The Scranton tribune. (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, October 08, 1896, Page 8, Image 8

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    8
THE SCBANTON TBIBUNE-THUB3DAY MOANING, OCTOBER 8, 1 89H.
ENDEAlORERS' SECOND DAY
Raw, Cheerless Weather Affected All
the Earlier Sessions.
NIGHT OVERFLOW MEETING
Frottiingham and Academy Did Mot
Contain Enoogh Desirable Seats.
Lecture Room of tbe Penn Avenue i
Baptist Church Was Utilized Re
ports of Department Superintend-
ents and Committee Announcements
During the Morning In Only Elm
. Park Church Was There an After-
: noon Session Secretary McDon
ald's Review Galaxy of Speakers
. in the Three Halls in the Evening.
A cold and cheerless weather greeted
the Christian Endenvorers yesterday,
li wus a day culctilated to chili the ar
dir of almost any large gathering. The
Kndeavorers were effected by It If the
attendance at the morning and after
noon sessions was any criterion.
At F.lni Park church and the Froth
lughaiu theater In the morning were
rend the reports of four state depart
ment superintendents and the an
nouncement was made of convention
committee.
There was no session in the Frothlng
tiain In the afternoon although a pro
gramme for that auditorium had been
mranged and wax announced in the of
ficial souvenir. The programme was to
have been the same as in Elm Park
church with the exception of one num
ber; Henry Guimond, of Chumbersburg,
.H9 to have led the open parliament :
n "Keeping the Pledge." He did not
i-.-me to Scranton and so only the Elm
I t i ll session was held. There the ex
e.tilses included a "Field Marshall's
Review" by Secretary McDonald and
an open parliament led by H. C. Lin
coln, of Philadelphia.
In the evening there wus a session in
ench convention hull and an impromptu
overflow meeting in the lecture room of
'.he Penn Avenue Baptist church made
necessary by the huge crowds at i
i he t.vo theatres. Each of the three
inula sessions was particularly a meet
nig of addresses and singing.
Throughout the day it was evident
i hut the number of stranger delegates
in the city was larger thun on Tuesday
night, but the total number fell short of
i he 4.000 delegates expected. A liberal
t-Mlmate would be about 2.500 from ottt
lde the city. The new arrivals came
on the morning trains from nearby
counties.
Early In the day, beginning at 6.30
o'clock, there were sunrise prayer
meetings In seven churches.
An interesting and a novel part of the
duy'i doings was the noon-day evan
gelistic meetings at the shops and fac
tories and a few open-air prayer meet
ings at night in suburban localities.
IN THE ELM PARK CHURCH.
There was a fair attendance in Elm
Park church at the opening of the
morning session, over which Dr. Mc
Crory presided. The session opened
with a praise nnd devotional service
conducted by Rev. Dr. J. P. Moffntt,
of the WaBhburn Street Presbyterian
church, of this city.
The main part of the meeting was
devoted to the reading of the reports of
the state departments, which appear In
full in another column. These were by
.Miss Cordelia Jameison, of Beltzhoover,
Junior superintendent; Rev. W. N. Hin
rnan, of Columbus, missionary super
intendent; Rev. A. B. Philputt, of
Philadelphia, ' Christian citizenship
superintendent; Thomas Patton, of
Philadelphia, secretary of correspond
ence. The following convention commit
tees were announced:
Resolutions Rev. A. B. Phlllputt,
Philadelphia; Rev. Lv M. Montgomery,
Jackson Centre; Samuel A. Garley, Al
toona; J. C. Manning, Plttston; H. P.
Klshadden. Six Points; W. A. Gilles
pie, Philadelphia; H. J. Raymore. Erie;
Henry Heinbach, Sunbury; Rev. Thom
as Rell. Scranton; Miss M. Fannie
lOvans. PhiladelphlarF. M. Manchester,
YVllkes-Barre; John A. Peters, Pitts
burg; James S. Wilson, Bloomsburg;
Henry Small, jr., York; C. F. Hess,
Scranton.
Auditing: Committee J. JS. Dayton,
Wililamsport; J. B. Robinson, Phila
delphia; W. J. Coffey, Shippensburg.
Committee on Nominations William
I.. Turner, Philadelphia; Rev. E. H.
ltomlg, Lebanon; Charles E. Daniels,
Scranton; William M. Benham, Pitts
burg; C. B. Slllyman, Pottsvllle; Dr. J.
H. Fager, HarrlBburg; Miss Sarah Oi
ler. Wllkensburg; Rev. F. A. Martin,
Troy; Mrs. Carrie Cobb, Hollistervllle;
A.W. Stevenson.Phlladelphla; Rev. Sid
ney Bateman. Newberry; Miss F. M.
Schuyler, Wililamsport; Howard Grelg,
Pittsburg; Thomas F. Wells, Scranton;
Miss Turner, Erie.
The annual sermon delivered by Rev,
Dr. Wallace MacMullen, of Grace
church, Philadelphia, was an eloquent
effort and engaged the wrapt attention
and sympathy of the auditory. His
text was from Psalms xlvl: 11, "The
Lord nf Hosts is with us; the God of
Jacob is our refuge."
