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THE PULPIT.
A BP.ILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. S. H. COX.
Subject: Church of the Future.
Brooklyn, N. Y.—The Rev. Sydney
Herbert Cox, in an address to the
people of the Congregational Church
of the Evangel, of which he is pastor,
spoke of ''The Church of ihe Future,”
such a church as he would like to see
built and sustained. Among other
things he said:
The Church of the Evangel—Con¬
gregational—is free in its offer of
church membership to any persons
who, without accepting its creed as a
test, will make a single and simple
confession, that they believe Jesus to
be the supreme expression to men, in
human form, of what God is like, and
what He would have us become. This
is what we mean by modernism. That
the life of a church depends not
upon its creed, but upon its spirit.
Therefore we do not insist that any
one else shall accept our creed in the
exact terms in which we interpret
it. It is impossible for a thinking
man not to have a creed of some
sort. But as Congregationalists we
agree to differ upon all matters that
we deem unessential. We believe
that the example of the life of Jesus
as we have it in the four gospels is
sufficient to make any man who will
try it such a man as God would ac¬
cept as His eternal friend, and help
toward perfection of character.
Therefore we ask of a man who
wishes to join our church, not what
does he think concerning the lead¬
ing religious doctrines of his day, but
does he believe in following Jesus as
the Master of men and is he honest¬
ly trying to do so? His creed only
interests us as the intellectual ex¬
pressions of his moral and religious
character. He depends for his au¬
thority in religion exactly as we do,
upon direct communication with
God’s spirit. So, in this intellectual
attitude toward religion, we do not
decry or unkindly criticise those
other religious bodies whose adher¬
ents differ very widely from our
view. We believe firmly and grate
fully that Greek and Roman Catholi¬
cism, all forms of Protestantism.
Unitarian and Trinitarian, as well
as Judaism, have each contrib¬
uted much to the world’s religious
life, and that even the faiths of the
Orient, both ancient and modern,
have been a part of God’s growing
revelation to the world.
The social message of Christianity
has long been misunderstood or ne¬
glected. Now it is being proclaimed
everywhere, and no live church can
escape its appeal. In the church we
are to build, and the work we seek
to do, we must recognize its place.
I have spent ten years amid social
problems, six years in the Hell’s
Kitchen section of Manhattan Island.
I believe that my experience has
equipped me in some humble way to
preach the gospel of Jesus, and build
up a church that shall represent the
life of God in the souls of men.
I do not need to proclaim myself
a Socialist of any brand, nor to join
some new ism, in order to love my
fellow men and serve them. To me
the biggest opportunity in life is
to be a Christian—a Christ’s man, to
serve men. What kind of a church,
then, do I hope to see built and for
what work?
Christianity and Socialism alike
seek the development of an efficient
society, a social order of stable
equilibrium. But Christianity in¬
sists that there can be no perfected
society, except by the regeneration
of each individual. It is not enough
to provide a perfect environment of
justice and live by the most beauti¬
ful socialistic legislation; there must
be a moral power in each person,
causing him to fit in to such a per¬
fect society! Such a moral power
can never be produced by perfect
economic and social legislation, but
by the making of a new moral man
in each individual by some Divine
power outside himself. Such a
power has not been found outside
Jesus Christ, however Ho is to be
interpreted
If the Christian religion is to
make each individual an efficient
member of society, it can only do so
as it perfects each function of that
individual man. The Christian re¬
ligion must improve his body as well
as his mind and soul. It cannot
achieve one and neglect either or
both of the othei’3.
Our supreme work, however, is
tbe culture of the soul. Few of us
can define what we mean by the soul.
But all of us understand what is
meant by the culture of the soul.
The phrase appeals to me more and
more powerfully as I grow older.
