Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-03-17
minute MAN TELLS
WHAT CHURCH CAN
Do FOR COMMUNITY.
EXCELLENT ADDRESS AT JEFF
FERSON STREET EDiFICE-REV.
LAWLER TALKS ON NEEDS or
OTTAWA

at the First Methodist Episcopal
church Monday night The sermon
follows:
FLAWS are not hard to find. Super
fetal relormers can ride through a
city and write A volume about reforms
necessary for that community. /
have not looked for flaws In the few
months that | have lived in Il city
whose people ! have loved from the
first day,
4 reader OF our local papers must
be blind not to see thar the city Is
not rid of gambling, or that there is
not Il little mUonShiue distilling going
on. or that there has not been troub-
IL in controlling the social evil which
made il necessary FOR the mayor as a
citizen rather than an officer OF the
city to take legal steps to ahate a
plague spot which besnirches the lair
name Of our city.
Ottawa's greatest need is not more
policemen. or more tiagmen AT rail
road crossings, or an extension OF pay
ing, or additional hospital and sani-
tarium equipment but its greatest I'M
mediate need is a genuine revival OF
religion a revival which quckened
tho haorts of men nv stirring their
ronsciences and elevating their ideals
in right relation to the Kingdom OF
God would do more for the community
than thousand policemen and other
officers OF the law
People often see only the extremes
Of peoples actions during a revival
Some fail to note the auuickening Of
conscience and the new resuect for
truth. They fail to see the changed
lives and the new concern which is
manifested for the welfare of others
A gnnauinn revival of relipioo hae .
far reaching effect No less nm an.
thoritv than the historian Green SAYS
mar rho WESLEYAN revival nj tha IAth
century say. Great britain from rev.
oluiion like that which svent nyar
France
The large chorus choir under tho
direction of Mr.. Ruffuer furnished mn.
sic for the service A male quartet
rendered one selection. The minnie
man address Of the evening was given
Nv Attorney W / Hibbs who was
heartily applouded for his yiporous
treatment OF the subject How can
the Church Reach the Men of the
Street
In other words How can the church
better function in saving the souls |
of men" This question has been nm
ever present problem of Christians
from the birth of our religion. The /
keenest, ablest minds of ages have
given it concentrated thought ana at |
permanent solution.
II would therefore be presumptuons
on my part. a mere layman. to do more
than make a few suggestion which oc. !
eur to me
The one great obligation and duty |
OF our church is to save the souls |
OF men.
No church can ever hone to ac.
cOmpliAh this sacred pndeayor unless
its membership is awake, active and
ever ready to do its part \ religions
institution with an inactive ron. If not
dead, is at least dormant. unappre.
ciatiye of the great good that could
and should be ACCOMPLISHED.
No church of God can hoJo to save
the souls of men nuless if has the
tools to work with. and the tools are
the religion of Jesus Christ and Christ.
ians preaching that gospel Onr
heavenly yther has given rs the
word, the religion but men will not Il
receive salvation unless We do orr
part in spreading and teaching Gods 4
truths. This is our paramount duty
as Christians.
So il behooycs MS to first place our
house in order. that we may be able
10 better serve the one great cause
and receive Gods blessing well done
thou good and faithful servant"
We should forever seek TO make
every member. be he Young or old an
active participant in tho activities of
the church. In other words. make II
a real. live. going concern.
A church may have AN unlimited
membership, but if they only take n
half,hearted interest in il, nothing is
being ACCOMPLISHED The mere attend.
ance at religious services and con
tributions to the expenses and pas
tors salary, however laudable thnv
may be. do not accomplish the aim of
The church nor the full meaure of
Christians duty
Christian religious institution
with an enrollmen, of bat twenty-five