Dr. MacMullen emphasized the fact
that the Lord Is always with us. How
dare a man be mean when God is with
him? God will oppose Himself to any
force that will oppose Him. The opin
ion it prevalent that the world Is stead
ily getting worse; this Is not so; it Is
only from your point of. view that It is
so. The liquor power it is true, has
become a monster that was never
stronger in all history, but it can be
defeated by concerted action. Thopuri
ttcatlon of politics is not an lrrldescent
dream. "The-Lord of hosts is with us."
We need a legislation that will prevent
the making of our fair land an infirm
ary for all the lncapables of foreign
countries. We wish to be hospitable,
but self-preservation Is necessary. Is
the presence of God our wish? The
Lord is with us.
Knowing all these things ore possi
ble with Us, let us rebuke sin when
ever we see it. though it shock our sen
sibilities a little, and we will help to
Increase .the purity of municipal gov
ernment. We should follow our blessed
Lord wherever He leads us. He should
Hate eli Implicit obedience, and we
should as faithful soldiers follow Htm
as a great general and tight the battles
He lends us on to. Conquest must
come before peace. Our leader will also
lie our fortress.
An adjournment was made at 11.45
o'clock, many of the delegates going to
places announced for the noun evan
gelistic meetings.
Afternoon Session.
When began the afternoon session In
Elm Park church at 2 o'clock the large,
auditorium was not filled, but the late
arrivals occupied nil the remaining
seating capacity. President McCrory
presided.
Hev. Dr. P. E. Robinson, of the Sec
ond Presbyterian church, of this city,
conducted the opening devotional ser
vice, which consisted of the reading of
Acts II. and u brief but fervid prayer
for co-nperallon In Endeavor work and
the presence of Christ. This was pre
ceded by the congregational singing of
two hymns.
Professor and Mrs. Lowe, whose sing
ing had already delighted the dele
gates, sang "Beyond the Gloom" to the
tnne of that popular and familiar mel
ody, "Kentucky Home."
Dr. McCrory introduced Secretary
McDonald as one who hud done more
work end as much good for the En
deavor euue In Pennsylvania as any
one member of the society. Secretary
McDonald gave what was termed a
"Field Marshal's Review." It was a
discussion of the Endeavor growth and
strength in the stete. nnd in his treat
mnt if the subject he made use of a
large map showing the counties and
the nu in bet of Endeavor nnd Junior
societies. A chart indicated the growth
of the enrollment of the different divis
ions of Endeavor since its Inception in
18S7. it was as follows:
ENROLLMENT.
Young fnn-r-
Moth- 1'eo- ir.e-
Ycur. Senl'r ers. pie. dlate. Juurr. To'l.
1W .... !rj 2
liss .... m v.14
1!W .... 4M 4M
JS'.H) .... MS MS
ism .... lira ? u;o
Ml .... 157- - 2.17 ISl'S
1MB .... 1 !! XKi "I'll
.... 1 2 14 Iil2 Sli
lssr. .... i J7;:i i dm
1SW .... li 7 2SIS4 S ltfcS 4U39
Rev. J. Lincoln Lilch, of Bethlehem,
the lirsl state president, was asked by
Mr. McDonald to say something of
the beginning of the Endeavor move
ment, lie was greeted by a Chautauqua
salute us he approached the platform.
SUCCESS DUE TO FAITH.
After speaking of the trepidation and
uncertainty with which the work was
started he remarked that much of the
success of the movement was due to
its faith. Rey. Dr. J. T. Beck ley. now
of New York city, the second president,
could not be present. The third presi
dent. Rev. Dr. G. R Stewart, of H01
risburg. was introduced and like Mr.
Lincoln was greeted by the waving nf
handkerchiefs. He spoke especially
11I the self-denial of the old stute olli'
ceis. Rev. Charles Roads. D. D.. of Phila
delphia, the fourth president, though in
the city, was not in the church, and
Dr. McCrory, now president, declined
to take up the convention's lime.
J. C. Manning, of Pulsion, district
secretary of Luzerne, county, told
briefly and in a general way concern
ing the work in the different Kndeuvur
departments in his district.
Secretary McDouuld remarked Unit
the society's strength always showed
an Irnmidlate and great growth In cities
where conventions had been held and
quoted figures to prove it.
Treasurer Raymore, who wus chair
man of the general convent ion com
mlttee'at Erie last year said that there
had been ten new societies formed, the
department work had been accelerated
and free-giving had been lncreused
two-fold.
Secretary McDonald said he wanted
to settle one point, the controversy as
to which was the oldest society in the
state. After searching the records he
was satisfied that the first society was
organized In the Plymouth Congrega
tional church, of this city, in April.
18X2, and the second in the Watsnntown
Lutherun church in July, 1SS4. He re
marked upon Pennsylvania's record
which makes it today the strongest
Endeavor state in the union.
VERBAL REPORTS MADE.
Brief verbal reports were made by
District Secretaries Wilson, of Colum
bia and Montour counties; Miss Susie
R. Peck, of Bradford and Sullivan
counties; Mr. Benson, of Philadelphia.
