THE GREATEST SOCIETY IN THE WORLD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 131, 4 June 1900, Page 2

THE GREATEST SOCIETY IN THE WORLD.

At Knox Church, Parnell, on Sunday morning the Key. H. Kelly preaching on the above subject, selecting his text from the j.4sth Psalm, 13th verse, said: "This is an age Of societies, If you were to try to make up a catalogue of all the associations political, social, and religious the list of theni would be miles long. Every interest has its club or union, and these in turn have then* branches and offshoots. To these phenomena of modem times there is both a bad and a good side. Some come into existence so to speak from wrong motives. Some societies are created merely for personal ends to "further personal ambition or gratifywg someones vanity. These societies are mere clubs or tools or stepping stones for individuals.; to office, and to fame, and then again some associations are dve1 to the spirit of wanton opposition so aptly put by our American cousins as 'pure cussedness' that all indicates a want of balance and breadth, and most certainly a want of charity. But the good side to the multiplication of societies is this: it stimulates a healthy rivalry and social activity. They create interest ■where it did not previously exist, and what is of still more importance, the increase of associations points to increase of specialisation. In the olden times one man used to make a pair of boots from heels to eyelets; nowadays one man makes only one part. So it is also in the medical profession specialisation of function- There is, a specialist for the ear, another fov the eye, another for the throat, a;»d bo' on, and specialisation is bound to develop more and more rapidly as the days go on, Progress necessitates specialisation, and. specialisatiop in our organised commonwealth must ever summon new societies into existence. On the other hand the mortality of societies is very high. Some are still-born, some, live only a few months., and others drag out a feeble and miserable existence, and in a year or two fall into oblivion. A cemetery for defunct societies would cover many acres and would require an ever increasing boundary. We turn, with relief therefore to read of an organisation which, elainis to be everlasting- It is the greatest society in the world; it never dissolves, it never dies: its title is the kingdom of Goa. The kingdom of God is the greatest in the world, because it includes Christianity but it stretches I verily belive beyond it, and it takes in 'the other sheep which are not of this fold.' And we have gome guarantee of this society, because God Himself founded it Societies spring up and perish; empires once deemed irdmortal turn to dust. And why are they thus carried away into everlasting oblivion? Because the work of man can always be destroyed by man. There is a. pathos in human ruins, nnd it is the pathos that attaches to human weakness. Broken columns and moxildering towers these are time's commentaries on human greatness. But brethren, when the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, resolves to build a kingdom I take it that he will build it on such lines that neither the lapse of ages nor the attacks of the enemy w.ill ever cause it to pass away, He hke put into it something of His innermost nature, Man rebelled against God, but the rebellion of wan no more overthrew the kingdom of God than the rebellion of a distant tribe on the hillg Of India overthrows the British Empire. And again, this society must be everlasting for another rea6on, viz., in view of the triumphs it has made already. Now I freely gtant you that we are a long way from the millennium, but I say this that if you draw up your very strongest and fiercest indictment of the failings of eociety and the present state of the world and make it as strong as words ever can, granting all that, the world is im.mens.ely better than it was and that not so very long ago. It is readily admitted that the human race hag made progress. Why man is not co cruel now in civilised countries. Surely he is not so cruel; he is not so unfeeling as he onqe was. Why there is far more care now for the Bick and the insane and the aged and the poor. And again, the progress is most marked in the most Christian countries, There is a coincidence to which no man can shut his eyes, and the more closely he examines .the more will he be led to the conclusion that there is in Christianity a secret invisible power striking into human history and moulding it after the pattern in the heavens. What seemed a, coincidence is lifted into the higher relation of cause and effect. Of all the centuries that which is now drawino- to a close has amongst ether Btfiking features two most notable aspects' it' has witnessed industrial and political expansion such as no previous period ever experienced, and we point with pride to the heightened ideals and the broadening of the mind and • thoughts, of men. The otjier is that the same century more than anyone jbefore it, more than even the Apostolic century, has been conspicuous for its missionary enterprise and successes. A hundred years ago there were only 175 millions of Christians; now there are 500 millions. The era of industrial progress Is the era of humanitarian progress, and both are synchronous with the progress of the Christian religion. > God's is an everlasting: kingdom, for jt frowns upon sin and every force that makes for decay. It sweetens, invigorates and rejuvenates the human race. The principles it embodies are the eternal laws of justice, righteousness and love: There are no greater in the universe. These establish the throne of God. No society can surpass these principles; all are strong in the measure in which they adopt and practice them. Now vdu say what is the relation of all *bjg' to the idea of the Christian

church? The relation is this: the church is a part of the kingdom; it is the nucleus of the kingdom; it is the germ, the organ, or ngent of the kingdom. Dear friends, are you in the kingdom of God? It makes no charge for admission. To be outside of this , society is to be outside of God's friendship. Not to join it is suicide. Outside of it there is no salvation. Its benefits; are legion. Jesus is the way, the only way. He is the door. By Him if we enter in we shall be saved. He is the Way, (he Truth, and the Life. Let us apply to Him and He will bring us into the kingdom, for He is ever ready to receive us.