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August 14, 19121 THE I
s iW you going down the corridor to Mr. B?'s
door, and I was most sure he wasn't in."
That "Thank you" surely paid good interest.
That evening the observer was talking to a
minister who almost daily received letters from
total strangers who sought information as to
methods of church work, or other matters,
. iefly their own affairs, "Is it not a great tax
to answer all these inquiries?" the minister
was asked.
"Yes, it does take much of my time," was
i' renlv "Rut T am nloJ <> -J? - 1
a uui gmu tu uu it? in nit* nope
that I may help as many as possible. But I
do wish my correspondents would be more appreciative.
Not one in fifty writes to say,
'Thank you' for my answer."?J. T. Faris in
Making Good.
TI1E BARGE.
What makes the clumsy barge glide on
To the landing down the river?
iNo sail on high
No engine's sigh,
To make her timbers quiver.
But her hull In sympathy with the stream
Drifts on 'gainst wind and the white caps gleam.
And duty calls here ever.
What makes the laden barge return
From the landing down the river?
No current's force,
Shaping her course,
Is now the motion giver;
But aloft is the sail, the bellying sail.
She answers the call of the heavenly gale,
As duty calls her ever.
0, teach me the lesson of the barge
Of the upward reach and sympathy large,
A heart to sympathize with all.
A will to answer the Spirit's call,
And do my duty ever.
Gordon R. Houston.
August 13, 1910, Oregon.
IN CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.
BY REV. C. O'N. MARTINDALiE.
Eph. 5:32, "I speak in regard of Christ and of
the Church."
One is thoroughly scriptural and quite correct
in saying nobody has any right in the (actual)
Church who is not really in Christ, for only
union with the Head makes possible nni/*n
the Body and conversely only union with the
body makes possible union with the Head. The
two, Christ the Head and the Church the Body,
are inseparably entities. The one ever involves
the other.
I am today to answer an important question
as yet unanswered by many?
WHY UNITE WITH THE CHURCH?
In the light of what has been said already,
consider the following good and sufficient reasons:
1. Because the one that loves the Lord and
Saviour cannot but love his people (the people
?f God), and, being joined with him, join with
them in his service. One who loves the Christ is
Rlad to show that love; and a sure way to show
s in joining with those in the Church who
u,ve asd serve him. Not to own Christ is man1
Mostly to disown him as Saviour and Lord and
Example.
2. Because, if one be a believer in heart, loyally
to Christ and honesty with self demand that
he witness a g<5od confession of faith in alliance
with his Chureh in life and service. The reality
?f one's faith is proven by his coming into line
with the faithful, where he naturally and right- '
t ully belongs. He cannot rest satisfied or content
so lobg as in this matter he is silent or unmoved.
To do this were to act the hypocrite in- T
Iced. Then, too, to keep it to self is to lose sight
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SO
of others. The genuine Christian is considerate
of his influence over others.
3. Because out of union with Christ (by
faith) and his Church (by profession and baptism),
one is cut off from the highest service of
God and the best service of men. Only in this
union can he use his life-influence to the best
advantage for God with men. Yea, while one
may be a Christian unconnected with a visible
church organization of some denomination, it is
not the rule, but the rare exception; it is a heap
harder to live as a Christian out of the organized
Church than in and of it. It helps us to live
right, and enables us to help others in the same
direction. Our influence cannot count most for
Christ when we remain outside the pale of his
Church as men view it.
4. Because the Church belongs to God, it is
His Saving Order (Acts 2:47), and if you belong
u? mm you will 'belong to it (1 Tim. 3:15). All
are under obligation to serve God in his appointed
way and not in their own; and the Church of
Christ is ordained of him for this very purpose
of upholding and upbuilding his Kingdom
among men. In the union of his servants there
comes strength for his service. Other orders may
sow good and wise purposes as they go, but none
of these serve the purpose of the Church.
5. Because we each and every one have a work
to do for God among men; nobody else can do it
for us; and we can only do that work as we one
by one enter the Master's Kingdom in the
Church?showing our faith by our works, our
colors by our line-up. Joining the Church is a
public confession of allegiance to Christ, an act
of obedience to a specific order of our Great
Commander, one of a continuous series of obediences.