Others would have been called upon, so
Mr. McDonald said, but for the lack of
time.
A delightful break In the programme
was the solo by Miss Elsie A. C. Van
Dervoort, the contralto soloist of Elm
Park church. She sang with much feel
ing and with that rare faculty of vocal
expression of which she is so capable,
"I'll Follow Him."
Miss Margaret Leitch, of Bethlehem,
N. H., a missionary who has lately been
heard in several Scranton churches,
spoke of the Armenian situation. She
occupied but a few moments, but by till!
lapld use of figures and explicit dis
cussion of fact greatly Interested the
audience. She concluded with on elo
quent appeal for liberal giving in aid
of the Armenian cause.
An open parliament lasting forty
minutes on the toplo "The Strong and
Weak Points In Your Society," wus
conducted by H. C. Lincoln, of Phila
delphia, Someone In the near gallery
answered the question by saying "The
strongest point in our society Is the
fact that the active members are uc
tive in meetings." Another delegate
created a ripple of laughter by saying
It would be better to let the active 'work
be done outside. That was a sample
of the sallies that Interspersed the par
liament, during- which maybe 150 per
sons spoke.
WHERE STRENGTH LAYS.
It appeared to be the consensus of
opinion that a society's strength lay in
its activity and its work among stran
gers In the church, and its weakness in
an absence of those conditions. Over
organization and too many committees
were deplored. A few hard working
committees would be preferable to a
large number of non-working bodies.
It would be better not to encourage any
prospective members to Join unless they
would be useful. Much benefit Is felt
from strict attention to attendance at
business and prayer meetings.
It is a good plan for the prayer meet
ing committee to engage In a brief
period of prayer with the leader of a
prayer meeting just before the meeting
convenes. This is done in many soci
eties. Where a society is sn large that Its
committees cannot contain ull mem
bers the society should be divided into
sections, numbered "Societies A," "B,"
"C." etc. This is a favorite plan In
Philadelphia, where In one church the
sections are numbered as far as "L."
There were many assertions that pas
tors did not attend the society meet
lugs or take an interest In Endeavor
work.
The session closed with a benediction
by Dr. McCrory.
Evening Session.
It was' 7.:W o'clock when the evening
session began in Elm Park church.
There was scarcely a vacant seat in the
church when the opening service was
fairly under way. Di. McCrory presid
ed and the Introductory songjund devo
tional service whs conducted by Rev.
Dr. James McLeod. of the, First pres-l-yuiiun
church, of this city. (The sing
ing wus led by the Central CRy section
of the united choir under the direction
of Prof. J. M. Chance and was one of the
delightful features of the evening. The
selections were familiar and were sang
with a hearty spirit. Two hymns, "I
Will Sing the Wondrous Story" nnd
"There's Sunshine in ?i- Soul Today."
with cornet and piano accompaniment,
opened the service.
Dr. McLeod lead from the twelfth
I enislle of Paul 10 the Romans. Mr.
'. and Mrs. Lowe sang "I Would Fly." In
his prayer Dr. McLeod gave thanks for
the sign that the day was not far when
God's voice and His truth would be
heard In every corner of the world. He
invoked a blessing on the meeting and
the speakers, and in his saying of the
Lord's prayer was accompanied by the
enjlre audleiice.
An organ solo by Prof. J. Alfred Pen
nington, the organist and chorister of :
Elm Park chunh. followed. The theme i
for the evening discussion. "Our Times" j
i was mentioned oy ur. Airvrnry wno, in
referring lo 'he three speakers, said
either was qualified to occupy the whole I
of the session: in the three there was !
enough spiritual and mental dynamite '
to blow the building "into kingdom
come."
DR. JEFFER S TALK.
Rev. Dr. E. T. Jeffers. president of
the York Collegiate institute, and who
discussed "Men and Women For Our
Times," first took time to say Elm Park
church wus one of the most magnificent
links between science and religion that
he had ever seen. In his address he
said:
The "Times are out of joint" and have
been ever since Adam left Eden. When
our lirsl fut her fell there was a dislocation
that we are still suffering from. The man
for the times Is the one who etui sel the
times on their feet again and enable them
10 walk straight, I. e., in the ways of
righteousness. Is there anything In the
dislocation of this age that requires the
1111 n of today to be different from the lit
man of any other country, or the woman
of today to be distinguished from the
woman of the age of our mothers?
In medicine this is the age of the spec.
iallst. Are wo to have moral special- 1
Ists? Each disease of eaeh organ of our 1
mortal frame Is refuted to some one
doctor who gnards with jealous care the
treatment of that pari, and resents any
suggestion that looks like an encroach- :
merit on Ills reserved rights; ahull ween- j
courage the growth of the same method i
in the healing of sin? The Indescribable I
evils of intemperance provoke some men j
and more women to give all their time to
the cure of this special disease. Oorrup-
Hon In polities absorb the energy of the !
national reformer. The derangement or
our finances Just now engages the atten
tion of three specialists, eaeh of whom Is
willing to be president of the I." Illicit
States in the Interest of morula. The av
erage young man Is alienated fro.ni the
chinch uri'l has lost his appetite for spir
itual things, hence seems to need the con
centrated study uud skill of the Young
.Men's Christian association. The boy
iiiul girls of the church were suffering
lioui neglect and spiritual starvation till
Pat her Endeavor Clark prescribed the
Christian Endeavor treatment.
