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Show THE GOSPEL OF SERVICE. Bishop Franklin S. Spalding created a commotion recently in Los Angeles by prenching tho gospel of service. He. did not think that it wns tho proper thing for ministers to court, wealth, but held that they should devoto their attontiou to holpful service, and to the Christian community idea, whereby the poor wore to bo nourished and tho helpless cared for. His idea evidently evident-ly was that tho rich and powerful could take enro of themselves, aud that it is a perversion of tho gospel message to givo special euro for tlieui, to tho noglcct of thoso in nood; that is, tho Bishop wishes tho Christian church to bo moro of a communal church than it commonly is, aud to abolish gradations in society so far as thoso gradations assumo to give individuals indi-viduals preference in tho church, or in tho caro and attention of tho ministers, min-isters, arising from tho woalth or assumed as-sumed high standing of Iho individuals, indi-viduals, rather than by reason of tho needs which members of tho parish may havo of tho ministralionn of tho gospol. This we understand to hayo been tho central idea of Bishop Spalding's Spald-ing's talk in Los Angeles that made such a commotion. But, after all, what is there in this lino of thought or oxprcssion that ought to give riso to astonishment or dismay among a Christian pcoplol Is not that tho central idea of tho teachings teach-ings of Jesus Christ? And is it not ndmittod on all handn that the primitive primi-tive Christians in their associations and community Ji Co deriving their ideas direct from tho Lord, mndo that thoir central motive? Precisely this primitivo Christian idea is what was in Bishop Spalding's mind, ovidentl; but ovidently it was not in the minds of his hearors. But thoso hearers should turn their minds to tho high Christian, ideals, and got a bottor realization of primitivo and earnest Christian thought and practice; arid then an address such as BtsoH' ing's would bo far less likely -SH a sensation, and more likely 9 coived ns good Christian itJS precisely such ideas as ChristH would expect lo hear from atiB , Christian divino. ,-jH |