Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1914 — Monday Evening Sermon at The Presbyterian Church. [ARTICLE]

Monday Evening Sermon at The Presbyterian Church.

The text for the sermon Monday evening by Rev. A. W. Hoffman was the 10th verse of 111 Corinthians, chapter 1. “According to the grace of God, which was given unto ma as a wise master builder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.” With this statement of Paul the speaker • developed the theme the building of character, comparing the character to an edifice; and as some buildings indicate strength and beauty by their appearanca and others suggest everything that is undesirable within,, so with characters; there are . those whom we meet whose lives show beauty, nobility of purpose and cleaness of thought, while others display weakness, lack of purpose and inward uncleanpess. When) one intends building a house he first studies plan books compiled by authoratative architecta; so with the building of character. We have a plan by the highest authority, the Bibla which has stood the test of time, and those who have followed it have never been disappointed or found a better.

In the building of Solomon’s temple, which has been an example through the ages of beauty, * God gave the details of the plans to the builders and as these directions were followed there arose a building of magnificent beauty, Which has been the world’s example of perfection of architecture ever since; so with the life which follows the plan which God has revealed, if followed, a life of extraordinary beauty is the result. The speaker mentioned having heard in the home of a friend, the Vlctrola record on Immortality by Wm. Jennings Bryan, and how the very yoice of the speaker seemed to make its appeal to him, saying just as does the record 'left by God in His sacred word indicate clearly, to all who will heed, His divine plan for our lives. / The reason for the faihire of many lives is lack of a plan on the part of the individual. The life that God had intended as a noble edifice often becomes a “tumbling shanty”, for no effort is made to have it conform to the plan which the "Divine Architect” had Intended. Another very apt illustration of the same principle was given of the scrub oak, a stunted plant which has every indication of having been intended to grow to a great height and withstand all the storms and have great branches for the protection and happiness Of others, but which has not realised its own possibilities and is satisfied «s an ugly and gnarled specimen when it might have been a thing of grandeur and helpfulness. Necessary as is a plan when building it is not all; there is also a foundation. If the building is to idand the test of time it must have a solid foundation. The larger and higher the building the more necessary that the foundation shall be built on solid rock. In the building of Christian character Christ is the rock of our salvation. Then on this foundation we should build the superstructure of love to,our felMw men. For love Js the only External material; love never faileth; but whether there be tongues they shall cease; whether there be knowledge it shall be done away. We can not build a beautiful or enduring character with hatred afid malice in our hearts; we must have a love for , our follow men at described by JPaul, a love that “suffereth long and is I kind, envleth ndt, vaunteth -not

itself is not puffed up, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, "but rejoiceth in trut;h; believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Then we must give expression to our love in service. A closing illustration of this truth was given of a mission building in China, where on account of a lack of funds there was no roof on the building and the rains, sun and frosts soon destroyed its usefulness. , The speaker made a plea to all who had not given thought to the plan of their lives to consider the divine plan and make a wise choice and build for nobility of character as the Divine Architect had intended and desires.