MAX FOR THE TIMES.
Concerning the man for the tlnus we
shall be obliged to ask, as DeQitlncy did
of Homer. "How runiiv is he'."1 But os in
I medicine the Intelligent specialist is more
aii'i more substituting constitution for lo
cal treatment, so the pastor will not in
sist 011 ull becoming respectable befo;e
they become Christians The Voung .Men's
Christian association secretary will iio
lunger vex the regular Sabbath S'-huol
man. nor will the Christian Endeavor lead
er vex the pastor, but all will agree 011
the one thing that Is needed for ull and
.icii be permitted 10 apply it In his own
special way.
1. The man and woman for these as for
all times must hold fast and tta. h undi
luted the truth. "The blood or Jesus
Christ. God's Son. cleatisetti from all sin."
Sin Is the hurt or humanity. Nothing
short or a cure for slu Is worth Uiv ef.
tort of u friend or the race. .No reforma
tion should be tried till the soul Is le
rornied In the lumge of Christ W aste no
time pruning, but lay the axe at the root
ot the tree, make the cure radical. 81 11
ls not disease 11 lone but death. The
Grace- of Christ brings lire. He Is no man
for the times, and has 110 comprehension
of thecuse who says, "Follow the example
of Christ, cultivate the spirit of Jttflui,
walk in His footsteps," and stops with
that. We must give life berore we expe 't
the victim of slu to walk In the steps of
.lesns. The man for this age accepts
Christ heartily ' for himself, commends
Hint earnestly to all, offers Him Willi per
sistence and presses the offer home on the
conviction of nu n with all the force of
his own nine life.
2. The inn 11 for this utje will have many
clear convictions beyond the bare essen
tials of evangelical Christianity. He will
be in n church of those like minded with
himself. He will be an earnest, locul. en
thusiastlc member of thai church, jk- will
know so well that the most effective work
cun be done only in connection with de
nominations that he will express those
convictions by congregational zeul.
A BROTHERLY FEELING . .
?,. Hence the paradox. The Intern e de.
hominntionallst is us warm hearted to
ward hs brethren of other churches as
toward those of his own. Because his
brother Is an enthusiast lor a different
church. .hence he can work with him and
love him. The Culvlnlst loves the Lu
theran not merely, notwithstanding his I.u
theranlsm, but because he Is a positive,
out und out, Lutheran. How- can these
things be? Ask Christian Endcavoreis.
Here partly we huve learned this lesson.
4. Rooted and grounded In Christ, banded
together in close fellowship with those
who are congenial in faith nnd practice.
In touch with all who are one with our
Lord, we-are prepared to do what Is
needed for the time, of which von will
hear. The ignorance, vice. Indolence, dirt,
poverty und all other effects of sin we
are reedy to meet with the inra'.lvt pow
er of the Gospel.
The men and women of this age are both
more practical, und more IntclPseutlv
stealuus than those equally pious In any
former age. We have certainly learned a
few things from the experience of the last
eighteen centuries and will not repout all
the mistakes of the jst. Kspeelallv will
there be intelligent Interest In the ignar
iint nnd suffering. Rut the helpfulness of
the man for the times will not be In him
self or in his church, nor In hi" experience,
but In this that we stand between the
Holy Spirit and the needy world would
to receive gifts from tile one and bestow
them on the other. "It is not bv might
nor by power, but by my spirit, sn'th ,le
hovnh." that we shall bring the world to
the full enjoyment of citizenship in the
kingdom of heaven.
MESSAGE OF OCR TIMES.
"The Message of Our Times" was the
subject of Rev. Dr. W. F. Crafts, of
Washington. He was Introduced by
Dr. McCrory as the "worst lobbyslst in
the t'nlted States." Dr. Crafts asked a
rising vote against Sunday traffic in the
national capital so that the state presi
dent ann secretary mignt indite a pe- !
titlon to the congressman from this I
district to vote for the restoration of i
such a law which was once effective.
Ie said:
As the close of college Is th? eonr.nehoo
ment of life, so In the florins years of a
century we commonly find the commence- I
ments of 1 he great achievements of the :
century to follow. In MH5 began the cm- j
sades which tilled the following century. I
It Is well to recall them for more Ihiin
limitative Imitation. Let it not be for
gotten In these days that those crusades
were against the Turks, against whom
f hrhtonulom is again called to a united
crusade, not to rescue Christ's emptv
tomli, hut his living members. And
Christendom Is called to moral crusades
against greater foes of mankind than the
Turks. The liquor traffic, for Instance,
kills as many men every year in our land
alone ami drags as many women to tt fate
worse than death. The Sultan can kill
only the body; the saloon kilts both body
and soul. Sunday work and dissipation
more quietly, but not less surely, are de
stroying body und soul to an equal exient.
Ami Impurity is profaning not Christ's
tomb, but his living temples in our own
land to un unprecedented degree today.