The development and enrichment of
the highest powers within us so that
we feel our personality ennobled by
the kindling of sacred fires and the
consciousness of divine passions over
w*hich we know this transitory world
has no ultimate dominion. The cul¬
ture of the soul involves for me three
elements: worship, education and
work. •
What is worship? It is devotion,
instruction, evangelism. In devo¬
tion man’s soul expresses his grati¬
tude to God for life and its hopes,
his Contrition for conscious sin, and
bis prayer for strength to endure the
discipline of his spiritual education,
and to achieve his final spiritual vic¬
tory over the lower and sinful self.
By instruction man seeks to acquire
in orderly possession by sure knowl¬
edge those doctrines of faith which
describe in his own language the ex¬
periences through which he has
passed, .or those which he hopes to
possess and believes^to be- a pdrt of
bis eternal inheritance from his
Father, God.
Next to the importance of the
auditorium for worship, which is our
most important room, we must build
a church equipped for religious edu¬
cation. The preacher's sermons
should do this in part, and do it
systematically, else he is a poorly
trained preacher, though sometimes
he may be a great preacher in spite
of his poor training and not because
of it. But the church is more than
a pulpit for preaching. It is and
always ought to he a great school
for religious education. And this
means chiefly a great school for
Bible study. Men who do not con¬
fess Jesus as Christ, or seek to fol¬
low Him as Lord, admit that the
world has no other literature com¬
parable to the Hebrew Scriptures
of the Old Testament and the Chris¬
tian writings of the New Testament.
These writings, a library of sixty
sk books, commonly called by us
the Bible, constitute a marvelous
book of life, with every variety of
human experience, written in every
type of literary presentation, and
possessed all through by a marvelous
moral power, a spiritual illumina¬
tion and a grip on man's moral being
which make this Bible something
in man's life which he cannot avoid
without moral loss, and cannot read
without spiritual reproof and re¬
morse or defiance or repentance. The
Bible must be reckoned with. Man
has a right to its constant perusal
and self-interpretation which some
churches deny to him. Millions of
our fellow men go through life un¬
conscious of thi3 priceless posses¬
sion, which, if they once realized its
existence and value, they would give
all else to be able to enjoy and pos¬
sess. Millions more in Protestant
Christendom come to years of ma¬
turity utterly ignorant of the real
value and moral vitality of this great
book of God, and though nominally
accepting its contents at their pre¬
sumed face value, place no actual
reliance upon it as a source of life.
This is partly due to an unreal meth
od of interpretation, partly to an
unreal theological authority, and
partly due to its exclusion from our
public system of education as a
literature for literary analysis and
examination, and as a great treasure
house of moral information capable
of being memorized without re¬
course to sectarian explanation or
ecclesiastical influence of sinister de¬
sign. No Congregationalist believes
in State aid to religions communi¬
ties or ecclesiastical objects. Let
every religious organization stand or
fall, live or die. according as it ex¬
fall, live or die, according as it
gives it a right to live in a free at
mosphere which is guaranteed as a
necessity of life, How then is Bible
study to be pursued? By '•quipping
every church as a thorough Bible
school with every modern facility
known to pedagogy, philosophy,
psychology and religious adminis
tration.
The churches of the future cen¬
turies will only live as they are
worthy to live with the advancing
sciences of government, industry
and education.
We are to do the work of build¬
ing up men in Christian character.
Not merelv moral men, or educated
men, or civilized men, but men re¬
deemed and reconstructed in charac¬
ter by tbe oower of a Person whom
we love and worship as the Christ of
God, and apart from whom we do
not believe this sniritual life of re¬
generation is possible.
This work demands that each
member of the Christian church
shall do his share. It demands that
we shall live and work for the com¬
munity all the time. Not for our¬
selves—the community and the
community Father will care for us.
Some souls need worship, some need
social life, some need good books,
some need physical culture, as the
starting point of a new intellectual
life or spiritual passion. The Chris¬
tian church can sanctify all these
modes of renewing men’s life. It
must be a working institution. Open
at all reasonable hours, for all ra¬
tional purposes that aid in religious
development. It must be the great
sniritual centre from which radiates
the religious strength of the homes
that stand around it and to which
comes the spiritual response that mul¬
tiplies and maintains its power and
resources.
