South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-07
ASKS CHRISTIANS
To SPEAK FAITH
Rev. George w. Allison Re-
minds Churchmen of Their
Many Religious Duties.

The Rev George william Allison
81 Hope Presbyterian Chapel. chose
az the theme Of his sermon yester-
day morning "The Voice Of Rebuke
in the wilderness of Today" The
entire sermon was an attempt 10
cal Christians in remembrance Of
the social responsibility they bear in
matters OF religious interest. Afte-
relating in dialogue the conversa-
ton between John the Baptist and
The committee from the synagogue
of Jerusalem, attention was focused
On the relative analogy of the stu
alton in which every Christian
stands 10 the position occupied in
this incident in the life of John Bap-
ust. Speaking 10 this theme, Mr..
Allison said:
Here indeed were words forged
on the anvil Of controversy. They
almost flash out as the arc between
the positive and negative carbons i'm
this conversation. John says i am
the voice of one crying in the will
derness. make straight the way or
the Lord. IL was a rebuke 20 the
SINS Of the day. uttered i'm no UNI
certain terms: and it was q rebuke
which would be likely 20 provoke TO
action. for many were 5aptised %.
John. even OF the Pharisees and Sa-
ducees.
Same Situation.
Now every Christian stands i'm the
same kind Of a situation In spite
of the fact that the Christian ethis
is. making itself the standard OF the
ron-Christlan WORLD, there are
whole yards of our social fabric
which are yet un-Christian We
have need TO mention only a few Of
the grosser evils of society and So
Ciety in only an aggregate Of indi-
viduals 10 conform this: such as our
intemperance, greediness. exploita-
ton Of child labor. world-war. Illicit
marriage and divorce. prostitution
and adultUIy. dishonesty in business,
and many other current sins. Sins
there are also of the inner life, the
mind and the heart. In the midst
II these stands the Christian crying
for reform and repentance and
righteousness. The Christian stands
as the permanent enemy, critic. and
opposer Of crOokedness of all kinds
in all places and ia all times
The silent unspoken Influence of
the genuine Christian counts for
much in influencing his fellows for
the better life The silent devoted
righteous life is rebuke to sin.
And have YOU never not.ved how
sensitive sinful men are to criticism
Of their acts? Have YOU never no
ticed the attempted hiding or gloss
ing of sin when caught in the act ,
And every Christian ought 10 feel
this responsibility and exercise it.
POINTS to Sunday.
But 10 is not enough to merely
live a silent Christian. though that
may accomplish great deal. Think
of the fiery denunciations of Billy
sunday and Of john the Baptist,
How ineffective silence would be in
comparisont There are occasions
when 20 maintain silence. and TO
limit ones protest against sin to ST.
lCnCe would be positively wrong;
would i'm fact and effect make one
particeps criminals. or sharer Of
the guilt Of the act. Open fearless
u.s. spoken condemnation may be
Necessary and imperative silence
is not always golden, it is some
times also cOwardly. The trouble
with silence is that it sometimes is
eoideu; as when a man is willing to
contribute 10 certain ends, but asks
his name ne withheld, when he
wishes reform we'll but fails TO give
las siEnature; when he approves or