Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-05
BY BISHOP
w. A. GAMBLER

the church because it remains true
to this supreme function of rescuing
the perisning, the fault is with such
multitudes and not with the church.
The mob which Jesus fed with the
multiplied loaves and fishes turned
away from him when he began
teaching them about the bread from
heaven-spiritual bread. st. John
notes the result of that preaching in
these words: From that time
many of his disciples went back and
walked no more with him." (John
vi: 66). Their chief interest in Christ
was not that he might save their
souls, but that he might fill their
stomachs. Simon Peter explained
that the twelve apostles refused to
go away with the carnal multitude
because he and his associates were
held to the Lord by spiritual bonds
as strong as life itself, saying, Lord
to whom shall we go? Thou hast the
words of eternal life" Men of to-
day, like the coarse and vulgar mui-
titude who then turned away from
Jesus because he would no longer
fill their stomach for them, will turn
away from the church for similar
reasons; but their departure is a
credit to the church, and not a thing
for which it is to be blamed.
The church can not compete with
the saloon and the theatre and the
dance hall and the Sunday concert in
Offering carnal attractions to a null
titude which finds no satisfaction in
spiritual things, but is content with
nothing except feshly pleasures. 1t
is silly to ask the angel of the
church to lay down her heaven-tuned
harp and forget the celestial strains
that become her high and holy char
acter in order to engage in a i'd
ding match with a view to arresting
the attention of a frivolous and un-
spiritual multitude bent on earthly
qualifications.
The office of the church is not to
entertain the world on one day in
the week, but to save the world
from sin on all days IN the week.
1t is the veriest ecclesiastical
charlatanry when a church or a
preacher descends to che office of a
mere entertainer in order ito draw
a crowd. An organ-grinder with a
dancing monkey, brought into a
greater such drawing might be
the greater would be the damage 10
men and the dishonour to the
church. And there are performances
enacted in some churches at the
bidding of carnal critics which
have no more relation to the work
of saving human souls than does
the work Of an organ-grinder with
his monkey. In fact. one sees lit
tie oftener than is agreeable an in
undated preacher, dominated by
the tyranny of a choir-master, who
irresistibly suggests the organ
grinders monkey. Alas! in such
case how are the mighty fallen!
Let it be asserted in the face or
all the censures of its senseless and
censorious critics that the church
was never more abundant in its
activities, more tender in its minis
tries, or more successful in its
work than it is today. And the
true church is not going 70 take
its orders from the world. II pro-
poses to maintain its allegiance
to it's Lord and accept commands
from no other authority. IT is going
tn fulfill it's high commission to
preach the gospel to every crea-
ture", and let all men know (the
critics Of the church as well as ali
the rest of mankind) that me that
believeth not shall be damned.
mark xvi:16). Let him who dares
deny it.