The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-09-20
SERMO
BY Rev. Paul Gardner.

or all pubic meeting places the
church stands In a class all its own.
Other ground may be holy ground
but no other place Is a holy place de-
voted to God as is the church. To no
other place do men go to behold
His face and to enquire in his tenn
pie" as they do to church. The church
ID the Sanctuary, the emblem of
Heaven, the emblem of God, for God
Himself is called a Sanctuary 1t is
a place for refuge for fugitives, be-
cause i'm Him lin His sanctuary is
the only safe and sarced asylum for
sinners pursued by the sword of di-
vine Justice.
or course this holiness and sacred
ness and privilege do not adhere In
the proportion of the building o in
the constructive material. 1t Is well
that it is not SO. Hence the smallest
and humblest place of meeting may
be all that the greatest and noblest
pile may be, a holy place, the sanct-
uary Of God, THE place where weary,
sin ladened and sin pursued men and
women may keep rendezvous with God
to the health of the soul.
To my mind such Is the only apol-
ogy for a church. IL its precincts be
not kept holy IL its services obscure
rather than reveal God, IL 1t become
merely a place of entertainment rath-
er than a place of communion, IL a
social club room rather than a sanct-
uary then it ceases to function and
has forfeited it's candlestick. But so
long as the church functions, be its
proportions ever so humble and its
congregation small yet II cannot but
be a blessing in the lives OF men and
d light In its community.
If the church properly functions Its
courts and services will be a delight
and all who wish to meet with God,
to behold His face and to enquire In
His temple will also say, II was glad
when they said unto me, Let Us go
into the house of the Lord" Ps. 1921
IL In a significant fact, one that aug
urs well, that our President, Mr.. Cool
idge, is not only a regular attendent at
church but has since taking his high
Office paid splendid tribute to the
place of the church In our civilza-
ton, stated personal belief In Christ
ian religion and urged that 1--WE can
not reject the cause and retain the
suit"
Probably as never before men of at
fairs are looking to the church for
civilizations salvation and President
Coolidge is bit voic.ng their eonvie-
tiens when be says "If the institn.
tons which they american founders)
adopted are to survive, IL the govern
ments which they founded are to en-
dure II will be because tine people con
tinue to have similar religious beliefs
II is idle to discuss freedom ant
equality on any other basis. tits use
less to expect substantial reforms
from any other motive"
This line sentiment involves indivi
dual duty and responsibility TOWARD
the church, the sanctuary. What II
it? Let Theodore Roosevelt answer
1. I'm this actual world, a church
less community where men have a
bandoned and scoffed at or ignores
their religious needs. is a communit.
on the rapid down grade
2. There are enough holidays TO
most of us. Sundays differ from othe
holidays In the fact that there ar
ffty-two OF them every year-there
fore, on Sunday. GO TO CHURCH"
8. Yes. / know all the excuses.
know that can worship theCrea
tor in a grove Of trees, or by q run
ming brook. or In a mans own hous