0651 |
Previous | 651 of 746 | Next |
|
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
|
This page
All
|
Loading content ...
#002 The Worlds Columbian Exposition Scrapbook, 651
41
grounds be open on Sunday, many devotional services will be held.
No one would object to the work of the eloquent divine and artistic
choir. Instead of defending such work, let us in this, our closing sec-
tion, consider the religious consequences.
In doing this, let me ask myself a question as coming from some
objector, wliose opposition arises from the belief that all Sunday rec-
reations are sinful. "Do you, as a minister, believe that innocent
amusements are so conducive to man's highest good that you would
equally advise for Sunday reading the harmless novel or the devo-
tional book, and would as soon see a young man go to the ballgrounds
as to a Bible-class, or to the Fair as for the second time to the
house of God?" My reply is, that the spiritual end of man's being
would be much better nourished by whatever has the religious than
the unreligious tendency, but that this belief should not lead me to a
wholesale condemnation of whatever does not strengthen the spiritual
character. As man is constituted and surrounded, it is equally as nec-
essary for those who would be spiritual leaders to work upon the
advance which can be made by the many, as upon the height that will
be gained by the few.
Is not difference in religious degrees fully recognized in the New
Testament, as in the parable of the talents (St. Matthew xxv); in that
of the tares (St. Matthew xiii); in Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea,
and Zaccheus for examples; in the reaping proportionally to the sow-
ing (2 Cor. ix, 6); in the going on to perfection (Hebrews vi, 1); in
inability to present the completed doctrine (x Cor. iii, 2), and in the
recognition of spiritual babehood in the preceding verse, and by St.
Peter (x Peter ii, 2)? Most Christians die in a religious infancy. On
this recognition of planes in religion we shall base our reply. The
Christian rests, not because servile labor is of itself sinful, but because
any such toil would interfere with that worship of God which is the
great end of the Christian's hallowed day. Anything which, during
at least twenty-four hours, withdraws his mind from God, militates
against the highest good to be derived from the day. To keep per-
fect command over time, thought, and works is what is absolutely
necessary to the one who would derive the greatest advantage from
the best spending the time on any Lord's Day.
Now, let us see how far the very best Christians live up to such
observance. A congregation has broken up. Before it leaves sacred
walls the chitchat commences. If about the sermon, very few expres-
sions or hopes that the one speaking of it will take it to him or her-
self; only praise about the eloquence. Even this soon dropped, it is
about a fine tenor or soprano; about cloaks, bonnets, and dress; about
some entertainment; while some of the men branch off upon business
failures, crops, weather, or politics. During the whole day, save when
at church, the same flow of small talk. This is the way that I spend a
large portion of time; and in the same way, or in some way as disso-
ciated from a constant grasp after the ideal blessings of the day, do the
elder of the Presbyterian church, and the Methodist class-leader, and
the Roman Catholic priest pass the time when out of church. Such
secularization of the day is both wrong and right. It is more wrong
for me than for a common Christian, because I ought to be aiming
after the highest spiritual life; not wrong, because I am possessed of
the same fallen nature which is inherited by every child of Adam, and
Object Description
| Title | World's Columbian Exposition 002 |
| Subject LOC |
World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) World's Parliament of Religions (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) World's Congress of Representative Women (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) Chicago (Ill.)--1890-1900 |
| Subject IDA |
Religion Papers |
| Description | This is a collection of documents from the World's Columbian Exposition and the World Parliament of Religions, which was held in Chicago, Illinois, in 1893. |
| Date Original | 1893 |
| Searchable Date | 1890s (1890-1899) |
| Identifier | WCE 002 |
| Coverage Geographic | Chicago (Ill.) |
| Coverage Temporal | 1890s (1890-1900) |
| Type | Text |
| Collection Publisher | Meadville Lombard Theological School |
| Rights | These documents can be read, downloaded, and the transcripts printed for educationalpurposes. |
| Language | en |
| Contributing Institution | Meadville Lombard Theological School |
