The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-01-30
Get the lash.

do you spend Sunday? What real good
do you get from the lazy habit OF loafing
on this day? What good comes to you
If you use it planning the work Of next
week? Why not turn over a new leaf
and answer the nationwide call for
"Go-to-church-s Sunday.
This call comes out Of the very heart
of things. 1t comes not 50 much from
the ministry as itcomes from the hearts
OF the very people who have and are
neglecting sacred privilege. 1t is a
call from the heart Of every Ameri-
can institution. 1t is demand OF our
better selves arising from the inner con-
sciousness OF our neglect for the only
institution in the world which stands
solely for religion, morality, spirituality
and larger life.
One Of the ancients said: AS well
attempt to build house without founda-
tions as to build a city without the
gods" One OF the leaders Of the French
Revolution said: If the French nation
had no system of religion / would de-
wise one for them" The one thing
which has inspired every worthy ambi-
ton in the American nation, fostered
every noble purpose, and crowned our en-
terpriscs with glory, has been God in the
American soul. Who would live in any
town in which there we're no churches
or church influences Would you? II
SO hold up your hand.
Our churches stand for good morals,
clean government, virtue and righteous
ness. They are messengers OF God
holding forth the word OF God to way
ward humanity Their teachings pre-
sent the standards OF higher living and
they are a constant restraint from evil
to their adherents. The church has
ever been the birthplace Of the worlds
noblest manhood. Christianity as pre-
sented by the church has laid the foun-
dalton OF nearly every great educational
institution in our nation. They have
introduced and fostered the spirit Of
benevolence. In vain do you search for
an almshouse, asylum, orphanage or
hospital in the paganism before the adj
vent OF Christ and bis church.
The church has always been the cen
ter of social life in the community. In
her house Of worship our young people
have formed their acquaintance and at
the affairs OF the church they have been
married. Here have thousands met the
unveiled face OF the glorified Lord to be
transformed into his image. In the
church hope has been awakened in dark
and Respondent hearts. Destroy the
church and you destroy the very heart
which throbs life through our civiliza-
ton. Most OF us recognize these facts
to be true. Then why through your
indifference STAY an influence which is
for good to every home and heart.
One minister reports that Of large
membership he has never seen fifty per
cent OF the members present at any one
service. This is largely true OF all. Do
those who neglect the church refuse any
longer to say they are believers? No,
not by any means. You accuse them
Of such thought aud they will fly into
your face. Is their absence to be ac-
counted for on the ground Of inefiiciency
Of the ministers. Ask them and they
will tell you the present day minister is
more thoroughly equipped even than
those who before them in former genera
tions. We had as we'll make clean
breast OF the whole thing and say:
I'VE have gotten out OF the habit, be-
come interested more in business and
social life and do not care for the mes
sage OF the church, z or what more is
nearly the TRUTH i am too lazy to drag
my stupid limbs to the Lords house,
Wonder il we ever thought OF this
fact: II every other person was just as
Indifferent that the church would die?
Ii takes people to make church and
every other man has just as much right
to indulge his indifference as yourself.
Come Union Citians and let's fill all
the churches on next Sunday morning.
You will find the preacher a little sur,
prised that we are there but he will
preach the best sermon you have heard
il years. You viii get an uplift that
viii help you in your work all the week.
The songs Of Zion are the most beautiful
songs in the world and they are sung by
the sweetest singer. Did you ever stop
to think that there are voices in every
church in this town that could COM