" THE BITTER CRY."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6309, 6 August 1888, Page 4

" THE BITTER CRY."

SERMON BT THE REV TV. J. WILLIAMS. The Rev W. J. Williams preached a somewhat remarkable sermon at the Dnrham street Wesleyan Church last night. Hia subject was announced as the " Bitter Cry of Christchurchv" Taking for his text two passages from the Gospel of St Luke— "When Ho was come near He beheld the city and wept over it" (chap, xix., verse 41), and " When they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified him" (chap, xxiii., verse 33)— Mr Williams, by way of preface, remarked that though there was a great deal of Christian sentiment in this city, there > was urgent need for a great deal more of \ Christian practice. The fact that there was so much foulness, wrong and devilry carried on in our midst, waa a Bad proof that many Christians in thiß city were what might be called " deadheads," who though they professed to be going in the way of salvation, neither paid their way nor worked their passage. Christians ought not to bo indifferent to the claims of the distant heathen, but still less should they be forgetful of the appalling need of those at their own doors. There was an exceeding loud and bitter cry to be heard in Christchurch by those who had ears to hear it. First, there waa THE BITTER C3T OF WANT, Startling though it was that such a bitter cry should be heard in such a fair and favoured land as New Zealand, there were case 3 of need in this city altnO3T as deplorable as any in the crowded purlieus of the cities of older land 3, homes from which tho furniture had gone bib by bit to purchase bread ; homes where was to be heard the bitter cry of children crying for that food which they needed but could not get ; homes whore they had no fuel to keep them warm, notliiDg to cover them but mere rags. It wa3 indeed cad to see scores of strong men standing about the streets, able and willing to work, but with no work to do, and the touching thing about that was that each man probably represented a family; but some of tho Gaddest cases of want were caaes about which almost nothing was heard or j Been. There were people who not long Bince were prosperous in business, whose homos were then as comfortable aa any, who were now almost destitute. They might strive desperately to maintain appearances, but in their homes was the grim spectre of want. From such a home, not long ago, a young girl had been borne to an early grave. 'JL'be verdict of tho doctor was, practically, that she had died from starvation. Her scanty earnings were almost the sole support of a large family, including a drunken father. Her share of the daily dole of food was so small tbafc when disease came she had no Btrength to resist it. He mentioned this case not by way of reproach, but merely as proof that there were those who were really destitute, but who were so sensitive, that they would rather die than make their cases known. He had brought this matter forward in the hope that by next Sunday the cry of war.t might not be so loud and bitter as it was now. He might be asked, "Are not some of theso unemployed incorrigible lo.ifers ?" "ire not some of fcheso people who come to you with their tales of distress impostors ? " " Have not they squandered i a large proportion of their earnings in ; drink ?" " Does not the Charitable Aid \ Board exiat for the purpose of dealing with j all cases of genuine distress? Why bring 1 : this matter l7efore us in church ? " If they j really thought these questions disposed of the matter, he would have no more to cay. If because there were drunkenness, and lying, and imposture among the needy, they were content to freeze themselves, and leave the matter to the Charitable Aid Board, he had done with them; but, in such a case, let them not call themselves Christians, for if they did tbey libelled the Christ whose name they had chosen to hear. Did Christ require a certificate of character from those whose wants he relieved ? Was it not enough for Him that tbey were in need ? Did not He give help even to those who were unfaithful and unworthy? It was only too true that among the needy there were some who did not tell the truth, or who were carelesa and extravagant ; but from i the standpoint of Christianity their need waa all the greater. Apart from such there were many mothers and children, widows and orphans, whose lot waa most piteous. If the Christian churches in this city were only stirred up to do their duty, j every case of want in Christchurch would be amply relieved by the next setting of the sun. The churches would be able to do a ' great deal more for their own poor by ineanß of their present appliances if they | only had more funds. In these times they should not bo forgetful of the poorer members of the Household of Faith, but he wanted to fight most earnestly against that paralysing heresy, that the church existed only for the benefit of its own members. It existed for all, \ and it 3 benevolence should be aa broad, hearty and practical as that of Christ hirmelf. Christ never made proselytes by means of loaves and fishes, but supplied the needs of tho people and kf b them free to do what they pleased. By what means were Christiana to reach the case of the destitute poor ? To begin with, he did not think any church was properly equipped which had not a " Dorcas Society " or something Eimilar. He was very thankful they had a Charitable Aid Board, but there was a kind of relief that Board was unable to supply, a relief made the more acceptable by the warm throb of Christian sympathy which actuated it. The churches, in the spirit of Christ, should bestir themselves to lift the burdens of those who were in need, but tfce churches, at least their own churches, were not doing this in any organised way. He would like to refer to the work being done by Mr Herrick as supplying to Fome extent tha want of organised effort on the part of the churches. It might bo that an individual, drawing help from all the clmrehes, could do this particular branch of the work better. He (Mr Williams) urged hia hearers to assist Mr Herrick in every possible way. THE BITTEK CET OP WICKEDNESS. He would not say that Christchurch was more wicked than other cities, but it was wicked enough to bring down the fiery judgment of the Almighty, and to awaken genuine alarm in the hearts of those who were concerned for its welfare. Let them look at the scores of publichouses. How many of those could it be said were not centres of demoralisation? What about the scores of immoral housee ? What about the gambling hells to which any policeman could point them, if be felt inclined. To relieve this bitter cry of wickedness, they needed Christians who were not content Bimply with abstaining from evil. They might, with Jeßus on Olivet, weep over the city. They should also be prepared, like Jesus on Calvary, to die for it. They must be ready to be baptised with tho baptism Christ was baptised with. Let their sympathy be thoroughly practical, and then God would use them to change the bitter cry of wickedness into a shout of gladnesHj