Reconciled.
A young husband and v/ife were
walking, one summer evening,
through a country churchyard, and
they were attracted by two little
graves, side by side, on which were
laid wreaths and crosses of fresh
flowers. The date of the little ones’
death was seen by the headstone^
some years back. The names were
those of two children, only two and
three years o’.d, and underneath were
the words, “Thy will be done.”
“How dreadfully sad!” said thq
young husband.
“If our baby were to die I could
never say that,” said the young wife,
pointing to the text.
Let us hope you will not be tried,"
said the young husband.
But when they returned home that
night they found the baby ailing, and
before very long, a little grave—such
a little grave!—had to be dug for it,
too.
For a time the poor mother’s heart
rebelled terribly. She mourned as
one who had no hope, and on the
tombstone of her little one she had
inscribed the words: “I am bereaved
of my children, I am bereaved.”
Later on, through years of trial
and suffering, God led her to a better
mind; and when, a woman old in sor
row and years, she visited the grave
where her child and husband were both
lying, she resolved to have that mur¬
muring inscription altered, and in¬
stead of it was
treasure is, the heart i3 also; a
beneath again, the "text which once,
she thought she could not say, “Thy
will be done. Home Herald.
mit
SXinbatjrSciSw
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM¬
MENTS FOR AUGUST 0.
Subject: David and Goliath, 1 Samuel
17:J, 18:5—Golden Text, Ps.
11:1—Commit Verses 48, 40—•
Commentary.
TIME,—-1063 B. C. PLACE,—..
Vale of Elah.
EXPOSITION.—I. Goliath’s Boast¬
ing, 3S-44. The challenge of Goliath
had filled the hearts of the whole
army with dismay (vs. 11,24,32); but
young David had no fear. The eyes
of all the rest of Israel were upon
themselves. The eyes of David were
upon God (v. 37). This was the one
secret of David’s courage, assurance
and victory. It is the secret of all
true courage and victory. Saul also
had been at one time a man of daunt¬
less courage, but the Spirit of God
had now departed from him and he
was as big a coward as any in Israel
(cf. ch. 16:14). David, relying upon
Jehovah, proposed to go and fight the
mighty giant single-handed. To cool
common sense his proposition seemed
the height of absurdity. There was
much about Goliath to fill pavid with
fear (vs. 4-8). David had taken all
these things into account, but he was
not afraid; for Jehovah was his salva¬
tion and his strength (cf. Ps. 27:1-3).
If we truly trust in the LORD we will
never be afraid, no matter though
the odds against us seem to be over¬
whelming (Isa. 12:2; Ro. S:31).
Even Saul sought to dissuade him (v.
33). When God calls any one of us
to fight some Goliath some kindly in
tentioned Saul is sure to say, “Thou
art not able” (cf. Phil. 4:13). It was
a good argument that David brought
forward to answer the argument oi
unbelief (vs. 34-37). We may wisely
trust the God who has delivered us in
the past to also deliver us in the pres¬
ent and the future (cf. Ro. S:32).
David was confident, furthermore,
that Goliath was doomed to defeat
because he had defied the living God
(vs. 26, 36). Saul sought to help
David by clothing him with his own
apparel and armor. But the intended
! help proved a real hindrance. It is
impossible to fight the battles and
win the victories of faith with Saul’s
armor (2 Cor. 10:4). When David
tried Saul’s armor he was forced to
say, “I cannot go with these.” When
the church tries the world’s weapons
it is sure to find out that it “cannot
go with these.” When he found that
he could not go with Saul’s armor he
very wisely “put them off him.” He
took the weapons with which he was
familiar. When God calls a man He
is very likely to use the weapons Pie
finds in the man's hands (cf. Ex.
4:2). David’s preparation seemed
utterly insufficient to meet a giant
with. In reality David had four more
stones than he needed. God had
chosen' the weak things of the world
to confound the mighty (1 Cor.