Gambling Is destroying not villages, but
characters. And corrupt politics Is defeat
ing righteousness. not Ir ' Kuropean
diplomacy alone, but in our midst as. well.
Those ancient crusaders partook of tha
sacrament standing with drawn swords,
ready for battle. Whatever we mar think
ef mixing swords and sacraments emd
most of us condemn all wr for glory or
conquest. If not all use of the sword -we
II believe the Christian's sacrament
should really mean, as the word savra
mentuiu did urigltiull), a soldier's oath of
loyalty. Not fur funeral meditation on a
dead Christ are w called to the sacra
ment, but to renew our oath of loyalty to
the living Christ, and to receive his bat
tU orders.
NEW WORLD OPEXED.
To what new crusades does he call us
in the closing hours of this nineteenth cen
tury? As he opened a new world to Co
lumbus lu the closing years of the fifteenth
century, so in new light upon the old reve
lation He is now opening up to us the
"new etrih" of a Christianized Society,
the kliurdom of heaven, that Is, the doing
of God's will as in heaven so on earth,
the holy city let down from God out cf
heaven, the city into which the heavenly
customs of altruism shall come down.
As in the closing years of the eighteenth
century came the beginning of prison re
form, emanetpiitlon, gubbuth schools, tem
perance and missions, so In the closing
hours of Hie. nineteenth century he is
calling us to make moral reforms a part
of chc-ch work.
"Raltch me the Bible. Willi ye. Modera
tor?" said a pioneer advocate of foreign
missions a century aito. when, having
urged that the church should tuke up for
eign missions as a part of Its work, he
was supressed as a fanatical Innovator by
the Moderator's interruption: "Sit down.
When the Lord wunts tu convert the hea
then He will do "it without your help."
The Moderator having reluctantly yielded
to his demand for ihe Itlble, he read: "Go
ye Into all the world and preach the Gos
pel' to every 'creature. The Reformation
churches, busy with doctrinal controver
sies and the struggle for existence, had not
so much as heard there was any mission
ary commission In th Bible. "Preach the
Gospel" applied. In common thought, only
to those small parts of the world that
needed It least. But such appeals to the
Bible as 1 have quoted slowly opened the
church doors to missionary work on a
systematic plan, with denominational and
Interdenominational organisations, regu
lar collections and the monthly concert of
prayer.
Ther are multiplying signs that the
churches will at the end of this century
do for soclul ethics what thev did a cen
tury ago for foreign missions, namely,
will discover that social reforms are a part
of the "Gospel" we are commissioned to
preach, and so will make them, little by
little, as this discovery spreads, a part of
our regular church work, with organiza
tions as complete, collections as regular
and as lnrtre as those devoted to foreign
missions, and with a monthly concert of
prayer for Christian reforms to promote
the study of the problems Involved, as well
as for In vocai ion of that divine nid with
out which the watchman waketh but In
vain.
SIGNIFICANCE NOT KNOWN.
When Caroy sailed for India In 1893 ns
the Coin 111 bus of foreign missions, the
world, even the church failed to appreci
ate the vast significance of that "forward
movement." Nor has the world or tho
church appreciated that the Presbyterian
Temperance Committee, of which I was a
member while residing at Its Pittsburg
headquarters, although It Is less than the
least of all, the church boards Is the
pioneer of another great mlsslnuery fleet,
devoted to a new branch of missions,
whose aim is to prevent the heathenizing
of Christian lands. The support of this
Temperance Committee Is so smnll as only
to make visible the neglect of such contri
butions, but nevertheless this Committee
so far as I know. Is the first permanent
reform committee ever appointed by a
church court with a provision for Its sup
port by the church, with an office, a treas
urer's report and a paid secreturv. In the
twentieth century 1 have no ubt this
"CYmmlttee." will have grown to be a
"Board of Social Reforms," second to
none in honor and support, co-operating
with like reform boards of other denomi
nations in a national federation devoted
to that newly discovered hemisphere of
churchwork, the saving of society.
The Methodist Episcopal church, which
has had a penniless Temperance commit
tee for a few years, has just tnken Second
place lu this new missionary" fleet, by vot
ingnot unanimously to permit collec
tions In the churches for the promotion of
Its admirable proposal that a temperunce
committee should be established In every
local church. I think the Introduction of
this and other kindred reforms, such us,
the crusades against Impurity, gambling
and SabbHlb-breakiitg especially, is more
likely to come up from the local churches
than down from church courts. It Is us
amazing as it Is true that these reforms
are. scarcely more recognized in the
"boards" of the churches than in the
"plunks" of party platforms. When the
conservatism or a church court or of a
locul clinch delays the establishment
of an official "board" or "committee," ac
tion like that of the recent United Pres.
hyterlnii Assembly should at least be
taken, namely, recommending collections
for worthy existing organizations of in
dividual Christians, who are promoting
reforms on a Christian basis. In this case
the collections recommended were for th
National Reform association
W18B PLAN IS SET.
