The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-23
.SC0URCE Of EVIL
!. DEFENDER OF RIGHT
PREACHER Is PROPHET WITH LIv-
ING, BURNING MESSAGE TO
PEOPLE.
DR.. COOPER'S SERMON
MINISTER'S HAS RIGHT TO STAND
BEFORE GOVERNORS AND Leg
IsLATUREs AND DEMAND
GOOD LAWS.
DR.. COOPER'S SERMON


Rev. w. A. Coopers sermon at Central
Methodist church, in South Richmond,
last night.
He took for his special theme The
Christian Ideal Of the Church. or The
Function of the Ministry to Human
Society" In part. he said.
Il shall not attempt to give you
definition of the ideal church, but will
say that the definition as given 20 us
that the church is a body of faithful
men in which the pure word of God
lis preached and the sacraments are
duly administered is inadequate to
the needs Of a militant Christianity in
the twentiety century. BY the church
/ do not mean any one OF the great
communions. not any one of the de-
nonlin atoms, but organized Christian
ity.
The day Is long since passed for
churches to emphasize their denon.r-
ationaI differences or to dream Of
universal empire. The old days of
theological controversy and ecclesias-
teal strife Is passed away and new
and better day has dawned. The
powerful forces arrayed against the
church demand cessation of hos
tilities beween the different denomina-
tions and an approachment toward
greater unity. The churches see with
never be redeemed by their little de-
nominationaI doxies.
THE world today does not need an
officiaIized orthodoxy nor ecclesiastical
standards of belief that may become
"Procrustean" bedsteads to try the
faith of men. The attempt to COM
pei all men to think alike on the
ologcal subjects has always met with
defeat and has alienated thousands OF
from the church and
only hold other thousands of them
as mere nominal members because 1t
is proper" to belong to some church.
A Vital Force
THE church must recognize that
Christianity cannot be confined in
statement Of faith. Christianity is a
vital force. 1t is alive. 1t is new wine
wine skins Of creeds and confessions
Of officialized orthodoxy. What the
world needs today is an intelligent en-
thusiastic proclamation of the gospel
ef the living Christian human brother
mood.
The foes we face are strong, power
full. rich. entrenched in the hearts Of
the people. They are materalism,
'sensuaIity.' greed class hatred and
the 'merciiess struggle for wealth
The laws governing these forces
are the laws of the Jungle"
This is no time" declared Mr..
Cooper. for the church to waste her
energy in theological wrangling. Be
cause We have waited so long there are
millions OF people over whom the
church has no influence. Fifty per
cent OF the population not in any
church and tens Of thousands OF these
actually distrust the church
They openly charge the church
with being controlled by the ruling
classes and used by these to uphold
their special privileges; that the pulpit
is used TO lull the people to sleep in
this word with promise OF future hap
piness in another world that the only
message of the pulpit is be contented,
be contented: peace. peace, when
there is no peace
There are tens of thousands In the
churches, over whose lives the church
has little or no influence. The gospel
message is something to be entertain
ed with on Sunday, but is not prac-
teal working force on Monday. The
great trouble is that men fail to make
connection between the gospel they
profess and the life they live in So
ciety Being a Christian has not pre-
vented a man from paying low wages,
manipulating markets. adulterating
medicines and food products, wreck
ing banks, railroads and taking unfair
advantage of a competitor. running
sweat shops or working men in I'M
sanitary buildings
Being q Christian has not prevent
ed men from voting for corrupt men
for Office and receiving benefits from
corrupt practices; nor has being a
Christian prevented a man from seek
ing to control legislation for personal
gain.
Chase for Support.
Again, every preacher knows that
not one-half of the membership is
actively engaged in the work of hui
man redemption. 1t is hard oven to
support the church and suppers' and
fairs and entertainments have to be
resorted to for money. But the
church has q distinct function. II is
first, to promote the consciousness of
Gods presence in human life ard hui
man history. God is. He is a univer-
sal. just. loving Father The function
of Church is to bring God and man
together; TO promote the conscious
ness of Gods presence here and row
in Virginia. That He is real AMI not
merely a hypothesis.
ITO attempt to substitute creed
philosophy, high class entertain
ment. or ethical culture for this is
to give a stone for bread. 1t Is the
duty OF church to make men feel that
Goo is imminent In contemporary MIS-
tory; In the present struggle for
righteousness and the establishment
Of justice and brotherly love.
1T is the duty of the church to go
to the unchurched millions with this
message of Gods tmminence in the
world today and in their struggle for
Justice and love. The church must
be eyangelistic and cry aloud as John
Repent We, for the kingdom of God
is at hand
The church must show to the