The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-01-18
One Thing
| Do
By Rev. E p. Reocad. Pas
ts q Church q Unity.
Springfield. Mass

TExT-But one thing 1 so.-Philipp ans |
sra
The lie OF 81. Paul is q oonspicu-
Gus example OF the power Of a fixed |
purpose. For years he was the most
hated ami 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 its persecution.
The same concentration OF effort and
focusing OF energy which gave us Saul
the prosecutor gave us also Paul 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 I'll. A large part OF the tragedy
and pathos Of the world comes from
the existence OF so many thoughtless.
purposeless lives. Talented men and
women fail to attain the goal to which
they aspire through too great dim
sion of effort and dissipation OF en-
ergy. In the field OF mechanics we
have the man who is jackof-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 he
gains any adequate idea OF why he Is
there and then looks back with regret
over a long array OF wasted opportu-
mites
The only remedy for the perversion
of many q good and wholesome instr
! 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 intrust
our children that system OF instruo
| 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 institu-
ton which makes the supreme end OF
its existence anything but the culti'
walton OF a religious spirit and the ap-
plication of that spirit to lie Is
sterile.
II 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 II
must enlarge its function and diver
sify its activity. II should champion
this phllanthrophy and espouse that
reform. Its ministers should become
EXPERTS IN scientific agriculture or In
economies or sociology. The critf-
cism may be Just II Is possible that
there has been too great a gulf be-
tween religion and life. between the
church and other human institutions.
IL Is well TOR the country minister TO
know something OF scientific farming
and for the city minister 70 know
something of economics and sociology
but for either Of them to regard this
az the essence OF his ministry and
therefore as the supreme business oil
the church would be nothing short oil
a calamity. The church has no right
TO become so deeply interested In sub
ordinate ends. and aims that II nes
iects the fathers business-the re
demption OF human life and OF human
society through the cultivation and
diffusion Of n genuinely religious spir
II and character.
The real test OF the worth OF any
church members is his ability to put
first things frst and keep them there
And foremost among these first things
"a the institution OF public worship
Church attendance is the first duty u
be entered upon and the last to os
given up. for Il is dynamic to then
all. With this duty fulfilled we shall
. be all the better prepared to serve II
other departments OF the associated
life of the church. This community
needs the service of a liberal CHRIS
, tian church. This church needs th'
services of liberal Christian men ant
, womeu These two needs must b'
/. met together or not at all. II we TAI
, in our duty to the church. the church
a must fail In its duty 10 the commu
. nity As we meet together after TIT
. vacation period can We not say Thi
one thing | do; by the grace OF Coz
. and with the strength that he ma
! given will do all in my power U
make this church more efficient lac
| Al. community and In tn