A STRIKING SERMON.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 15

A STRIKING SERMON.

' BY REV. C. H. LAWS. A sermon delivered by tho Rev. C. 11. Jjiiws, B.A. (president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference) at Sydenham Road Church, Norwood, Adelaide, on a recent Sunday morning had a remarkable, effect on tho congregation (says the "Ecgister"), which included several wellknown Adelaido Methodist ministers and members of the General Conference, who had journeyed far to hear Air. Laws. They were in no way disappointed, i'oi the sermon was described as an intellectual treat, restrained in tho maimer of delivery, and yet stirring and emotional in its effect. ' It is not often that applause, is heard at a church service, but the congregation was so gripped by tho utterance that there was a kind of subdued excitement, a rumble of feet in indication of approval, and interjections, too, which could not bo kept back, although the preacher did his best, to hush them. Tho sermon, was based on the text, "I will build Mv Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Mr. Laws said in tlieso days the Church haa to justify herself afresh. Past records were not studied by tho world, and pretensions of authority were worse than useless. Men were saying that tho Church and its influence were fast com'ing to an end, and they pointed to the multitudes who never thought of coming into its doors. Conditions of the time seemed to indicate that the Church had done its work, and.there was no renewal; but before every great movement, he contended, there were conditions which indicated torpor., As the sermon proceeded the congregation, lis.one member expressed it, felt at one moment they were listening to a philosopher, at ; another to a statesman, then to a historian, and later to a social reformer, with a burning sense of indignation for great and palpable wrongs. The address, however, was always cultured, restrained, finely balanced, and free from pnlpit-thumping. The New Zealand [minister described how, when in Londonj he had pulled up his coat to .conceal his clerical collar, and penetrated into the East End slums, with their demoralisation. He saw mothers pushing perambulators into grogshops and giving sips of gin to their little children, and deplorable conditions generally. Then he pictured the ostentatious and vulgar display of -wealth by thoughtless pleas-ure-seekers in the vast city in contrast to the misery of the submerged poor. He asked what was the remedy for evils which he had described, and a voice from the pews remarked, "Lloyd-George," while another deeply-moved listener said, "The Church." Mr. Laws, in continuing his sermon, contended that the functions of the Church were (1) educational, (2) humanitarian, and (3) evangelistic. The Church should bo a great university of the world to expound the Word of God, to be a teacher of moral truths, and an inspirer of moral movements. The Church was responsible to a large extent,for unjust conditions which prevailed, and must be prepared to sp«nk with *■'•■< /"■"»■>"" the .ancient prophets in the denouncement of pr?at social wronTS. It was folly, for'the Church to rest its .authority on ianyt!iing like apostolic succession. It would have to rehabilitate itself, and. like its Master, wash the feet even of its Jndns's. as' well as -of its Peters and •Tonus, and it would be the.master of all be the servant of .all. Mr. Laws has promisd to spsak in the King's Theatre on ttii afternoon of Sunday, August H, at the anniversary of the Central Mission. His subiect will be. "England To-day: A Social Study."