A PLEA
You have builded temples in His name
Of mortar and brick and stone, With windows of glass most beautifully stained,
With tower and spire and dome; But what do we of the by-ways care
For structure and line and trim? Out in the dust of the lonely road
We only ask for Him!
You have blazed His name across the night
In letters of flickering fire; In rainbow hues you have said “Come in”;
You have shouted your desire; Oh, what do we care for the many lights
When our heart’s high hope is dim? Show us the light of Bethlehem’s Star
That we may go to Him!
You have robed your choirs and trained them well
In proper and intricate song; You have bought fine organs to edify
And lull the weary throng; But what do we care for your black robed choir
Or your organ’s deep amen? We want you to walk beside us here.
And point the way to Him!
What do we care for temples and spires, For pomp and riches and fame?
We cannot see them through falling tears— Who are sick and blind and lame;
You have pointed the way to temples tall; To your music grand and sweet;
To logic; to art; and to intellect;— But we seek the print of His feet!
The roads of the world are a crooked maze,
And we are woefully lost, For the road to Him in the paths of men
Is faint and hidden and crossed. Oh, what do we care for the trappings of Art
When our heart’s high hope is dim? We seek the touch of His healing hand,
Oh, show us the way to Him!
In planning your programs you will always find this true: that there are mothers and friends of would-be singers or readers or pianists, who will call you to ask that Jemima or Marcus be put on the program. “It is so good for the children to perform before the public, and she (or he) really has a lovely little piece (to play or sing or recite), and her (or his) teacher says that the child is positively marvel-ous.
How many doting mothers have thrust their frightened offspring upon a long suffering congregation “for practice”!
You won’t dare refuse, Oswald, for the mother will withdraw her support from the church and Grandma and Aunt Elsie will follow suit, and since you need all the financial aid and good will that you can get, you put Jemima’s name down on your program for “I Know That I Shall Never See,” or “Nearer My God to Thee” (with variations), or “Little Willie’s Prayer,” and endure silently!
Your prayer meeting will require very little thought and effort. Wait until ten minutes before the time to begin the meeting and then hurriedly select a few verses of scripture, at random, and use them as a basis for a “few feeble remarks.” Some preachers do! And wonder why the attendance at prayer meeting becomes smaller and smaller!
Posted in CHAPTER EIGHT
You may try to persuade yourself that this is an ordinary book — in order that you may find comfort in the persuasion - but you cannot do so and be fair to facts.