The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-09-26
DIR. BROOKS TALKS.
TO 1.-THE LEADERS
OF THE CHURCH"

Addressing himself to "The Leaders
of the Church" Sunday morning. DR..
Crayton $. Brooks, pastor of the First
Christian church, spoke in part as
follows:
"ln doing what Sam Jones calls
'currying the church MEMBERS would
begin by currying the preacher were
it not for two reasons First. It has
not been long since | spoke here on
The Duties and Qualifications of the
Minister and | said on that occasion
all | had to say on that subject. And
second, | have always found that the
brethren and sisters are always so
thoroughly able to curry the preacher
that they need no assistance from the
minister himself.
This message is intended especially
for the elders and deacons and leaders
ip the church, both men and women.
A leader occupies a peculiarly respon'
sble position. He often moulds the
characters and determines the destn-
les of those who follow. We have seen
the power of his influence in the army.
Do you remember the savagery among
Spanish soldiers and officers as they
took their cue from Captain General
Weyler the Butcher? Do you not now
believe that much of the brutality Of
German soldiers in the late war was
the direct result of the disordered brain
of their paranoic emperor You have
observed the influence Of several presi-
dents over congress and the thinking
of the nation. Lawmakers in the state
and petty county officials exert a sim
liar influence 1t is strange we should
religion? The zeal and fervor of
Methodsm is an inheritance from John
Wesley. The Lutheran church feels
today the solid character and fine
courage of Martin Luther. Calvinism
is TO be found in every town of i'm
portance on earth. Alexander Camp
bells ideals and character have ex-
erted an ever increasing influence for
more than century.
"In the local church the eyes of
the world are upon you who lead
Children will consciously or uncon-
sciously initiate you. Some will fol-
low you only when you do wrong while
others will initiate you when you do
right. Others will simply see you and
use your mistakes as excuses for their
sins. This gives you wondrous power
for good or bad and makes it possible
for you to be. instrumental in damning
souls for eternity or to lead them
blameless TO the Fathers throne.
you should, then, to be models Of
punctuality. How can you expect 9th.
ers to attend church if you are absent?
Your interest ought TO be manifest in
the Sunday school, the work Of the
young people, the tasks of the women,
church finances and the entire pro-
gram of the Kingdom. Is the Lords
Supper important to you? Prove IL
by your presence. Remember the
world judges you not so much by
what you say as by what you do.
"The Bible says you should be
'blameless.'
You should be always for peace,
so far as the heart OF the church is
NohNti hthf puN always lOf war dStIllSI
wrong. Peace towards the Kingdom
Of Christ but war towards the King
dom of Satan.
THE Bible declares you ought to be
sober This means well balanced.
"The same authority says you
should be models of liberality. Not
greedy, grasping or avaracious but
leaders in generosity.
You should be models OF good
works. Each one should be an evan
gelist. Every one should go about
doing good as did Jesus.
''The glory of God is at stake in
you. You carry the honor OF Christ.
The world expects mSch Of you. God
expects much of you.
sins that are grievous in the young
are sadder still in you
Strive to keep your heart young
but with increasing years try to show
growth in all the Christian graces.
Let each departing year find you
more in love with the house OF God
As the silver threads multiply among
the gold, see that your zeal for God
is also multiplied. Let increasing
years be fraught with purity OF life
free from the vices and follles Of
youth. To this kind OF life. which
Is the only one that can be called sue
cessful, Christ invites 'all today"