The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-02-25


eyes met during the few hours spent
in our observation. Suffice it to say,
however, that the. writer has some
definite convictions in regard to the
whole affair and some things have |
been settled to complete satisfaction
which heretofore have been query.
due to hearsay. 1t is not the purpose |
Of this paper to parade these convict
ions, rather is 1t our purpose to |
speak of the significance of the whole |
affair in its relation to the church.
What did we sect First of all, we
saw a multitude of people and that
multitude was spending their money
for that which was not bread and
their time and labor for that which
satisfeth not" If we mistake not,
all classes of people were to be seen
in that crowd from the highest-toned
society lady to the scarlet woman of
| the street, from the churchn1an to the
drunkard and the outcast, all in the
one great multitude took their places
and played their parts. We saw
decent people acting decently and
saw indecent people acting indecent
ly. It was general mixture, a con-
glomeration Of things.
But we saw more than merely the
multitude. We saw q challenge to
the church of Jesus Christ. 1t was a
challenge to service, a challenge
which can be met only by a mighty
spirit of prayer and the milling of
the Spirits Power for service. 1t
seemed that God was speaking to the
church through that multitude, so
many of whom were lost, and He was
charging the church with unfaithful-
ness to duty, sleepiness, dreaminess,
star-gazing. He was charging them
with an easy going, self-satisfied life.
Listenl He would have US to under
stand that the church in order to
meet the need of the great multitude
must get an honest square look at
herself and realize that the effort
means business, toll, sacrifice, sweat
of brow WEAKNESS Of brain and hand.
He would have US to understand that
"Christ Jesus came to seek and to
save that which was lost" and if we
are to do His bidding as church we
must adopt the same program of
!. service.
The essential mission of the church
is not primarily to read the Bible, at
1 tend services, study church history
to become acquainted with Christian
literature and Christian institutions
These are only equipments for serv-
ice and equipment is only a means to
an end. Listenl The commission OF
the church of Christ in Pensacola and
everywhere else is to "Go and make
disciples;" to help men be victorious
over sin; to whisper hope where
there is despair; to give cheer where
there is encouragement. The church
must go forth to break chains; oper
prisons, loosen shackles, bring on
captives and set men free. That.
our business first, last and all The
y time. And every church in Pensa
cola and every Christian in Pensa
cola is committed definitely to tha
program until the last man, woman
e and child above the age of accor~t
ability In the furnishing multitude i
reached.
Listeni Does the cry Of need go
ing up from the multitlde pierre
r your heart Christian friend? Ar
you moved with compassion on them
DO the means and grosns Of suffer
ing mass of humanity set in vibra
ton the chords of sympathy an
sacrifice in your lives? Christ die
to save the multitude, but His suf
ferings need herald, the story need
teller, the gospel requires a
evangelist, Christ must express Hi
compassion for the lost through yo
and me. He must be lifted up an
every lift demands a strain. tn
Gospel of a broken heart demand
the ministry Of bleeding hearts. B1
despite it all we are so inclined I
M sleep. We are 50 numb, 30 unmove
In the presence of sin, no tears
our feasts. Ny brethren, we cannc
= heal the needs we do not feel Tea
- less hearts can never be heralds {
the passion of Christ.
l appeal to you in the name {
Christ who had compassion on tn
multitude and who died to save then
to arouse yourself from your spir
of SNUG satisfaction to 3 sens
Of sin about you, q sense Of the gres
need Of the unsaved of Pensaeol
and become willing in these comm
days to bleed the blood of sacrifis
and service for the sake of the 10:
7 in this great .rnnn,nn,1nitu