A wise plan would be for each denomina
tion to set apart one column In Its
minutes to be headed "Christian re
fojfu,' which would be a consta.it
reminder -that every church should
tuke ut least one collection a year
for Christian reforms. I' found it a good
plan in my New York pastorale to devote
u "monthly concert'.' In a stated week
every year, to Anthony Conistock's de
fense of purity, with collection us ,well
as conference: utiother "monthly concert"
to the National Temperance society's
work among the negroes; another lo- local
"prison reform." These prayer meeting
collections Tor the sociological hemisphere
of Christian work in 110 wny lessened the
collections given to the regular hoards on
the Subbulh and tit other missionary con
ferences. I am especially amazed that the church
es do not take up the defense of the Sab
bath, never so Imperilled ns now. If only
In self-defense. That would be nn inade
quate motive, hut should be a suttlclent
one, if the "Sunday Plavery" of the toll
ers und the demoralization of society does
not suffice to arouse us. Permit me to
remind you of the fundamental relation
of Sabbath reform to the regular church
borrds. One of these boards raises money
to educate ministers, another to support
them as home missionaries, another to
ertct churches In which thev may preach.
A moment's thought will show that the
money contributed for these objects loses
half of Its due efficiency if through neg
lect of t'nlted effort for Subbath reform
in the home missionary field, a large por
tion of the population Is not free on the
Sabbath to attend the churches volt build
and bear the preachers you educate and
support. Mr. Puddefoot, of the Congre
gational .Missionary society, tells me it
is literally true that there ore frontier
churches where Ihe communion has to be
postponed from Sabbath morning until
evening "because in the morning the deu.
cons are all down in the mines."
NUMBER 13 INCREASING.
Even In our eastern churches, for lack
of united, persistent action of the church
es and other friends or the Sabbath In its
defense, a rapidly increasing number are
shut away rrom the culture of conscience
which the church affords and which the
stute needs. Nothing less than a feder
ation of churchesconstltuted bv joint com.
mlttees officially appointed in each city,
each state and each nation, allied with
like committees of labor unions and civic
societies, can save the Sabbath from foes
whose fierce attacks existing Sabbath
os.oclntlons can hardly delay, much less
defeat. In the whole country todnv there
are but ten persons giving their time as
salaried workers to the defense of tho
Sabbath, a smaller force than Is em
ployed to shepherd the churches of an
average village of ."i.ijidi people Federa
tions or all Christian and humane organiz
ations for new crusades against Intem
perntiee, gambling. Impurity and Sabhath
breaking are the imperative need of the
hour.
In his first reference to theology and
sociology, Dr. Crafts produced a print
ed chart divided into hemispheres, the
readinsr matter illustrating on one side
the requirements of theological prac
tice nnd on the other of sociological
practice. He requested the audierrce to
read it aloud with him.
While an offering to be used In gen
eral state work was being collected, the
choir sanfr the anthem, "The God of
Abraham Praise," which so pleased Dr.
McCrory that he. asked for Its repeti
tion tonight. Word was brought at
this point and announced by Dr. Mc
Crory that "two magnificent and glori
ous meetings were being held In the
other two halls, which were filled." The
audience applauded the news.
DR. GREENE'S TALK.
"The Leader For Our Times" was
the subject of Rev. Dr. Samuel H.
Greene, of Washington, D. C, pastor
of the famous CalVary Raptlst church.
He feared that humanity might have
been too prone to be carried away with
religious sentiment without being led,
or without knowing by whom.
If I say anything that shall remind
you of your allegiance to Jesus Christ I
shall feet that any mission here has been
accomplished.
Id the few names that have survived
their own centuries I And a peculiar sim
ilarity of character, men who did not
Jung care to live under u lender less than
their ideal. There xhould be In a leader of
these times ability 01' perception of remedy
and of persuadihg men to accept the rem
edy. It is our misfortune that .personal
guilt and sin is unpleasant, but It Is an
ugly, repulsive fact no matter how we may
try to Ignore It. They are facts Just the
same and our leader must be one who will
recognise facts, or who says at the be
ginning. "Thou shnlt not cover thy sins."
The leadership of Jesus is found In the
fact that He first strikes at the root of
mlRfnmunA anil will nnt Hhlfl thn mmhm
J of the battle. 'Our great political, finan
cial ana otner irouoies realty come rrom
some disease of the heart and thev will
not be finally cured until the cause is
removed.
All necessary condition of success have
been provided by the Nazareue who said
on the cross, "It is finished." We are
given the opportunity and the power and
we have the leader. It is not his fault If
we full. It Is a situation devised for the
trusting soul.
The leadership of Jesus appears In His
power to attract men. 1 know the great
fault of many so-called leaders Is that
they cannot persuade others to follow
them. Jesus has in His suffering. His life.
His self-abnegation done something that
gives confidence, invites faith and attracts
men to Him, When Christ saw beneath
the man that was the man that might be,
Ho showed that deepness that inspires
men to hope and makes their thousand
dreams possibilities. We know In the light
of Jesus we are not the men we seem; In
that knowledge we get from on high
much that touches the conscience and
kindles the soul.
SAW BENEATH THE ROl'GH MAN.
