WESLEY CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7242, 25 August 1902, Page 2

WESLEY CHURCH.

An Earnest Appeal

In the Masterton Wcslcyan Church, last cvcnuig, tho Rev. D. J. Murray, in the course of a very excellent discourse, , expressed the opinion that, despite the , good work of Christian churches in the i assembling of themselves together, a • grander and more noble work was that of bringing in and caring for tho outcasts of society. Basing his remarks on the 9th chapter of tho Gospel according to St. John, Mr Murray chose to name his subject of address, " The Outcasts' Christ." The preacher said Christ's message and tho Church's methods wore not attuned one to the other as they might , reasonably become. Tho "lapsed masses", felt not tho hand of welcome extended thorn as Christ intended; while, as for " the classes," all indifference characterised them. It was not as Christ wished, but as man had made it seem, to virtually neglect and leave tho outcast to his state of ostracism and attend too fully to those already physically and spiritually cared-for. The portion of scripture just road to them dwelt on tho tender and humane sympathy of tho Great Redeemer of mankind in his treatment of suffering and outcast humanity, particularly as regards the man blind from his birth, and the marvellous manifestation of tho Divine Healer in tho giving of sight to the sightless eyes, wherein the benefactor and the benefited are mutually blessed. The Church, to-day, possessed tho power to alleviate the distress of suffering, wandering, outcast society, but too often closed its doors to the good it could do in that direction, caring more for the ninety-and-nine of its saved ones and allowing the one drifting, careworn worldling to live out a life of misery and shame without a helping, sympathetic effort to savo them. Modern science taught us to waste nothing whatever. Even the refuse of already profitable, productive industries was now capable of being woven and turned into tho most beautiful and useful elements of outward 1 adornment; and, so it was, with God, that not even the dregs of moral society were lost sight of —for, " touched by a loving hand, chords that were broken, did vibrate again." Some of tho brightest and best of the Church's advocates were : men once living without the pale of its doors ; and, whilst conceding to it other ' virtues, the Church was allowing too • many even of those onco constituting its membership to drift away from its ' doors—possibly to perdition. If it acted ' more along tho lino of Christ's teaching, ; and not so much in accordance with its ! own self-made plans, it would do good ' " and pursue it." At present, humanitarianism was doing much good in the physical world, but was spiritually quickened wherever tho good done by it was followed up by Christian sympathy as 1 well. " Get alongside of those we wish t to help to lead bettor lives; assist them J both physically and spiritually; that the I r good done in the one direction will not! t bo lost in the other," said the preacher ) in most earnest tones, " and the Church [ a will then become a potent factor iv.: Christian work, in tho social, moral —' a physical aud spiritual—uplifting of out- •' a cast and fallen humanity," t: