The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-31
.DR. BAKER TALKS 0N !. RELIGION FOR MEN Says Schopenhauer Suffered From Head Enlargement THE NEED OF BUSINESS Suggests That Perhaps Christianity Has Not Been Placed Before
 Men in Sufficiently
 Masculine Way

Dr, c. Ross Baker, pastor of the Fifty sixth Street Baptist church. delivered strong sermon to his congregation yes terdey morning. choosing for his subject. "A Religion for Men" and taking his text from 1 Cor 16;13, wherein Paul said. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith. quit you like men, be strong The sneaker discussed the idea that Christianity was considered by some as religion suit able only to the needs of women and chil- dren.
 After paying an eloquent tribute to the faithfulness of woman in the religious world, calling attention that it was man who denied his Lord and betrayed him While there was no record in the Scrip lures of unfathfulness on the part of the women who followed Christ. the speaker demonstrated that the Christian religion was sufficient for all the require ments of man.
 pr. Baker spoke in part as follows:
 ffequently the question is raised and discussed in some review Have we 4 religion for mem? Implying. while we
 have religion which does very well
 for women and children, it is possibly an open question whether we have one that Will do for men. Schopenhauer the
 German pessimst. looks upon religion
 as the old Romans did in the days of
 the decaying empre-as a good police
 agency for ordinary mortals, but to ex- act or great genius, Goethe, Shake speare that he implicitly accept in good
 faith and exact sense the dogmas of any religion is to compel a giant to put
 on the shoes of a dwarf The hard sense of everyday says that the man who talks like that is suffering from abnormal en- largement of the head.
 What Men Think
 Tt Is sadly evident some men think they have outgrown Christianity Men great in business, social or political life, absorbed in the greater matters of mas Ing money planning social festivities or changing postmasters at the cross roads: all seem to feel that religion is for them like worn and cast off garment. It is assumed also in certain quarters that there is an inherent incompatiblty be tween religion and business. I once heard business man say: I do not believe it IS possible for a man to be a thorough Christian in his business and succeed The fact remains. men are a minority in our churches, various classes of men un- reached by the gospel. How explained "lt is not because of any lack of adap- tatfon to mans nature and need in the religion of Jesus. Since highest and low | est simplest and wisest. have these 2C centuries found rest and satisfa ction ir | the gospel of Christ It is not be-
 cause of the impossibiity of doing busi- | ness in this world and being faithful | to the teachings of Jesus Christ. fol
 multitudes of our most successful busi
 ness and professional men are our mos 1 devoted Christians. A T. Stewart, tho
 great merchant prince, once said: T nave made it a rule of my life to give a mar 1 the value of his money, and I know o'
 no one who has succeeded for 30 years | on any other principle The suggestion l that a man cannot do business in this
 world and be Christian Is an insul. which every honest man must resent. Not Properly Preached
 Have many men not accepted the gos- l pei because it has not been prea ched to l them in masculine way? It is quite
 probable that share of the blame be- | longs to the pulpit. Too many musty
 theological and historical discourses, la | boriously worked out and laid up to dry | until Sunday, and then when presented
 you have no doubt as to the success of l the drying process. And we have been toe delicate and afraid of hurting your feel
 irgs when we ought to have put the knife | into the cancer of your sin and cut it
 out. We plead for opportunity to re- | trieve ourselves.
 l "On the other hand perhaps many men ! have not accepted the gospel of Jesus be-
 cause they have not given it a masculine
 reception. Fear of man, selfish considera-
 tons. unwillingness to face the responsi- | bilites of a Christian life have been allowed to bias action. They have not put the same push. perseverance and in- | terest the same thought, sacrifice and | tact into the matter of seeking their eternal welfare that they have into their business Until men have done that they have not given the truth a fair chance | tc demonstrate it's power to save their souls for time and eternity.
 Christianity is a religion for men be- | cause it presents the highest type and ex- ample of manhod in it's Founder Chris 1 tianity presents the broadest field fof | mems strength and ambition It has been
 said of Jesus that he went among men. 1 not only without striking His colors but for the purpose of displaying them. | There is manhood for you Professor Diummond in Tropical Africa" tells of
 njmetc insects which are such perfect 1 limitations of surrounding objects that it
 is almost impossible to distinguish them. | Their protection from more powerful l foes. The. defense of weakness. A man sLould not conform to. the world sim
 ply to escape the consequences of open alliance with Jesus
 Be Loyal to Christ
 "If right is right and the Son of God
 is entitled to our loyalty. let us give 1t
 to Him though it take us through fire
 and water.
 1 christianity is a religion for men be- | cause it is an appeal to principle and