The Washington herald., 1917-04-15
THE HERALD'S SUNDAY SERMON


n. foue-ins ssuaon Yrs written especially fus
Ths W.zhingtou Herald b. the Rev James Logan
sorfSa. d. d. pastor Of rnt c0sres1sonAi
TIti Fight The Coed FashL--r Tim. MAJ.
TSday we have many kinds Of Chris
tians. Each generation produces new
type. These types are finally arranged
and classified Each class Is dignified
with distinguishing title. or appella-
uon. And thus we have, ever and anon,
the growth. evolution and development
OF new brand OF Christian character.
Each new class necessitates a label. and
therefore we read OF Christians who are
cultured" 'awell-to-do." "consecrated, $
'amlable." "well-dressed.- educated
respectable, wealthy beautiful .
lovely" and so forth.
Jast at the present time there seems TO
be a demand for a new brand. namely
the fighting Christian"-or the fightinc
saiht" We are looking for the saint
who Is ''on the war-path'' for purity and
for righteousness We are in search of
the Christian who Is disposed to carry
the war into Africa
We should be delighted to find some
heroic soul worthy OF the championship
OF the world" In the manifestation OF an
aggressive Christianity. We are honestly
hungering for the believer whose belief
is Of such a quality as to lead him to
throw down the gauntlet and take up
the cudgeis'' for the pressing reforms de-
manded in our civic and municipal af-
fsirs;-for the civilization Of the future
viii center IN the city and that which is
enthroned IN the city will give quality and
character to the hills and valleys.
The splendid period in the life Of every
nation has been its fighting period.
Israel and the emancipation, Greece and
the memories of Marathon, Scotland and
thS Covenanters, England and the Com
monwealth, France and the Revolution,
the United States and the War OF the
RebeIlion-Japan resisting the encroach-
ments Of Russia. Nations have been
benefited and blessed for ages BY being
thrown into the white heat of a great
passion. The great monuments Of our
Christian civilization stand in unfading
glory on the sacred soil where ten thou
sand battles have been fought for truth
and righteousness
What star Of .,lcry have you in the
diadem of Christian civilization which
you did not battle for7 You cannot fino
= Christian institution worthy of the
name which has not been purchased By
blood Christian home, q quiet Sab
bath, an open 7ible, a free church. q
sovereign state, and an unfettered press
Tne right to think and the right to be
heard-thess are privileges which have
been bought by a thousand Calvaries.
Real F1EhtinE Needed.
Moral warfare makes men hard. but
superficial peace makes men soft Chris
tian conflict in It's elimination means
character. Heaven save US from a soft
handed, habby-cheeked, brittle-boned,
weak-eyed. thin-skinned, spineless Chris
tianity. The church always wins when
size has her armor on.
What we need today Is real fight lg.
and not a series OF sham battles. g me
things are not worth fighting for. he
crIsades were great but useless, becsdse
the crusaders fought for an empty Sc
pIlchure. Certain things are not worth
fighting for. Whether a man has been
ordained or is unordained; whether q
preacher wears a coat or a gown;
whether a building is called a church or
a chapel; whether a convert is sprin-
kled or immersed; whether a sermon is
textual or topical; whether a rector uses
prayer book or a requisition blank
when approaching the throne of grace.
Thank God. we are through with all this
There are real battles to be fought,
and, therefore. I am looking for a fight
ing saint. I am through preaching ser
mons on How to Control the TemI r."
The modern Christian has no temper
worth preaching about He goes OF
into spasm Of wrath over the loss
Of collar button, and remains calm
and unmOved amid the slaughter of the
innocents. The trouble Is that the church