Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-04
MOST SUBLIME fell DWSHlP OF
CHRISTIANS is THAT made In
FAITH WITH GODFREY. HlGBEE
Pastor of Central Avenue Methodist Church
Speaks on Fellowship of Faith in Closing
Sermon of Series on Theme of Faith and
Fancy; Nine Sermons on Phases of Faith.

In concluding nine-week Sc
ries on the general theme of
Faith or Fancy" at the Central
Avenue Methodist church, Rev. c.
c. Higbee spoke as follows on the
sub-topic Of THE Fellowship Of
FAITH"
We select for our text this
morning phrase from the tenth
verse of PauPs letter to the church
at Galatia, and the sixth chapter.
THE household of faith"
Since the time when God said
concerning Adam: 1T is not good
that man should be alone" men
have hungered for human fellow
ship. The solitary situation of
Robinson Crusoe may make inter
esting reading, but it is far from
normal living. SO far, in fact, that
when our law desires to inflict pun
ishment on one who violates 1t,
such person may be banished or
sentenced to confinement in prison.
On the other hand, our highest
joys and fondest memories cluster
about our delightful companion
ships.
In reference to Adam, we are
not told why it was mot good that
man should be alone;" further than
that the woman was to be IAN
helpmeet to him" and that ends
were to be achieved jointly which
could not be accomplished alone,
And to this day people are drawn
together for mutual benefit and
the prosecution of many tasks
which could not be realized indi-
vidually and alone. Each meal we
eat. each article of clothing we
wear, each convenience we enjoy,
each book we read, each journey
we take; all requires the cooper
alton of scores of others. We are
remarkably dependent upon each
other.
And not only so for practical
purposes, but also because we have
been created with such natures as
require fellowship, it is neces-
sity for contentment and complete
development of our personality,
The individual who lives alone Is
likely to become narrow, self-cen-
tered, possessed of peculiarities and
dwarfed in his nature While the
one who deals continually with his
fellows is broadened in perspec-
tive, deepened in sympathy and en-
riched in every way.
But we are to think especially
today of particular phase of hui
man association: 1.-The Fellowship
of Faith" Men have not only ma
terial, but also spiritual interests.
And as people of like professions
and pursuits find the fellowship of
others in similar walks of life Pc
culiarly welcome, so those of kim
bred religious convictions and eX-
periences, find delight in mingling
with others of like faith and or
der. The French infidel, Voltaire,
prophesied that in SO years from
the time he made the statement
that the church would have died
out. But in less than that time the
very house where he made the
statement was being used as depot
for the circulation of the Christian
scriptures. The church is not an
artificial institution. 1t is an in
telligent effort to meet deep
seated hunger. Not a perfect in
stitution, to be sure: but SO neces-
sary that were all the churches of
today annihilated, it would not be
many weeks before similar assem-
blies would convene, enter upon
the erection of similar places of
worship and engage in similar de-
votions. Otherwise there would be
a woeful spiritual decline. For we
cannot escape the truth Of the in
spired statement: Hold fast the
profession of our faith that it wav-
er not-and let us consider one an
other to provoke unto love and
good works: not forsaking the as
sembling of ourselves together, as
the manner OF some is (Heb
10:23-25.)
st. Pauls characterization of the
church is: THE household OF
faith" And what meaning is here
conveyed to each individual who
has the privilege of a real home
life? Let your memories bark
back TO the old homestead. You
see your cody father. A man OF
physical strength and noble bear
ing. He provided well for his own
and stood fearlessly between them
and all danger. You know no
want or anxiety in that home. And
there was your precious mother
A woman of refined nature and