Evening star., 1921-09-25

ence that the central feature of
church architecture is neither an altar
nor a choir loft. but a pulpit. Our
business Is to preach and our text
torate l was admonished that was
making mistake. Washington is
surfeited with speaking. the shorter
and fewer the sermons. the better; !;
this by prominent and favored pas
tor. The greater mistake is the mod
ern tendency to secularism and SEN
satton. There are better things even
than crowded pews and easy treas
urles. We must learn again that the
church is divine institution and that.
the ministry has divine commission.
When the church stops preaching it
ter may do or may not do. he must
preach. He must preach doctrine.
Only from sound doctrine can come
sound life. He must not only be an
exhorter. but teacher. and he must
have something to teach. If the last
quarter century had given us more
outstanding preachers we would have
had more outstanding Christianity.
We must get back to the sermon as
the center Of public worship. and to
the Bible as the center of that SER
mon; and to the Holy Spirit as, the
day, emphasized by the laxities and
donfusions and depreciation conse-
quent upon the world war. Is not leg
isfations or refinements or social bet
terments, but the direct and conse-
Grated study of the Word of God.
Give US expository preaching which
more literally develops the mind of
the Spirit. Give us both Old and New
Testament in the regular course OF
the pulpit readings. Let the people
hear as they have not been hearing
the whole Word of God. People may
;-I~ 1N.rt To L N O
helplessness of man. the futility OF
human gospels, the promise of the
cross and the imperative primacy OF
repentance toward God and faith to-
ward our Lord Jesus Christ, and the
people will respond. The congress
the Sabbath irrevocably loses time.
The republic that lives is assured by
the righteousness of it's lawgivers.
Why Not National Presbyterian
Cathedralf
One effectual hindrance. increas-
ingly noticeable in the recent pass
Ing years, is our detachment from
the thoughtful. active sympathy Of
the national church. Our central
significance to the whole country.
our transient population and tinan-
cial Limitations should have made
Washington the field for distinct and
organized work by the whole church.
tuT MISTAKEN has pSSh
plorable. God gave Washington to
the Presbyterians. We had the van
taee point of early arrival. Of the
formative suggestion and influence
of our church government upon the
national organization. and the un-
usual numbers of Presbyterian birth
and training among the leading
minds of administration. But the op-
portunity was unrecognized. During
this pastorate an effort was made
through the Presbyterian cathedral
project to crystalline some of the
Possibilities. The plan was to make
this old church. by reason of its age.
traditions and location, the founda-
t'or Of church whose size and
adaptations would command public
interest, afford a center for excep-
tional work and worship. and be a
welcome meeting place for the gen.
eral assembly, which should often. il
not regularly. be held in the capital.
The plan was systematized and ap-
proved by the general assembly and
some generous contributions assured,
but various hindranceS arrested it.
What Other Churches Are Doing.
OF recent years other denominations
have recognized the capital as the
most strategic point in America for
conspicuous influence and church ad-
vance. They are now seeking to
possess the city by elaborate system