It took the keen .eye of Jesus to see
down beneath the Tough man you are
that better shape that shows you in "he
Image of God and capable of divine mould
ing. Sf 1 stand beside the Nuzarene and
see my baser nature rebnkeil; I feel the
touch of leadership and, know I am the
child of the King.
What of the results of Christ's leader
ship? Already there Is a constituency of
redeemed souls who felt the world. We
have an evidence of that here tonight.
Every year there is laid at the feet of the
Nazurcne millions of money, thousands
REV. W. G. W ATKINS,
of Scranton, Chairman of the Evangelistic
Committee.
and millions of souls and all that lias made
your homes so-called Christian, Society
Is shot through and through with the In
fluence of the truth as It fell from the Hps
of Jesus. A mighty preparation is going
on for greater strength. Thousands are
at our doors waiting to Join us.
The Influence of Christ's leadership has
already been felt In politics and business.
The man who at Washington suld religion
In politics was an lrrldescent dream was
soon relegated back to his home in the
west among the people he failed to repre
sent. "Hallelujah, the Lord Redeemer
reigneth, we hear the cry rolling down 1
the ages. You need not look belo
Son of Man for the leader of thn times, j
You follow Him und you foltbw on to
victory. 1
News of the overflow meeting In the ',
Penn avenue Baptist church was !
brought to the platform at the con
clusion of Dr. Greene's address and
Its announcement by Dr. McCrory was
greeted with applause.
Miss Leitch, of the Cevlon mission,
was given ten minutes for a talk on
the Armeiilun atrocities. She offered a
brief prayer and then described the ex
tent of Turkish butchery and Armen
ian suffering und told of the Inadequacy
of the relief that had already been sent.
She pleaded for free giving. Americans
should first know the facts, then pray,
then give of their stores, then tell
the Armenian story. She suggested
plans for local organization and un
ion meetings and immediate work.
The meeting closed with congrega
tional singing and a benediction. As the
audience filed out ot the church many
responded to the request to make an
offering for the Armenian cause.
IN THE FR0THINQHAM THEATRE.
The morning meeting af thp Froth
Ingham was well attended although it
began at 8.45 o'clock. Rev. W. H. Mc
Millan, D. D., Sf Allegheny, presided.
The greater part of the morning was
taken up with the reading of the re
ports of superintendents of depart
ments. During Intervals between the
reading of the reports Chorister Rees
Wutkins led the audience In singing
Oosepl hymns. The choir was not
present. Prolessor nnd Mrs. lxiwe also
sang several duets.
Reports of superintendents of de
partments were read us follows:
Christian citizenship department, by
Rev. O. B. Philputt, Philadelphia: com
mittee on correspondence, E. Boyd
Weitzel, formerly of this city, now of
Philadelphia: for the correspondence
secrenry, Thomas Patton, of Philadel
phia: junior work, read by J. C. Man
ning, of Pittston for Miss Cordelia
Jamieson, the superintendent; mission
ary department, read by Treasurer
Raymore for Rev. Willis N. Hinman.
These reports all appear elsewhere in
toady's paper as docs also the mem
bership of the committees on resolu- !
tlons, auditing and nominations, which j
were announced In the two morning
meetings.
Rev. Isaac H Albright, of Dallustown
preached an annual sermon. His text
was: "Ye are not your own, for ye are
bought with a price, first Corinthian I, i
19-20. Rev. Mr. Albright spoke as fol-!
lows:
REV. ALBRIGHT'S ADDRESS.
The question of ownership Is one that
Interests every one of us, because we all
have our possessions, objects of greater
or less value which we delight to call our
own. The rich man deems himself for
tunate lu being able to point us to his large
possessions, priding himself In telling us
of his tolls, economy nnd good, manage
ment In the process of their accumula
tion. The poor man is prehnps Just as
happy as he enn be If he can call the
home In which he dwells his own. Even
the poorest of the poor, doubtless, have
something which they can call their owl
If there are persons who are so extremely
poor as to have nothing whatever, Ihe de
sire to have and own exists within their
hearts all the same, unless some serious
abnormal conditions prevail cnused by dis
ease or Indulgence In some vice. The pro
pensity to own nrtlcles of commercial
value Is Implanted In the very constitu
tion of our being, and It manifests Itself
in very early life, among all classes of
people, in all nations, and In all ages of
the world.
So strong Is this propensity found to be
in men that It will drive thim to put forth
almost superhuman errors to increase
their possessions, to enlarge ihelr estates,
mid to accumulate both gold und silver,
more and more of each. Their desire for
riches is almost Insatiable, und the means
used to secure them ure often very ques
tionable. With them money Is the sub
stance of things honed for, the evidence of
things not seen. Guided by its silver light
they hope to reach the golden gate, nnd
even to enter the golden streets of the
city above, there to play on the golden
harps forever. They have a god, but
his name is gold or silver. They pray, but
their prayer Is offered ut a golden shrine,
and their cry Is something like this:
"Mighty Dollarl thy shining face
Respraks thy wondrous power;
My pockets be thy resting place,
I need thee every hour."
Goldsmith said: "Man wants but little
here below, nor wants that little long."
But this couplet needs revision to suit
our times, und we suggest the following
rendering as coming nearer the truth:
"Man wants everything her below, ana
wants it very long."
