their guns were still pointed at each other. They had services semi-occasionally, but no resident minister. So I-tho twenty-five years a Baptist minister-persuaded them to federate without regard to creed or ritual, simply for the purpose of maintaining a Gospel service and to save the people from heathenism. So we formed a Christian association, called "The People's Church.' The article of membership was love and loyalty to Jesus Christ. For three years I have ministered on this basis without a ripple of dissension, and the town, tho a difficult and godless mining town, has liberally supported the move." In another large city in Kansas a mining community finds itself confronted with moral and civic questions which under existing circumstances it seems impossible to solve. The churches are many, but presumably all are engrossed in their own religious and denominational life. A "ministerial union" can not handle these problems except academically; but federation, being not only a ministerial but also a laymen's organization, can and ought so to do. A federation with its executive committee, its finance committee, its investigation committee, its civic committee, and its social committee would fuse all these elemental religious powers into irresistible strength. The fact that should compel this solution is that the city will lie in its weakness until the church of Jesus Christ becomes one, not simply in theory and profession, but in actual fact. Our plan in Kansas is to form a State federation out of all those whom we can interest. We shall not wait for denominational endorsement, tho we earnestly desire it; but, having secured a nucleus of earnest men, we will begin the organization of city, town, and county organizations, and from these local federations work toward a State council. The federation must not stop short of authority to advise and act upon all problems of overchurching of communities; it must have power to provide a Gospel ministry for neglected districts; it should direct the evangelistic energies, and foster earnest efforts to solve civic and social problems. It should also by its gatherings and conventions be the medium of introduction between Christians of all denominations, the common and reasonable platform for the gathering of all God's people. AN EXPERIMENT WITH A BUSINESS ANNEX BY THE REV. FREDERICK A. HATCH, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT. Two reasons led me to take up business life in connection with parish work. I had agreed to supply a church, the stipend of which was insufficient for my needs, but the pastoral work of which was not exacting. They said that I could use my days as suited me. About the same time I was offered just the kind of work that would give me some freedom for parish work, and not interfere with my position as a minister. I became the clerk and secretary to an engineer and contractor. A desire, long held, to meet with business men on their own ground could thus be realized. That was the main reason. some months I was accustomed to get up at six in the morning. I had an experience which I would not have missed for anything. There was some embarrassment at first, due to the fact that I was at work in a city where I had preached in one of the leading pulpits for some time. It was not long before it was plain that, with the best thinking people, I had lost none of their respect. My work called on me to be paymaster, office man, draftsman, purchasing agent, and, on occasion, foreman on a contract. My employer, For altho not a church man in the usual meaning of that term, was in sympathy with my ministerial work, and I could not ask for kinder treatment. But it was a bit strange at first to have to take orders. Then the workmen were mostly Italians. Some of my college work was helpful on the technical side, but no French I ever learned could help me to understand the patois of these men from the neighborhood of Sicily. In a dispute, one would think that the next thing would be a resort to knives-long-bladed, murderous-looking utensils; but when a matter was settled, a laugh and shrug of the shoulders melted resentment. Of course, I had to be strict in demanding full day's time for money paid them; but it did not take long to learn that they needed no more watching than some of our own race need, and, in other lines, some whom I knew as good church-members need. I was brought into the knowledge of business reputations, and at first hand could realize the antagonism some men out of the church have against tricky and mushy religiosity. But, on the other hand, I learned to have a thorough contempt for the man out of the church who, in a manner as self-righteous as any Pharisee, tells what ought to be the action of church-members, while his own life is rotten through and through. Was I ever tempted to "get mad "? I certainly was, and I did get mad. But I had to keep it to myself all I could. I suspect some men put things in my way just to see how I would take it. To illustrate: On the street I met the employee of a man for whom I had orders to pay certain money. There happened to be no witness, but across the street was passing a man whom I knew, and, crossing over, I said: "I have just paid that man so many dollars, and I want you to witness the fact." "No, sir; while I saw you doing business with him, I know nothing about it." "But will you not take my word as to what I was doing?" "No, sir; I don't believe any man. "But what motive have I to come across the street to lie to you?" "That's all right; but did you never tell a lie?" "Yes." "Well, you would tell another." And he knew what I was doing on Sundays! As to the effect on my pulpit work: I had to do what studying I could in the mornings, for I was too tired at night. Riding from one job to another gave me opportunity to reflect. I jotted down many a thought, as I went from place to place, for the sermon for the coming Sunday. Unwittingly I was getting many an illustration I could use at the mid-week service. But Sunday morning I was surprised to find with what eagerness I went into the work of the day, and, excepting two or three very warm days, the vigor I felt in my preaching. I lost some of the clerical vernacular; but I had in my congregation a number of business men dealing in large affairs, and I was told that one of them said that I talked from their standpoint. That was reward, for I have long felt the force of the argument against the preacher that he could not appreciate the business man's standpoint. I think that it has forced home to me that I am a "man of God," as the saying is, not so much from the laying-on of hands as from the call to serve and help. Should pastors having small incomes follow my example, year in and out? That depends, first, on the church. Some churches would be harmed. I was able to visit my sick, attend funerals, and do a little calling where it was needed. Some other kind of work might not permit that. Then some churches would think that their pastor was belittling them. They would prefer that their pastor's wife continue to pinch and contrive. Some men could not do it, for to them preaching is a burden. To me it is a delight. And I like to study men when off guard. Of one thing I feel sure that a minister must be very careful, if he is in business, to be delivered from the suspicion of having to be tricky or sharp for his own benefit. It is for that reason better, if one goes into business for longer or shorter time, to be an employee. Physically it has been of great benefit. No vacation; but down by the shore I have had charge of a gang of workmen building a breakwater, and up in the country trenching for water-pipe; and, altho I looked disreputable, not more so than some preachers who were paying for their good air and the privilege of wearing their old clothes. I ought to have been more gentle, have had more grace apparent, perhaps talked to men about their souls; but I was faithful to my employer, smiled some help now and then, and did my preaching on Sunday. SERVICES IN OUTLYING NEIGHBORHOODS A HEALTHY Country pastor may accomplish vast good by holding services once each week in neighborhoods not far from the central point of labor. I was recently informed by a Presbyterian minister that while he was pastor of a church just prior to the one which he now serves, and where he remained nineteen years, he preached at four out-stations, giv. ing to each place one service once a month. This was his first pastorate. He stated that as a result of such ministry there were fre H. WETHERBE. quent conversions, and that many of the converts united with his church. He regarded those points of labor as being sources of supply to the numerical and spiritual strength of the church. In this way the membership of the church was very largely increased. Of course, the pastor, being a spiritual man, was actuated by a much higher motive in that work than that of merely adding members to his church. His supreme purpose was to save people. SERMONS AND ADDRESSES SEEING THE LORD* BY CHARLES WAGNER, D.D., ST.D., PARIS. As I have this morning here in this church, by the right of hospitality, the opportunity of speaking a word to you, I will hope that the word of God may be fulfilled-that God has put His word into the lips of little children. Altho I am a man, I speak your language only like a child; but in this infirmity of language may you feel the strength and the power of God. I will try to give help to my words by the words of the gospel of Luke, where is told the history of the publican Zacchaeus, who, when Christ came through his city of Jericho, climbed a sycamore tree in order to be able to see Him, because he was too little by stature. But when Christ came He stood there, calling him by name: "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down!" And he came down. All that is true, is ever true; never merely for one day and in one place, but for the whole of time and in every place. It is true that the Lord and Savior is ever passing along-in our houses, in the streets, in human life, in nature; but sometimes we see Him and sometimes we do not see Him. Why? What is the reason? There are two reasons why we can not see the Lord when He is passing along. The first reason is that we are too little. The heart of man is too low in its intention, in its aim. He is too much embarrassed and imprisoned in all kinds of things which hinder him from seeing the Lord going along. And you say, "Oh, I feel not the presence of God; I feel no help of Him," and you are in a state of hopelessness or of indifference. Not only are we too little and low in our aims and intentions, but we are too little in our hopes; our faith, our courage, is too small. The hand of a child put before your eyes can hinder you from seeing the stars, and so we find all kinds of things which are like this little hand of a little child, hindering our eyes when we would look at the stars. In such a situation, when you are in a state of small hope, of small faith, and low thinking, the word comes to you: "Go you, and get up higher! Leave this low standpoint!" And we get up to the top of the hills and of the mountains, such as we all know in the countries where they have high mountains, like