Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-08
Mission Work
in Our Cities
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINS.
Text: Psalm lxxxvii.. IL.
Text: Psalm lxxxvii.. II.

Our cities present the greatest prob
lem the people of the United States
have 20 lace, politically, morally and
religtously. Government is bad be-
cause so many people are crowded to-
gether and are easily led by some
shrewd man who seeks to proht
through them. Morals bad be-
cause II is 50 difficult to detect evil
doings and attractions of the law. And
religion. in spite of our many churches.
suffers because in the rush and tur-
moil Of city life men forget God Pow
erty. disease. houses unfit for people
to live in. dirty streets. saloons. a
large foreign population ignorant OF
our American laws and life-all these
things present great problems. The
only way TO solve them is through
practical Christianity. We must go
about doing good" in the name OF
Christ We must fight hard against
the evils which tend TO destroy and
build up things that make for right
eousness. The many agencies already
existing must be fostered. and the
church must encourage her members
to work, serving as leaven and as
lights to help and bless. am inclined
to think we have neglected our home
work while we have pressed forward
the work of foreign missions Both
necessary and neither must be
neglected. Christ bids us go into all
every creature. But -" 80 told the
disciples to begin AT .'c,.','.. 'e,n": that
is. they were to do city mission work
in the great center Of Jewish life. as
we'll as 10 go out 10 Asia and Rome.
Even our smaller towns need a SINH
la work. Many settlements of from
5000 TO $1,000 inhabitants are sadly
neglected. The children arc not guided.
The poor people are not invited to the
churches. No ~ places OF amusement
are provided for the young. while many
Eo-called amusemcnts allowed to
work untold mischief TO the souls and
bodies OF men. so let those who live
in small towns not think that our sub
ject to-day has no message for them.
We are all called TO help in the
luton Of the problems which God
places before us.
MUST HAVE MORE PLACES
WHERE GOSPEL Is PREACHED
believe. hrst of all. VIC must have
more places where the gospel is
preached. There arc many people in
every city and town who never go TO
church. and We cannot a, once induce
them to believe that the church people
want them. To overcome this pretu-
dice church people must go to them.
and by means Of open-air services in
the summer or tent services and cot
taEe meetings or services in some hall
Lord loves them and wishes them TO be
happy. am greatly impressed by the
value and success of mission services,
held with freedom OF method. in some
hall where there is lest restraint than
our churches suggest Rescue missions
can we'll have Sunday schools and Bible
classes associated with their work
And whai is 20 hinder n systematic
house toulouse visitation undertaken in
various districts. not to ask prying
questions but TO extend an invitation
TO some local gathering where singing
and hearty talking and handclasPng
at the door Will make them feel at
home? Depend upon II. all our social
service work must have Christianity at
its foundation II il is to prosper. To
preach the gospel is to follow the plan
of Him who not only fed the hungry
and healed the sick. but told the great
story of Gods love for all His chill
drcn.
Many hardly realize the work that
Is being done by our schools and
school-teachers in many of our large
cities. II does ones heart good 10 visit
these schools and note the splendid
personal influence cxerted by the teach
ers, including the master. upon the
girls and boys. visited one OF these
schools lately. large building in the
very heart of a crowded district, to
distribute prizes for temperance es-
says written by the pupils To see the
respect End obedience shown to the
man who had charge OF the great
school. who evidently himself loved
the children: TO note the interest Of
the teachers; TO hear the children sing
and to talk TO them was privilege
indeed. thank God for our public
school teachers! They are the very
finest. noblest and most devoted people
we have in our land. and they are
building up character in our coming
generations which will be blasting.
Many OF our schools are used at night
for recreation and instructive addresses
TO which the parents come. And while,
because OF our laws, no strictly re-
hElous services can be held. there is
real religious atmosphere in these
schools through the personality. Of the
teachers which is almost as definite as
along in this work. In a charming
story called His Family" by Ernest
Poole. this school work on modern lines
is hnely pictured. We must always re-
member that church and school, or re-
ligion and education. should go hand
in hand as feliow-servants.
MUST TAKE PART
IN REFORM EFFORTS
City mission work must take a clear
and strong part in reform effort OF
every kind. Many of our settlements
are doing much in the way of political
reformation ny teaching foreigners the
genius OF our institutions and showing
young men and women how best they
can serve their country. We ought 10
have more temperance schools where
the evils of drinking are taught Tenn
perance societies may we'll be started
among the older folk. for we all know
how strong a foe to all religious and
moral living are the saloons. Through
wise physicians the truths OF purity
should be taught, and the dangers OF
vice. Honesty should be advanced by
good business men coming TO address
the people of our crowded districts
Everything that tends TO cleanliness of
mind and body and home and streets
is part OF Gods work. If our good
reformers could so to these unhealthy
parts of our cities and inspire the citi
Gems or prospective citizens not only
to vote for good men, but to keep their
streets clean and their homes healthy.