1:27). Saul’s armor seemed a much
better preparation for such a fight
than David’s sling, but David’s sling
proved to be a better preparation than
Saul’s armor. A few well chosen
stones from God’s word are a much
better preparation to cope with the
modern Goliaths of irfidelity than
Saul’a armor and sword of learning
and wit and eloquence. Saul’s armor
is spoiling many a David in these
days. The Philistine regarded David
with utter disdain. That is the way
in which the Philistine usually re¬
gards God’s champion. But the
Philistine’s disdain turned out very
i badly for the Philistine himself.
Goliath’s disdain did not hurt David’s
feelings very much, because David
knew who would win. The disdain of
the world is a small thing to the in¬
telligent believer.
II. David’s Victory, 45-49. All
Israel had been frightened by Goli¬
ath’s boasts. Many a professed Chris¬
tian in these days is terribly fright¬
ened by the blatant boasts of infidel¬
ity, but the true man of faith is not at
all disturbed by all this bluster.
David was not frightened simply be¬
cause his whole trust was “in the
name of the LORD of hosts.” David’s
answer is well worth studying. Our
answer to the boasts of unbelief to¬
day ought to be the same. To the eye
of sense “a sword” and “a spear” and
“a javelin” seemed like a better
equipment than “the name of the
Lord of hosts,” but when any man
can truly say that he goes into battle
“in the name of the Lord of hosts”
his victory is sure. Jehovah is “the
i God of the armies of Israel.” David
I made a great deal of the fact that
I Goliath had defied the Lord (v. 45;
' cf. vs. 26, 36). Calmly but fearlessly
David declared to Goliath the sure
outcome of the battle. He took no
credit to himself. He said, “The Lord
will deliver thee into my hand. > »
David knew that by faith alone.
There was nothing for sense to build
upon (cf. Heb. 11:1). David would
smite Goliath not because of any
strength of his own, but only because
God had delivered him into his hand.
David would do to Goliath and ‘H.he
host of the Philistines” just what
i Goliath had boasted that he would do
to David (v. 46; cf. v. 44). God’s
purpose in giving this great victory
to David was not merely to magnify
David, but “that all the earth may
, know that there is God in Israel.”
1 a
I David was not aiming at his own
i honor but at Jehovah’s, but he got
great honor for himself (ch. 18:6, 7).
Israel needed to learn a lesson as well
th.e world (v. 47, R. V.). The
1 ckui'dh needs to learn that lesson to¬
day, The battle is the Lord's, it is in
His hands.
* ANTH0INE8’ MACHINE WORKS *
We have put in the latest
improved
Turning & Block Machine
and are fitted up to get out
round, square and octagon
■ s l ill v: Balusters, Porch Spindles,
Base and Corner Blocks.
We also have a first-class
Wood Lathe for all kinds of
hand turning.
i We prepared to get out all
X 1 are
3 kinds of Dressed Lumber for
#! buildings. Rough and Dress¬
1 M ed Lumber, Flooring, Ceiling
i V and Shingles on hand at all
times.
Don’t forget that we are still in
1 r the Repair Business of Engines,
Boilers and other Machinery.
ANTHOINE’S MACHINE WORKS.
Fort Valley, Ga.
1 —L. I ' JM gg
Everything to Build With.
We have recently purchased the Harris Manufacturing
Company’s lumber plant and stock and will devote our
exclusive attention to the builders supply busines in tho
future.
Our very complete stock includes
Brick, Lime, Sand, Cement, Fiber Wall Plaster, Paris
Plaster, Laths, Framing—rough or sized to order;
Weatherboarding—several grades; Sheeting, Shingles,
Prepared Roofing, Kiln Dried Flooring and Ceiling, the
kind that don’t crack open—several grades; Doors—
plain, and fancy glass front doors; Sash and Blinds—
in usual sizes; Window Cords, Weights and Pulleys;
Mantels, Columns, Balusters, Brackets, Mouldings,
Wainscoting, Corner and Plinth Blocks; Turned and
Sawed Work Made to Order; Door and Window
Frames; Sherwin-Williams Paint, Oils and Varnishes;
Guaranteed Roof Paint.