| Collection Name | Jenkin Lloyd Jones World’s Columbian Exposition Collection |
Description
| Title | 0651 |
| Subject LOC |
World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) World's Parliament of Religions (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) World's Congress of Representative Women (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) Chicago (Ill.)--1890-1900 |
| Subject IDA |
Religion Papers |
| Description | This is a collection of documents from the World's Columbian Exposition and the World Parliament of Religions, which was held in Chicago, Illinois, in 1893. |
| Date Original | 1893 |
| Searchable Date | 1890s (1890-1899) |
| Coverage Geographic | Chicago (Ill.) |
| Coverage Temporal | 1890s (1890-1900) |
| Type | Text |
| Collection Publisher | Meadville Lombard Theological School |
| Rights | These documents can be read, downloaded, and the transcripts printed for educationalpurposes. |
| Language | en |
| Contributing Institution | Meadville Lombard Theological School |
| Collection Name | Jenkin Lloyd Jones World’s Columbian Exposition Collection |
| Transcript | #002 The Worlds Columbian Exposition Scrapbook, 651 41 grounds be open on Sunday, many devotional services will be held. No one would object to the work of the eloquent divine and artistic choir. Instead of defending such work, let us in this, our closing sec- tion, consider the religious consequences. In doing this, let me ask myself a question as coming from some objector, wliose opposition arises from the belief that all Sunday rec- reations are sinful. "Do you, as a minister, believe that innocent amusements are so conducive to man's highest good that you would equally advise for Sunday reading the harmless novel or the devo- tional book, and would as soon see a young man go to the ballgrounds as to a Bible-class, or to the Fair as for the second time to the house of God?" My reply is, that the spiritual end of man's being would be much better nourished by whatever has the religious than the unreligious tendency, but that this belief should not lead me to a wholesale condemnation of whatever does not strengthen the spiritual character. As man is constituted and surrounded, it is equally as nec- essary for those who would be spiritual leaders to work upon the advance which can be made by the many, as upon the height that will be gained by the few. Is not difference in religious degrees fully recognized in the New Testament, as in the parable of the talents (St. Matthew xxv); in that of the tares (St. Matthew xiii); in Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and Zaccheus for examples; in the reaping proportionally to the sow- ing (2 Cor. ix, 6); in the going on to perfection (Hebrews vi, 1); in inability to present the completed doctrine (x Cor. iii, 2), and in the recognition of spiritual babehood in the preceding verse, and by St. Peter (x Peter ii, 2)? Most Christians die in a religious infancy. On this recognition of planes in religion we shall base our reply. The Christian rests, not because servile labor is of itself sinful, but because any such toil would interfere with that worship of God which is the great end of the Christian's hallowed day. Anything which, during at least twenty-four hours, withdraws his mind from God, militates against the highest good to be derived from the day. To keep per- fect command over time, thought, and works is what is absolutely necessary to the one who would derive the greatest advantage from the best spending the time on any Lord's Day. Now, let us see how far the very best Christians live up to such observance. A congregation has broken up. Before it leaves sacred walls the chitchat commences. If about the sermon, very few expres- sions or hopes that the one speaking of it will take it to him or her- self; only praise about the eloquence. Even this soon dropped, it is about a fine tenor or soprano; about cloaks, bonnets, and dress; about some entertainment; while some of the men branch off upon business failures, crops, weather, or politics. During the whole day, save when at church, the same flow of small talk. This is the way that I spend a large portion of time; and in the same way, or in some way as disso- ciated from a constant grasp after the ideal blessings of the day, do the elder of the Presbyterian church, and the Methodist class-leader, and the Roman Catholic priest pass the time when out of church. Such secularization of the day is both wrong and right. It is more wrong for me than for a common Christian, because I ought to be aiming after the highest spiritual life; not wrong, because I am possessed of the same fallen nature which is inherited by every child of Adam, and |
