The evening world., 1917-05-10

and Brooklyn attended the meetings.
'Oid Pop" Arson. "the greatest ball
player Of them all.' occupied a prom
inent place on the platform. pop"
Is the ma who pulled Billy out Of
the Bush League. and was the first
TO congratulate him on his embrace
ing Christianity, saying; Go to II,
Bill, we're all with you"
The old hero Of the diamond doesn't
look like the "old sport" he has been.
He more resembles a distinguished
looking merchant of finance.
Billy's text was from Matthew, XIV,
Is; They need not depart; give We
them to eat"
To satisfy the hunger OF the world,
Sunday explained. the church offered
Jesus and His Justice, purity and
power. The revivalist continued:
Every attempt to explain the mira
cles by natural law gets the explainer
into greater difficulty than the accept
ance OF what the Word Of God saysl
Il want to draw some practical les
sons from this world:
"First-The world is hungry. Jesus,
when on earth, stood face to face
with the problem OF physical hunger,
for we read that He was hungered
and He walked through the o field
and plucked long ears Of corn and
ate. As we face the modern world,
we also face the problem Of hunger,
as has and will every generation-not
only physical hunger. but spiritual
hungerl
II one were to believe all the mag
azine articles in current and religious
literature, you would think that the
modern world is disguised and indif-
ferent to the religion Of Jesus. 1 be-
lieve exactly the opposite is truel
I'm no century since the morning
stars sang together has there been
moro real, true hunger for genuine
religion than this! The world is not
disguised with religion. but 1t is dis
gustcd with the worldliness and the
rituals and the non-essentials in
which we have lost religion!
sometimes a so-callod religious OBJ
servance may become a natural hind
rance to religion itself.
There are thousands who forge,
religion, and allow the forms Of reli-
gion to take the place of religion!
And the forms u be destroyed be-
fore religion viii perfume your life.
"Second-The church is the only
institution divinely authorized to feeu
the spiritual hunger for Him.
you will notice that Jesus did moi
feed the multitudes. He created the
food. and asked His disciples TO dis.
tribute 1t. Jesus was the Creator
not the waiter-at this banquet! Je-
u created salvation in His death OF
the cross. That is the food that will
feed the spiritual hunger OF tn,
world! But the task of distributin,
1t Is in the hands of His human fol,
lowers,
Third: Is the church drawing tn,
hungry world to its tables?
There Is no blinking nor dodginI
the fact that in drawing the masse
to its doors, the church is facing
crisis. That there is a breach between
the masseJ, there Is no doubt. YoI
take a walk down Fifth Avenue, NeN
York: In the districts OF wealth an
refinement the church spires ar
apienty. But as you walk eastwar
coward the river, they grow less an,
less.
AS tho population becomes NOR
tense and poor, the church building
grow less; and the downtown churc
IS a passing proposition. Gradual
the older members move TO the sub
urbs and with the withdrawal q
financial support, the support OF tn
downtown church becomes more diff
ticult. In board and trustee meeting
Of such churches you hear talk Xix
this: Cut your clothes to fit you
cloth-cut down expenses to tall
with receipts
Great God! Is this a cause an
a time for r~etrenchment or advance
ment? Does a wise general reduc
his force In the presence OF th
enemy?
Fourth: Need the church turn I
other tables than those of the church
IL answer, They need not go away
give we them to eat The church ha
the power to feed this hungry world
II can feed the hungry world by dom
. what Jesus did when He fed the nv
thousand-by n wise use of what
has on hand. with the blessing an
: the power Of God upon II!
3 when a war Is over. heroes hay
= scars to show, and they are proud
} them. When this conflict is owe
!. will we have wounds to show Il
Jesus?
4 Christ has scars on His hand
. and scars on His feet! He will pu
aside His robe of royalty and sho
the seal on His slde!"