ause I believe the rich and the educated do not need the
gospel or the church. The rich and the poor both need the life more
abundantly. But I am firmly convinced that as matters now are, the
church membership through pulpit and pew must give itself more than in
the later ages of the world it has done for the sake of winning men. The
form of self-denial must take a definite, physical, genuinely
sacrificing shape. The Church must get back to the apostolic times in
some particulars and an adaptation of community of goods and a sharing
of certain aspects of civilization must mark the church membership of
the coming twentieth century. An object lesson in self-denial large
enough for men to see, a self-denial that actually gives up luxuries,
money, and even pleasures--this is the only kind that will make much
impression on the people. I believe if Christ was on earth he would
again call for this expression of loyalty to him. He would again say,
'So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath,
he cannot be my disciple?'

"All this is what I call on the members of this church to do. Do I say
that you ought to abandon your own houses and live somewhere else? No. I
can decide only for myself in a matter of that kind. But this much I do.
Give yourselves in some genuine way to save this town from its evil
wretchedness. It is not so much your money as your own soul that the
sickness of the world needs. This plan has occurred to me. Why could not
every family in this church become a savior to some other family,
interest itself in the other, know the extent of its wants as far as
possible, go to it in person, let the Christian home come into actual
touch with the unchristian, in short, become a natural savior to one
family. There are dozens of families in this church that could do that.
It would take money. It would take time. It would mean real self-denial.
It would call for all your Christian grace and courage. But what does
all this church membership and church life mean if not just such
sacrifice? We cannot give anything to this age of more value than our
own selves. The world of sin and want and despair and disbelief is not
hungering for money or mission-schools or charity balls or state
institutions for the relief of distress, but for live, pulsing, loving
Christian men and women, who reach out live, warm hands, who are willing
to go and give themselves, who will abandon, if necessary, if Christ
calls fo