those in beautiful Switzerland, where many of you have been. There, in autumn or in spring, very often all the plain and all the valley is shrouded in dark mist, and there is great difficulty in seeing the way; but the people who know the country are sure that one or two miles above the gloomy valley there are bright sunshine and warmth over the hills and mountains; and often on Sundays, or other days when they are free, they come out of the dark, cold mist and they go to the sunny heights, enjoying the sunshine and light and the blue sky, where it seems that one has an outlook over all the world. So, when we can not see the Lord coming along, we have, in our souls, in our minds, to get up, to take the path of the mountains, by effort, by strenuous deeds, by grasping God's hand. Get up in the sunlight! But often we do not see the Lord coming along, not because we are too little, not because we are too low, but because we are too high-so high that we can not see the modest Son of Man and of God going along the ways of life. A man can be too high in his social situation. Very often it is in particular as a result of happiness, wealth, of the privileges of this life, that we come to have a kind of contempt toward our fellow men; and step by step, by slow degrees, we have come up to such a height of lofty scorn of men that we no more stop even to see the Lord coming along, and our heart is blind, and we are sitting in darkness, and we cry: "O Lord, I do not see Thee!" But it is not the Lord who has to change His way. We have to modify our aims, our standpoint. Some people are too high in thought. There are some philosophers having gone so far from the ordinary life of struggle and vice and suffering that they have no more recollection of what we call humanity. They are too high. To them the word of Christ is: "Come down, and you will see life." Or they are too high in their religion, in their religious doubts. All their religion is like a high flying over the clouds. They spread their wings all over the world, *Preached in the Madison Avenue Church and stenographically reported for THE HOMILETIC REVIEW. and they have for a long time forgotten their brothers behind them, their sisters, their fellow men. But God calls the suffering, the broken-hearted, and they are worthy to find Him who seek Him. He speaks to us not only from His dwelling on high in the everlasting light, but very often we can not find Him because He has come down. The voice of Jesus is teaching on every page of the Bible and on every page of our life that, as man has not come up to God, very often He speaks from the dust of the earth. His voice is not in the thunder; His voice is in the suffering voice of men, who scarcely have strength enough to speak and to move their lips. And so the voice of God calls men from the path where they are going astray to the good way, to the high life, to the better life, the divine life. This voice comes from the stars and from the abyss from the abyss of human suffering, from human doubt, from human despair, saying to us: "Come down! Make haste! Come down!" He will put you in connec tion with your fellow men. He will show you the way that leads to God. Here, here is the Lord coming along! If you will meet Him, come down! Be modest! Be humble! Do your best to bear the burden of your fellow men! Be warm-hearted! Be largeminded! Be as a man, and do not live so high above the common lot. That, my dear brethren, is the teaching I would have every one of us learn this morning. A man should become his own guest and have a word to speak with himself. We very often speak to others and often speak too much to others and about others; but we want the opportunity to meet ourselves, to be our own guests, and to put this question to ourselves: "Are we too high? Why can not I see the Lord coming along? Why can not I understand the real depth of my life-the secret of happiness? Why can not I have the satisfaction of feeling the help of God in my arms, in my hands; and why can not I do my daily work, feeling that God is with me?" You are too low or you are too high. If you are too low, you will get up. Take care, also, take care, do not be one of those who hinder the little ones from seeing the Lord coming along. This man who could not see the Lord coming along was little. All around him tall men were standing. So very often we are too little to see the Lord coming along, to see the higher life, to see the good. Very often we hinder these little ones, even our own children. It is a real pity to be the parents of children and to hinder them from seeing the Lord coming along. We have those who are almost penniless and lost in indifference, and over against these we have the kind of religious man who speaks the word, but does not fulfil the word; who calls Christ "Lord, Lord!" but who does not fulfil the word of God. Brothers, be sure that all that you can say or speak is nothing if it is not fulfilled in your life. We can hinder the little ones from seeing the Lord coming along by giving them too early an accustomance with all kinds of religious words and all kinds of religious exterior forms. We often see no more when we have seen too much and too often. People do not longer see the wonder of sunset because they have too often seen it; and men too often do not recognize what is grand, what is beautiful, in our poor life because we have so often seen it. Take care. Do not have in your life too many of such old and dead accustomances, such screens between you and the high life. For seeing the Lord coming along we have to have a new soul, a new heart, and new eyes, that