6. Because it is a privilege as well as a duty
to serve God and his people, to be alligned with
the good rather than the evil. It is a Divine
command and opportunity to separate oneself
unto God and to keep oneself unspotted from
ih U - - -
ine woria as one of his peculiar people. By
union with others of like faith and practice you
greatly multiply your influence for God and the
good. Just as by the collecting together of many
individual grains of powder the force of its action
on obstacles is increased, so the organization
of God's people increases his power in the
earth. It is concentration rather than scatteration
that counts in the Kingdom of the Master
no less than in other lines. We can best dignify
self and honor Christ in the institution of his
own establishment. "The Church is the pillar
and ground of the truth." Not singly only but
organizedly Odd wants men to witness for him
in the world.
7. Because, with all the imperfections and inconsistencies
chargeable to it, the Church in the
world as a body consists of the best people and
embodies the best thought, the best feeling, the
urHi, jwrjiute, ine Desi activity, tlie best achievement
of the world. There is no minimizing the
helpfulness of its fellowship, the redeeming virtue
of its high mission, as a living organism of
God'8 people for the transformation and uplift
of a fallen and ruined humanity. The "elbow
touch" of Christians is very necessary. We need
the Church for the upbuilding and completing of
our life; 'tis both a "training school" and an
"army" for our "discipline in righteousness."
The faith, love, sympathy, hope, association is
strengthening and inspiring, to all who share it.
8. Because the Church needs us to set higher
stanaaras ana to arive out unworthy things;
and, as long as any of us claiming to be Christians,
are unconnected with God's people in
his Church as denominationally organized on
earth, suoh are even by an ungodly world, accounted
with the enemies of Chrisrt, and are real
stumbling-blocks in others' way to Christ and
U T H (939) 5
his service. The influence of a good man out of
the Church may count against Christ and the
cause he loves. The Church needs not so much
"your's" as "you"?the presence and power
of every believer in the world. It needs far more
than your checks or moneys, it needs yourself
wholly devoted to Jesus Christ and his work for
the saving of the world from evil. As one says,
"If I do not join the Church, why should anyone
join it? Would it be a good thing for it to die
out of the world? If not, I ought to join it."
9. Because it is "the Church of Christ," and
the Lord loved it so much that he gave himself
for it, and if you love him you will love his
Church enough to join it (Matt. 16:15-18: EdIi.
5:26-27), and you will shun whatever detracts
from its worth and integrity inside and out. "On
this rock (My Divine Saviourhood), will I build
My churdi," he says; and this brings us under
obligation to unite with it. If we be spiritual
stones resting on "the Christ-Bed-Rock of Ages"
our place is in the living temple of God, not
without.
10. Because, if you are going to Heaven sometime,
you will want to keep as much as possible
in fellowship here with those who are going
thither before you take your departure, and use
all possible means to know the God you hope to
live with. Close communion with the good and
true on earth is a sure mark of that closer fellowship
to he had in Heavenland some sweet
day bye and bye.
Let each one make his own Application. One
who goes that way makes preparation for the
journey to the Celestial City?the Land of the
Blest. Are you getting ready to go to and he
with God?
Crowley, Louisiana.
"SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD."
We are constantly told in the newspapers
and' elsewhere about the great and generous
things that are freely done by women of large
wealth who have large hearts. Thus, in liberal
gift3 and continual benefactions, our ministering
women still, as when Jesus was on earth,
give of their abundance that He may be supported
and comforted. Does He not still say
from the home above, "Inasmuch as ye have
ilnno it nntn tlio lonat nf thpap v? Viuvp ilnnp
it unto met" Those who give great gifts of
talent, influence and money freely for Christ's
sake arc the successors of those ministering
women who went everywhere with Him when
He was on earth.
There are those of whom the world never
hears; women who have no fortune, little time
and only a great love for Jesus Christ, who are
doing large things for Him, and on whom He
looks with smiles of love. In a certain home
presided over by two quiet women, successively,
children who were waifs of poverty have
been taken in one by one, rescued from degradation,
fed, clothed, taught, trained and
brought into the refined atmosphere of an affectionate
Christian household. This daily
WAi?l/ rv? t i U V. ? ?-I &
?vln wi ^uui.1 miiiioifi y una uceu gumg oil ior
years, and the most beautiful thing about it
all is that those who are doing it are not in
the least aware that they are doing angels'
work.?Margaret E. Sangster.
Adopting the suggestions of advisers is not always
safe, even the finest and wisest may mislead.
The probable consequence of contemplated acts
sfhould be seriously considered. King Darius in
his treatment of Daniel illustrates the danger. By
readily heeding the proposals of designing politicians
he imperiled the greatest and most valuable
life in his kingdom. Wise counselors are valuable,
but he who acts must realize that the burden of
responsibility is upon himself.