The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-06-02
KINGDOM Of GOD
IS ABOUT Us
SAYS CLERIC
Rev. Henry Casters Foroeful
Sermon at Opening Services
of Episcopal COnvocatiOn at
st. Johns

of Episcopal COnvooatiOn al
st. Johns
Win a solemn celebration OF th,
Holy Eucharist tho anuual %conVocl.
ton of The Protestant Episcupa.
church 10 New Mexico and Texas wt5
90 the Pccos river opened ut 50 john.
church this morning ut 30 o'cloek
IT. Rev. Frederick - Howdcn. bishoi
Of New Mexico. was the cclcbrhnt
ana Archdcacon Warren, rector Of ~
Johns, was server.
sermon by Mr.. Faster.
Rev. Henry Easter. rector Of 81.
Clements church. ~ pasu. preached
the sormon His text was Acts ia.
Appearing unto them by the space
Of forty days, and speaking OF the
things pertaining To the Kingdom of
God" He said In part:
The phrase Kingdom of God" has
undoubtedly several meanings In the
Gospels, but as used In our text Il
unquestionably means tho church Of
Christ, the kingdom 81 heaven upon
earth, the visible society of those who
have acknowledged His sovereignty
and enrolled themselves as His sold
iers and servants.
II liz hen OF the church as an or
gnnizod though spiritual kingdom,
that propose TO speak.
We do not know what Christ said
to his disciples about his kingdom,
but We do know what Immediately
upon his departure from them. they
proceeded To do. They set up the
kingdom, under the guidance OF the
Holy Spirit; they ruled Il wisely and
well, n under their administration
the Lord added to Il daily such ar
were being saved.
Now the very conception of a
kingdom implies organization and
unity. Every kingdom has its con-
stitution, it's officers and It's laws,
which cannot be changed without
proper authority. Yet somehow Gods
Kingdom IL not supposed to nave any
constitution, nor hNed mode Of gov
eminent, o officers. nor yet any
necessarily visible existence. And
this Is strange. for IN the early days
mon found the church fast enough
when they wished 20 Join IL. as It's
enemies found IL for persecution. II
was plainly "a visible organization.
Nowadays, however. with very many
who call themselves Christians the
church Is "a theoretical thing only,
and may he any one OF a hundred
differing human societies. organized
FOR keeping alive certain religious
ideas and encouraging the worship of
God along certain lines. So that tho
question Be- often asked In ul sober
ness. Is church membership al ell
necessary To "a mans salvation
We have no verbatim records OF
our Lords conversations with His
disciples during the forty days after
His resurrection. but wo have the
church as it was constituted by these
inspired mon, we nave the living cor
portte body 10 which thoy wrote
cpistles, aud which has never ceased
10 live and move. and have is being.
aud be tho channel OF divine grace
10 man from the days Of the apostles
10 this day. The existence Of the
church Itself Is sufficient proof II
the continuity Of It's ministry from
the beginning. If ChriHt's promise To
His disciples has been verified, He
IL yet with tho ministers OF His app
pointmcnt. and will be "a the end Of
time. The church Of Christ Is Ills
visible expression Of dominion over
the lives OF men.
There Il then a Kingdom OF God
upon Carth, organized and as visible
us in the DAYS Of -. John or 81. Paul
which men may find II thoy will seek
a. u h "a act TO be established, Ike
other facts. upon reasonable grounds.
Tho identity OF the church Of apos-
tolc days A. an historical fact only.
The convOcotion convened ut 1850
h session being marked hy the cam
onicul address 81 Bishop Howdeu.
Following lunch, Tho e-ongocati0n re-
convened nt 1880 O'Clock. The sos-
slons wcor presided over by tine
bishop. and ltcy. }. s. Moore was Sec
Rotary.
Al i:ao o'clock there was a SUNDAY
school session, az which addresses
were made by Rev. J. s. Moore Of
las Vegas Rev. l.. " Smith OF Santa
Re and Archdracon Warren.
This evening az $3.50 "a reception TO
tho c-onvocauon viii be given hy the
ladies of tho church az the Woman s.
club.
The convocation VIII continue Toe
morrow, closing tomorrow evening
with a missionary service.