Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-09

terment and general uplift of humanity
should be one of our contributions made
in many and various ways through the
church and it's associated activities"
! 3. We should attend church to bring
our lives more closely in harmony with
| the Divine plan; TO contemplate the high
er things. giving US clearer vision OF
what is true and what is false; TO receive
encouragement and cheer and to renew
our confidence in God and mankind.
! The church is, beyond doubt, the
! strongest institution for good In the
world and should receive the hearty sup
port Of all who believe in helping their
fellow men,"
i a. ANY neighborhood, town or city
with low or waning moral standards pro-
duces inferior manhood, demoraized wo-
manhood, handicapped childhood and de-
precia.ed property.
! The church is the great recognized moral
! force of all the ages. striving to build up
and maintain high moral standard.
! To do this it must have the co-opera-
! ton and support of the community, not
only financially but by attendance.
! 1t affords an ideal opportunity for the
tired business. professional. or laboring
man to pass an hour or two on Sunday IN
an intellectual, spiritual and social at
mosphere which will give rest to the
body. food to the mind and peace to the
soul such as can not be found on the
couch, in the automobile. or Sunday
paper
We should attend church because the
church conserves morals. 1t increases
value or real estate it is the religious
thermometer of the town; gives Christian
education to our children gratis; is the
never-failing lighthouse warning of dan
ger and pointing to safety; is educational,
broadening and uplifting.
The church is a bit of heaven on earth
where a tired man may find rest, sinner
pardon, and the humblest commune with
his God in aAculiarly sweet way.
Because of these things, and the fact
that it Is Gods greatest earthly institu-
ton 10 do good. we should support the
church and attend it.
3. THE person, young or old, who fails
to be connected with some church or
ganization makes the mistake that he
has neglected the opportunity to become
part Of the greatest organization de-
voted to the higher side of life. The i'm
portance Of being associated with others
! in pursuing this end is invaluable.
While no churches are perfect. and
their aims and ideals are subject to
change, no civilization has been built up
and endured without the aid or guidance
of the church.
The church teaches one to live and
work COR others instead of ones self and
is the best agent to counteract the self
! seeking of the ordinary pursuits of life.
Help and sympathy in time of trouble.
courage to live and faith in humanity
and in God are the things we all need,
and the church, which asks us to attend
its services and become part of it's life. is
organized for these great ends
/ We owe il to ourselves to respond to
her call and to do our part in her great
work
! 6. 1T is we'll to be among congregat
ed people who have assembled, presum-
ably, for worship, so that one may feel
the stimulus of the presence Of numbers:
which stimulus is wanting when we med
tate upon religious matters alone"
7. Il certainly feel that everyone
should attend Divine Worship, as church
going should have beneficial influence
on everybody. II is impossible to attend
without gett ng something that will tend
to make people better. and to make them
feel that there is al least some good in
everybody. Church influence is bound to
he felt by those who
materially reflect on their every day life"
S. The home. the public school and
the church are the three institutions
without which American democracy can
not develop. Therefore. 1t is religious
privilege. moral obligation and legal
necessity for every citizen to support the
church with his presence, his influence
and his money
| Q. "One should attend church because
fundamentally he believes in it and in
that for which it stancs. Only In the
church can one find those things which
bring him abiding peace and strength
strength for his own work, in a selfish
sense possibly-but. more than that
strength for service to others.
! MI Il SENSE Oh Outyp NOT Yet the OeSlro
to be an example to others. but the feel
! ing that It is the proper thing to do.
should send one to the house Of God.
One should go because deep in the hearts
of men is yearning for the peace that
passeth understanding; a peace that
comes from no other source than the
church OF God. One cannot attain the
heights the Master wishes all His chill
dren to reach unless he walks in the way
that leads him into daily communion
with HIM. and that is the really cogent
reason why one should attend church.
Unless we worship HIM on His day.
other days are likely to be without him."
| 10. Without going into any discussion
OF the reasons for attending church, both
for the sake Of mans personal welfare
and for the sake Of increasing his use
fuiness to others. let me mention sound
! reason for attending church REGU-
LARLY.
We are likely to think Of the force 81