Produced by Edmund Dejowski
Transcriber's Note: Page numbers are indicated thus [3] at theend of each printed page.
The Messiah Pulpit
the Future of This Church
By
John Haynes Holmes
Minister of the Church of the Messiah
Series 1918-1919——No. VI
Published by the
Church of the Messiah
Park Avenue and 34th Street
New York City
[1]
The Messiah Pulpit, by tradition and practice, is a free platform,dedicated to the ideal of truth. Its sermons, in both their spokenand written form, are the utterances of the preacher, who acceptsfor them exclusive responsibility.
The publication of these sermons is made possible by a private fundfor this purpose. Contributions to this fund are needed, and may besent to Rev. John Haynes Holmes, 61 East 34th Street, New York City.
[2]
On the Future of This Church
On Sunday, November 24 last, as most of you know. I was invited byunanimous vote of the people of All Souls Church, Chicago, "to takeup the work laid down by (their) beloved pastor," the late Dr.Jenkin Lloyd Jones. On Thursday, November 28, I received this callthrough the personal visitation of two members of the Chicagochurch, and agreed to give it most earnest consideration. On Sunday,December 1, through my associate, Mr. Brown, I announced this callto the congregation of the Church of the Messiah, explaining that itinvolved the ministry of All Souls Church, the directorship ofAbraham Lincoln Centre, and the editorship of the weekly liberalreligious journal, called "Unity." I stated in my announcement thatI had asked and been granted ample time for the consideration ofthis call, but that I intended to answer it as speedily as possible.On Thursday last, just five weeks to a day after receiving theinvitation to Chicago, I sent my reply for transmission to thepeople of All Souls Church this morning. I choose this same time toannounce to you my decision.
At the beginning of my consideration of the problem, I foundquestions of personal inclination and comfort inevitably to thefore. For twelve years minus one month, I have lived and labored inNew York City. Every particle of moral energy which I possess, Ihave invested here. Nearly all of my friends are associated withthis community. Especially am I bound by ties of deepest reverenceand affection to this church. Here are memories of joy and sorrowand great trial which are more truly a part of me than the voicewith which I speak, or the hand with which I turn these pages. It[3] needed but this single summons to teach me what I had notknown—how deeply my roots are struck into the soil of this place,and how great the pain and hazard of their exposure, removal andreplanting.
It very soon became clear to me, however, that personalconsiderations could rightly have but little part in the settlementof this problem. In no spirit of bravado, but in simplestrecognition of the truth, I say to you that I believe I would havebeen betraying the profession which I have sworn to serve had Ipermitted conditions of personal affection, however lovely andprecious, to determine my decision in this case. I take seriouslythe fact of my ordination—that as a minister of religion I havebeen "set apart," as the traditional phrase has it, to the highpurpose of propagating an idea, championing a cause