Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-15
NEWARK, n. J.. Aug 6.

NEWARK. n. J., Aug. S.
To the Editor Of the Evening star.
l have been greatly Interested In your
valuable articles ou various religious
subjects. but ] have moi as yet read any
on the great subject embOdying reasons
why the church is not reaching tie
labUriug classes totany extent ! would
ike 60 present at some future time Il
few articles on THE Church and Labor. 3"
and The Gospel and Labor" etc. Civ
ing a working mans viewpoint on the
relationship Of these great influences.
hope to conduct a religious gospel cam
paign in a month or two in the interests
Of presenting gospel facts to the labor
Ing elements for the advancement Of
Ged's kingdom and the getting Of these
classes into the church and under the
influence OF Christianity.
HARRY W. BUTZ
lO2 Mt Prospect avenue Newark, n. j.
In the Homiletie Review for August
there is an article entitled The Sim
p lefty of the Sayiour's Method It
was written by Rev. c. w Stephen
son. Of Detroit. The article is so
pregnant with suggestions. so diff
ferent from those of the modern
poseur and imposter in so-called re-
iigious social science that we quote it
IN fun. 1t is. also, in some sense, an
answer to the charge contained In the
letter quoted above. Here IS the
article:
Follow Me."-John l.. 40:
1t is strikingly remarkable how
often, and under what varying cir
cumstances, Jesus said Follow Me.
The more one studies these sayings,
their environment, and the results
that followed. the more is he i'm
pressed with the thought that His
method was simple. He never in
CURED into a life of the past, never
demanded any previous preparation,
cared nothing for a period of proba-
ton, asked no questions with regard
to theology, education or business. He
looked into the faces of men and
women, into their heart needs, and
said over and over, Follow Me, follow
Me, follow Me- This seemed to be
the only requirement. The depth of
It's meaning was to be revealed later.
This was ever the beginning for each
and all. 1t is the beginning for each
and all yet. Follow Me-" 1t was His
flrst invitation or command. Is it
not His last?
II Christianity means Christ-Iike
life. spirit and purpose Christ
like disposition and influence. we
shall attain to these by obedience to
this command It is clear and direct.
- 1e-AA ~ mp II OllOH me- d11
that was the first word Philip heard
from him. To Matthew at the place
of custom, Follow me-" To the
rich young ruler, Follow me-" To
the fishermen. Follow me-" Again,
IF any man will come after me. let
him take up his cross daily and fol-
low me. He included all classes and
conditions of men. Is Philip a type
of the philosophical, the thoughtful.
OF these who have time to think and
yet in thinking are not satisfied? Is
he the reformer. the preacher. the
teacher, the philanthropist, or the
learner anywhere. cropping and mys-
titled? Then what help. what inspi-
ration. what light and life come.
when he hears and even partially I'M
derstands the words, Follow me.
and begins to obey them. even i'm
perfectly. When Matthew hears this
message. is he the first fruits of the
business men. the railroad men, the
merchants. the captains of industry
| the builders of bridges. the presidents
!, of banks, the men whose financia
policies run mighty world industries
To these tired and worried and dis
| Satisfied men, to these who are real
ly trying to find the bag Of gold at
the end of the rainbow. and who
this eager search he comes and says
quietly. Follow me-" He would be
the senior partner in the firm. and
help to direct the business that other
wise viii not be directed right! There
is something in life besides figuring
profit and loss of things-just things
Again, in that invitation to the
weary fishermen, does he extend it
and enlarge It until it takes in all the
weary. struggling, hard-handed toll
ers of the world2 Does he include
the millers and the miners, the sol
diers and the sailors. the shoe men
and the shop men, the policemen and
the porters, fishers and farmers,
smiths and smelters? Anxious
mothers, homeless wanderers? II
cannot be otherwise. Is not the rich
Young man the type of the ruler
the king on the throne, the president
in the White House. the governor in
the executive mansion, the judge on
the bench, the mayor of the city, the
police commissioner, and all the rest