the Lord coming along may be ever new for us, and strike us by all that is His, and by all that He says, and by all that He does. We are often blind and look through the eyes of custom, fulfilling the word of the old prophets, "They have eyes that see not and ears that hear not." Come down! Be ever ready to do what the Spirit commands you. Be ready to get up when the moment is come to get up. Be ready to come down when the moment is come for coming down. Listen to the voice when you hear the Lord speaking, going along in your life. He is coming along here now, in this real moment. He will be going along when you will come into the streets. The first man you will see is the Lord coming along. He has said, "What you have done for one of these little ones you have done for me." Every man, in every land, is the Lord coming along. "The Man with a Hoe' was 'brother to the ox,' not because he had a hoe, but because he had nothing but a hoe. He had no vision of the Invisible. . . It is this vision of the Invisible that enables men to endure hardship and to extract from it the elixir of life, and to endure temptation, and to transmute its sinister strength into reenforcement to virtue."-Rev. Wilbur Fletcher Sheridan. THE LAMPS OF LIFE-A NEW YEAR'S LESSON And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, I ASK you to hang upon the wall in front of this organ that old canvas of a master painter's hand, that picture of the Jewish wedding ceremony. Here is the bride's dwelling upon the right; therein she waits for her lover. Here is the bridegroom's dwelling upon the left; and therein he makes preparation to go and possess his bride. And here in the center of the picture, in some shaded vale of palm-trees or terebinth, as the nightly shadows fall, there gather these groups of the friends of the bride who have come more than half way to accompany him, to meet him. And as the gloom of the night falls down, "they all nod and fall asleep." That is the literal translation of the context. By and by, as the passage of the hours comes to the starlit gray almost of midnight drooping over earth's blackness, the stars hardly making any impression, no noise save the call of the night-bird, suddenly there is the gleam of his torch as he springs along his sinuous way, and some of his male friends shout the word, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh!" and they begin to stir themselves. Some of these maids were merely moved by kind, neighborly impulse, and you see them picking away at the wick, striking their burning torch to the dead things, and complaining that their lamps will not burn. Then this dialogue takes place that I have read in your hearing; and behold in the picture how they that are ready go along the path up the Judean hills to that ivytwined dwelling where she waits, and they go in and the door is shut; and these others have gone to the village to buy that which they can not perhaps buy. Wonderful picture! Jesus painted it. Let it hang there all the evening. Out of this picture two startling thoughts come to me-the aged Past, the youthful Future. That midnight cry is typical of that change of time which we call the ending and the beginning of a year. With that cry there comes to every one of our minds the fact that some things are gone, and gone irreparably— namely, actual deeds; and some things remain which are available-namely, hopes and plans, and, possibly, opportunities. When Christ painted the picture He combined these two with the five wise and five foolish: the five lamps gone out-the past which is aged and dying; the five lamps which burn-the future which is hopeful and yet youthful. I stand here representing every one of you if I say there is combined in every human being the five wise and the five foolish-the lamps that are gone out and the lamps that will burn. Some things of my life are gone forever; some things are yet remaining possibly. And I ask you to consider those two parts of the picture this evening. First of all, then, there is a certain portion of time gone. The lamps are out. Three hundred and sixty-five mornings have burned into the ashes of the nightfall, and no man can light them again. The day is past. No one can recall it. I want to buy a Monday. Will any man tell me what shopkeeper in all Boston can sell me a Monday? I want to buy a Friday. Who will tell me from Charlestown to Dorchester, over all these chimneystacks that shall smoke to-morrow, what manufactory of this manufacturing center makes weeks? Where, if I have the gold of Montana, can I buy a month? I may not need it, but I have a sense that I may want it; where can I buy it? No, there is not a shopkeeper that can sell me an old, second-hand month. I may go where I please and beg of my friends-no one can give me time. It is swept away; it is irrevocable; the lamps are gone out. Life! Have you ever observed from summer hilltop, looking down on the meadow where the timothy stood tall and where the bushes were tender and supple in the early June, a stillness like death in the shimmering air, until suddenly there came over the mountains a wind that touched them, and they began to bend in the passage of this wave? Now the wave is gone; now the grasses tremble a little, the boughs of the trees still throb, tho you can feel, if you wet your finger, that the wind has passed; and that communicated throb grows fainter and fainter on the boughs and grasses, and after a little the same death-like stillness, the same silent looking up of every spire or motionless bough which was touched for a moment and had its little swing of life and then was left. So. |