at the home in
Cana of Galiiee teaches that religion is
to be carried into the world. He did not
hold himself aloof from the society of his
day. He attended the funerals and we'd
ding feasts, graced the humblest places
with His presence and talked with the
people in their homes and places of bust
ness.
He went about everywhere seeking
communion and fellowship with men.
AS He did, SO should we do. This minis
try is not that we may please ourselves.
but please others, for even Christ
pleased not himself"
The great purpose and aim of sociability
should be helpfulness to others. and in
that endeavor comes the greatest blessing
to self. though that should not be the mo-
tive prompting the service given.
The Christians use of great opportunity
for advancing the cause of religion
through his contact with the social life
around him is in no way to decrease his
obligations and love for the church. I'm
less he is faithful in the observances of
the ordinances of public worship insti-
tuted by Christ, his influence for good is
proportionately weakened, in his contact
with the multitudes who are Indifferent to
the institutions of religion. But activity
in the Sabbath school and the prayer
meeting and punctuality in attendance
upon divine services do not constitute the
whole requirement of Christian service.
We have another imperative duty con-
corning those who are outside of church
circles. They can only be reached and in
fiuenced through the opportunities which
social intercourse affords. Christian So
liability, therefore becomes a matter of
the highest privilege and duty. The social
life is. indeed. the great arena for reN-
gious endeavor. How much shall we profit
by the lesson Christ's example teaches us
concerning the relationship of religion to
! social life? Shall We not strive to walk
in His footsteps as He went about every.
where doing good, and emulate that di-
vine sociability by which He gladdened
the hearts of publicans and sinners?
+
In the Heart.
OF all the people in the world. the
Christian should be radiantly sociable. II
is the morose. the taciturn, the gloomy
that shrink from society, but the Chris
tan cannot be rchurlsh, Grabbed crusty
ill-natured or surly tempered, for the
peace that passeth all understanding is in
his heart; neither can he be dumb. mute
or silent. for the joy that Is in his soul
will burst forth into song and praise
neither can he be dismal, melancholy OF
despairing. for promise and hope that is
ing or sorrow in the land whittier he
goeth. With such peace. joy and hope he
cannot be otherwise than genial and COM
panionable.
If there We're anything forbidding OF
gloomy about Christianity there might be
some excuse for it's adherents displaying
unsociability. But it is the very opposite
| of gloomy.
1T is the Christian only said Punshon
| that can thoroughly enjoy the world; tc
| him. to his grateful vision. earth is gar.
| landed with fairer beauty, heaven spar
kles with serener smiles; to him the land
| scape is more lovely because it reminds
! him Of the paradise of his hope in pros.
| pect. which his father once lost but
| which his Savior has brought back again
| as a family inheritance. forever; to hin
| the ocean rolls the more grandly becaus,
i 1t figures out the duration of his prom
Used life: to him the birds in their fores
minstrelsy MARBLE the more sweetly be
| cause their woodland music takes him up
| ward to the harpers harping with theil
\ harps in heaven; to him the mountain:
/ tower the more sublimely because thei
| heaven-pointing submits are the emblem
| Of his own majestic hopes"
| 1t Is contrary to all expectation or be
| lief for such a one to fail in the ameni
| ties and courtesies Of life. II we are no
| kind, courteous and companionable thu
| question may well be asked. Are w,
Christians at alp
We are not only to love and serve God