Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1920-02-18

in the South church and DR.. Eccs vii
slcak. Sunday schools will BE- held Il.
usual.
Nine hundred men arc wanted fol
the Mems Mass meeting at the Glob,
Theatre Sunday afternoon at SOC
O'Clock to hear DR.. RccS' famous adj.
dress in "Thc 10th Century Sodom.
| In his sermon Friday evening, il
which he gave Il direct application OF
the words of Paul in Rom. Bill, 81,
is high time to awake out of sleep
In this and other letters of the
Apostle there are evidences that
many Christians in the carly Church
were spiritually "aslccp", as in text
or this awake, thou that slccpcst,
or this "lct us not sleep as do the
Others The condition of the early
church is repeated today, until Il
majority. in some cases a large ma
jority, Of church members are asleep
to their opportunities and responsible
litics. If it were not so they would
not be doing some things they arc
doing, or neglccting some things
they are failing to do.
A little boy had fallen out of bed,
at the breakfast table he next morn
ing the father asked him how it had
happened, and the boy said, 81 think
went to sleep too near where | got
in That is the difficulty with Il large
number in our churches. They are
not awake to the world needs, they
arc not awake to the great Christian
program of reconstruction of civili-
cation, they arc not awake to Christ S
demand for missions, go yc into all
the world" they are not awake to
prayer, to Bible study. to winning
their fcllow-mcn TO Jesus Christ
Nearing the end OF an Atlantic
voyage said to a friend eve arc
too near the shore to turn in, let Us
watch for the lights and soon the
light ON Lands End flashed across
the waters. We are "too near the
shore" of life to sleep. at is high
time to awake out of Sleep, first be-
cause the success of Christian ser
vice depends; upon it. The Lord
Jesus Christ who came to seek and
save that which was lost is depending
on us to help him win cur friends, our
Sunday Schools classes, our house
holds, our towns and villages, to Him
self, and if these human agencies are
not in condition to labor how can the
work of the Lord prosper?
| only wish that ! could see as
much interest manifested In this cam
/ paign for winning men to Christ as
is always seen in times of physical
danger. Heroes and hcloincs are not
made they arc only made known when
the demand comes. II man can dis
close such sclfforge+ful courage in
saving others from the water, the
flames, and sudden danger, why not
show like alertncss and purpose when
there are eternal and spiritual inter-
cst' at stake? Interest bcgets inter
est, and Indifference bcgcts indctfer-
cncc. When those without the
Church behold the genuine interest
and devotion of those within, they
will come saying" what must I do to
be saved"
The pcrmancc of this work depends
on us. A person received into II
Church will usually measure up to the
standard of that Church and not be-
yond. If he goes into L cold, world
ly, formal church, he cannot become
an aggressive, wide-a-wakc disciple.
If into a church thoroughly alive,
earnest, joyful, and unselfish. He
will probably add to the working
force and power Of that organizes
ton.
Tell me, friends, what kind of Il
church members will he be who fol-
lows your example? Will he have Il
family altar, attend prayer meeting,
inspire the pastor with regular pre-
scncc at church service. Will he be
a power in the Sunday school, inter
cstcd in Missions, telling others the
good news about Jesus Christ, and
building up all that is clean, strong
and helpful in the Community?
1t means much to be Il disciple of
Christ. He never made it easy to
follow Him. TO Nicodcmus he said,
aye must be born again." and to
others, "any man who will come af-
ter me he must deny himself, take
up his cross daily, and follow me-" o,
that as consuming fire, every one
here would be led to cry out "Iord
what wilt Thou have me to d.
and then go out and do it.
Only when we arc awake and trc-
mcndously in earnest do we succeed
in any department Of activity, This
is true politically, men are not asham
cd to carry banners, march in the
mud, stand out in the rain, talk on
street corncrs-for Il political party.
1t is true commcrcially,-for when
business men want to build up an
enterprise, they seek to INSURE en-
ployccs with Il spirit of victorious
purpose, that will Observation-Disclosures
intrepid, persistent in winning men to
buy goods.
1t is true socially, since the Ar
misticc there has been Il social re-
vival in this country, until it is