Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-16
METHODIST PASTOR BREACHES TO MEN

All Methodist men of Norwich were | invited to the morning service at Trfn- | ity Methodist Episcopal church Sunday morning and were specially addressed. in a sermon by Rev. Robert L. Roberts | the new pastor at the church since the i annual conferenct appointments last month.
 Rev. Mir. Roberts spoke upon "The Ap- peal of the Church to Men" taking his text from Number 10, 2g-s1, which contains the appeal of Moses to Hobab.
 The preacher said in part:
 The Jsraelites were about to resume their journey towards the Promised Land. A desert wide and dangerous, lay before them. Fighting stern and terrible is a little way ahead Suffering land sadness are to be their frequent companions. Heroes are in demand. Men of courage are called for
 Hobab is not an Israelite. not a mem Der of Jewish church but associated with | it. He is the son of weathly Midian- ite ranchman. Peace and prosperity wait | for him at home He stands at 1ife's cNss- roads. Much that calls loudly to young men, he may have for the taking atl home. Moses makes the appeal of a
 great need. The young man can help
 as few others can. Ha IInows the desert and can "be to them as eyes, | That is a different matter There is lit
 tie to gain for self, but he is desperately
 needed to meet 9 great crisis. Such an
 appeal passes over only the craven and | the coward, the selfish and the small
 souled. It arouses every noble instinct
 in us. Tho church was fighting it's way l +o 1 perform. Hobab was called to have part
 in struggle and victory. He did not fail but took the long, hard road that led away from quiet inheritance wealth. ease, freedom from heavy responsibility
 and into the stress of a strenuous life
 with God and His people.
 Now, as then, the church of God is in l desperate need of strong and wise per-
 sons. It is fighting its way to the Prom
 sed land. Its battle is for the human
 race. In every adcance for social politi-
 cal educational betterment you will find
 the church on the firing line, not in inn
 maculate robes watching the far-hung
 battle front, but at the guns hot and
 grfmy with the conflict. even if like the
 United States in the world war she comes
 in near the finish. The fight against
 vice liquor. ignorance. injustice and all
 else that menaces manhood is now and
 ever shall be, waSed by the church. If
 the church did not actually lead in many , phases of crusade, she did lift up ideals. ; did inspire leaders. did produce the bulk
 of reformers. i'd light torches and held ; them high so evil might be seen in dark places. The organizations that are making for betterment of mankind as
 well as the instftqtions that care for the needy were either born in the church or started by persons who got their ideals direct from the church or from the ] church's Bible.
 This crusade for righetousness is nc l work for weak men. It asks for the strong. Its call is to those with red
 dest blood Tn their veins, keenest brain. 7 in their heads. Men of this caliber have = always been found in the church Searcl l among the greatest statesmen. educa . tors, literary men, captains of indus l. try and you will find a majority are I church men. The greatest hero of tn, g world war was a man with a red hal 0 and red blood in every vein in hi% brave body. Cardinal Mercier of Bel
 gium will never be forootten while mel
 remember the brave. If the church ha
 0 reason to be ashamed of you vol q have no reason to be asamed of tn church.
 The church calls to you today as Moses called to Uobqb. The appeal 1 the same She -~7s vou The heroi
 is here The co for the.. strong , Righteousness Will 4f7 the way. We ar < working with an undefeated and unde featabie God Who will not fail even
 you refuse. You may play stacker, b
 reaper of other mems toil, but the tas r is hard and high and it is a shame fo | any of the strong not to be in the thic : of it. Here is a chance to play tn Il man, show the 'mettla of your pasture. e The strongest will respond. Do you be $ long to that militant company? e But is not the church a 'woman's or h ganization?" Are not more women tha " men in church membership? The ratio ; 40-60, but whose fault is that?
 o Too true. that in the Christian field C
 battle, where the Right fights for il
 life; you will often find the husban J. represented by his wife. But it is cred IA itable to the men to let their wome Q take the lead in moral and religion Q, crusades while they reap benefits I'll JI man who sneers at the church as a wC - mans organization had better 90 dow 5 cellar and kick a mean little man-kiC a himself.
 ,t What is there to do?
 ," The church at war with the beast p man. Here is a mans job. Drive out u IT beast, enthrone the man.
 "4 The church is fighting for justice f.
 the oppressed, help for the helpless, Il ~ best for all. It is square against tr S' great evils Church people put the S; II II loon out of business. It seeks to ste U unjust accumulation of wealth, exploiti ;, ton of weak and poor by rich an lli- strong as well as every evil in socii JA political or industrial life. It was of al 1iolt 11T1f