IN FACT
Everything to Build CXIith.
Bring us a list of the material that you want, or a plan of
the house you anticipate building, and let us convince you
that our prices are right.
Fort Valley Lumber Compa ny.
W. H. HAFER,
DENTIST.
Fort Valley, Georgia
Office over First National Bank.
C. Z. McArthur,
Dentist
FORT VALLEY, GA.
Office over Slappey’s Drug Store.
A. C. RILEY,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
WRIQIIT BUILDING,
Fort Valley, Ga.
Practice in all the cou-rts. Money
loaned. Titles abstracted.
Tirej* Insurance Life
H. D. Skcllie.
Office Phone No. 54.
FORT VALLEY, GA.
C. L. SHEPARD,
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,
Fort Valley, Ga.
Office Over First National Bank.
TONSORIAL ARTIST |
tonsorial lino !
For anything in the
don’t fail to call on
WILLIAMS
Next Door to Post Office.
Experienced workmen and courteous at¬
tention to all. Everything up-to-date.
The contract for building the new I
city hall at Augusta has been award
ed Georgia granite will be used I
throughout and the contract figures
are are 1259 y,7oU. 750 Eight Rigni bids mas were were enter- eniti j
ed. ]
Three mass meetings were held in I
Atlanta to protest against the convict
lease system and its workings. Fully !
ten thousand people attended the dif
ferent meetings, the largest crowd 1
gathering in the grand opera house in j
that city. Many eloquent speeches
were made condemning the system
and resolutions to that effect adopted
by the; city councils of :Joffer onville,
Baldwin, Fort Valley and ether Geor¬
gia towns, were read.
5AM LOO,
FIRSKLASS LAUNDRY
FORT VALLEY, GA.
PRICE LIST.
Shirts, plain.............. 10c
Shirts, plain or puffed with
collar............ 121-2c
Suits cleaned....... 50 & $1
Pants pressed...... 25c
Collars............... 2 1-2
Capes, collar or fancy 5c
Cuffs each per pair 5c
Chemise........... 10c
Drawers........... 5c
Undershirts....... 5c
Socks, per pair ... . :.5 C
Handkerchiefs..... 2 1-2
Handkerchiefs, silk 5c
Shirts, night, ylain 10c
Coats............. . ..15 to 25c
Vests............. . ..15 to 20c
Pants............. ... 25 to 05c
Towels............ 2 1-2 to 5c
Table cloths....... ... 10 to 25
Sheets............ ......7 1-2
Pillow cases, plain. .......5c
Napkins.......... ......2 l-2c
Bed spreads...... .. 15 to 25c
Blankets.......... ..25 to 50c
Lace Curtains..... ... 20 to 25c
Ladies’ shirt waist. ... 15 to 25c
Skirts....’....... ..22 to 35c
Sincerity is Not Enough.
Here is a man who is sowing what
appears to be black ashes. A friend
accosts him, saying: “What have
you got in your bag?” He learns
that it is the hulls of buckwheat—
the chaff of old wheat; and he says:
“What are you sowing chaff for?’'
“Why,” the man replies, “I have the
impression that if a man is only
faithful and sincere, it makes no
difference what he sows. 1 1
Does it not make a difference?
Suppose a man should sow couch
grass thinking he was going to get
timothy hay; would he? Suppose a
man should set out crab-apple-trees
ln hls orc:hard - and think he was
, going to get fan pippins; would he?
Suppose a man should sow that most
detestable of all detestable seeds, the
Canadian thistle, and say it was
wheat; would any amount of botani
cal sincerity on the part of this fool
secure to him a harvest of anything
better than the seed sown? if he
sowed chaff, he would not even
reap chaff. If he spwed weeds, he
would reap weeds. “For what a
man sows” in natural husbandry,
“that shall he reap." — Henry W?rd
Beecher.