Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-16
CHURCH'S DO|NGS
IS {. {. THEME
Rev. Mr.. Stonesifcr Writes on Six
Functions il Can
Perform.

activities, in this general presentation,
VIC must confine ourselves to a study Of
the passage But in doing So we shall
Immediately discover six functions which
the church may perform. These charac-
tcristics are as follows:
|. Praetice-The first occasion for
Thanksgiving Of which Paul speaks is that
of the work Of faith Of these Thcssaionian
Christians. They possessed n virile,
active achieving faith, Many persons
pride themselves on historic faith, an
orthodox theology or rational beliefs, but
even the best Of these formulas is i'm
potent unless translated into conduct.
Faith without works is dead II people
do not put into practice their convictions
they will soon find themselves hopeleasly
convicted Of sin.
2 Passion The next cause of thanks
giving is the labor of love. Paul's words
arr always apt and striking. lie IS
master in the use of synonyms Tho word
labor carries with IL the idea Of earnest
ness. toll WEAKNESS. such effects as can
only follow when passion ~ thrown into
life. The love of the believer is not n cold,
exprcssionless, empty sentiment. II glows
and burns II is not 10 be confined by
fornalitios. II is passionate, tbrohbing,
bursting with zeal and the desire Tor
service The church which is accomplish
ing anything is throwing passion into its
ministry.
3. Patience Here, as elsewhere, IN
Paul's episties. hope is linked with faith
and love Paul Is think ing Of patience
that is soroly tired not by persons but by
things Success. failure, JOY, grief; pOpu-
larity criticism; plenty, poverty. SO tho
church IS contending against the forces
and things OF OWL -commereialism, ma
terialisrn, making even the very atrnos-
phere heavy with worldliness. What IS the
rnsult2 Despair or brave patience and
r,alstance3
Preaching apostle is convinced
of tho Divine call and election Of these
Thessaionan Christians bv tho very man
ner in which he IL able to preach to them
In his own conscfolIsncssthore IS evidence
that they are God people Ills gospel
Is not simply words and sentences He
breaches with power. II ls not q human
invention. but the expression Of the Holy
Spirit. and their very attention and re-
Eponslvencss have quickcned his own
convection There are many expedients
to which the church may turn in order to
establish IT'S contact with the world But
music, lectures. even patriotic addresses
-
he substitute for preaching The church
which docs things u the church which
honors preaching Il puts preaching INTO
the very heart and fibre Of its preachers
: Perseverance Affections and hard
ships have been the common lot, Of not
only the believer, but humanity Our
Lord promised bountiful rewards but in
Guided among them affections These
ThessaIonlan Christians had this ex-.
pcriencc b1t they stood apart from th9
average IN that they became "ImItators'
OF Paul, as veil AZ their Lord, in the per-
severance with which they met and went
through persecution The church which
does things Will not be diverted from is
purpose by problems and difficulties.
These are rather a challenge Perse-
vcrance IS one Of the graces of the worth
v uhiIe church
D. Publicity apostle did not hesr-
tate to rank with such pre-emlnent
spiritual graces a8 the foregoing, the
quality OF publicity He glorles in the
fact that this particular church had been
so faithful IN practice. passionate IN
service, patient ~ hope, responsive TO
preaching, pcrseverng IN trials, that it
had also the reward OF being talked about
The sensational will always attract and
always win the crowd, bur il was the
splendid example, the fine spiritual life,
the high type of manhood and woman
hood in this church that won for Il a good
name, not only IN the immediate locality.
but far beyond IN the other fields OF Paul
labor The surest and safest publicity is
that which comes through Christian
character and ardent timely service.
Well, Bethany. We surely do welcome
YOU into our G +. Union We know YOU
will continue to be on hand and help out
IN our work, especially while you have
pastor like DIR HunSberger, who has the
young people interest at heart There Is
no limit to the work YOU can do.
The little paper published by the Oiivet
society has some wide-awake corespon-
dent. This IS evident by the way he pick ed
out one of his own society and one Of
Bethany IS victims for the next pub
hcatlon. Say, bring some Of those 'Buz-
Eers out 10 our next meeting at Central
The youth OF the church Of today must
be its support for tomorrow. As the
army picks It's men and trains them for
service so must we be trained for our place
in the church
Endeavorers, YOU no doubt have read
about the things that the church Is not
doing, and what will happen TO it after
the war. Let us get busy; let US search
Gods word; get God in our hearts; put
God III our work and let us by our lives
show others that we are working for Him.
We know, without a doubt, that the
church Is doing a great work in the
trenches, In hospital camps and every
where possible Our bows. both across
the water and in our camps here can, and
do, tell us of the great work the church,
the \ NJ G.. A., etc, are doing. 1t seems
that some writer's will pen most anything
they think of, but God will not permit
any fancy writer TO run his world His
word has stood for many, many years,
and lie still rules
Endeavorers. help your pastor In his
work in your local church. Do not be
one Of those who say much but does
little for mankind. Our meeting together
in our city Union will help US in this work
Public invitation seemed to work all
right in the case of Aiessrs Long Horner
and Zegrist Now, why not invite the
two faithfuls, Miss Estella Stewart and
Miss Nancy Clark We surely would be
plessed to see them at Central next
month
Let us commit 10 memory our G. L.
pledge and be able to repeat it from
memory at Central next month. 1t is q
pledge that will help us In many ways and
make tIs realize our responsibility as
Christians Don't hesitate about the
pledge, for it is full of wholesome re-
minders All good causes have pledges OF
some sort You remember the pledge or