TRUTHFULNESS APPARENT.
The truthfulness of this assertion la
apparent from the fact that there is noth
ing of any value anywhere on th face of
the earth that Is not claimed by somebody
as belonging to him. Mao wants the
earth, and he has It, too: It Is his dwelling
place, tlod placed hliu here "to replenish
It. to subdue It." to till It. and to make It
fruitful. A large portion of it Is owned.
Indeed, by a few Individuals comparative
ly; but whether owned by a few or nptny,
every mountain, every hill, every valley,
ever plain, every farm, ever home has an
owner. Ever horse, cow, sheep, fowl, bog
or slog has a claimant, and a proper one
too by right of production or lawful pur.
chase. Every man's proper rights unl
claims are also respected In law, and In
the enjoyment of them he can be pro
tected and defended against all the en
croachments of false claimants.
We seem to be more concerned In our
lifetime about our worldly possessions
than about our actual selves. While we
are rather anxious to know to whom that
fine farm belongs lying in yonder valley,
or that targe drove ot cattle grazing In
yonder pasture field, or that beautiful
mansion standing on the corner of two
principal streets, we hardlv trouble, our
selves with the question as to whom we
belong. If we ever did ask the question
we likely answered It just as we did with
reference to our property which we
claimed as belengtng to us. It was the
answer of selfishness. Did you ever ask
yourself the question In all seriousness,
whose am 1? To whom do I belong? If
you have, you have a clear and positive
answer to It In my text: "Ye are not your
own."
NEEDED TO BE INSTRUCTED.
The mere placing of the words In this
epistle seems to Indicate that there wers
some among those to whom the apostle
was writing who thoughfthat they be
longod to themselves, nnd that they need
ed to be Instructed to the contrary. Aside
from these words of Paul and kindred
passages of Scripture bearing upon this
subject, wo ought to he nble to see that
we could not own ourselves. There are
only three ways of obtaining property
honestly: by production, bv purchase and
by Inheritance or as a gift. How could
we belong to ourselves by right of pro
duction! The Idea Is contrary to all rea
son. We are producers, but not self-producers.
Various kinds of grain, vegeta
bles, or stock raised under a man's super
vision nnd care, nro recognized as belong
ing to the producer by everybody. But
self-production Is an Impossibility to man.
Moreover, the Scriptures teach that God
made us and not we ourselves.
Neither could we belong to ourselves by
right of purchase. If such a business
transaction as buying ourselves is possi
ble, and taking it for granted that such a
purchase has been made, no one can blame
us for being a little curious to know from
whom we did the buying, what we paid in
each case and when the transfer was
made. Is any one here today who can tell
us from whom he purchased himself? Was
it from your parents? They gave you
your birth and reared you, and If any one
has any claim on you in all this world
they have. But not one of us Is conscious
of ever having bought out their claim
which they might have held against us.
A slave might purchase his freedom
from bis muster, but even then he would
no more own himself than any one of us
who has always enjoyed such freedom.
The fact Is simply this we never bought
ourselves. Even though some one owned
Us who offered us for sale, when we were
old enough to do business for ourselves
most of us did not have money to buy
such an expensive article as we estimated
ourselves to be. And to say that we
bought ourselves very cheap with the lit
tle that we may have had, would cast a
great reflection upon the value of the ar.
tide bought. Neither do we remember
of any transrer of ourselves. It never took
place within the recollection of any per
sons supposed to have been Involved In the
transaction. What evidence have we then
that It ever occurred? None whatever.
TB ARE NOT YOX'R OWN.
The fact stands, therefore, "Ye are not
your own." Still there are many persona
who live so exclusively for themselves
that they impress us as trying to make
us believe that they are their own, or at
least that they think thev are. Thev re
mind us of thieves and dishonest people
generally, who have no rightful claim to
what they have In their possession, because
they stole It or secured it by some other
fraudulent means from others. There are
many who are trying to run away from
their true Owner, to steul themselves out
of His bands, not desiring to be peaceful
subjects of His tender love and care. Thev
trampleHisbeneftcient luw under their feet
and will not have Him to rule over them,
however much they may seelt to set up
and to niulntain 11 condition of independ
ency by living a life of sin and alienation
rrom Him who Is their real Owner, and
w horn they ought to serve; they can never
get so rar away rrom Him Iliac His clultu
upon them becomes forfeited. The prodi
gal son, far away from his parental home.
Is still the sou of his father, and he may
expect to receive a loving father's wel
come upon returning from bis wayward
life.
We belong to God by right ef creation.
Man Is God's child; man bears a slgnuture
Divine, and great things are expected of
him. "So God created man (the Adam)
In his own image." "But now, O Lord,
thou art our Father; we are the day, and
thou art the potter; and we all ure the
work of thy hand." "O come, let us wor
ship and bow down; let us kneel before
the Lord our maker, for He is our OoJ:
and we are the people of His pasture, and
the sheep or His hand." Anything that
a man makes out of his own material Is
surely his own, without the possibility or
question. Then-fore the blessed fact that
God is our .Maker, Involves In the verv
nature of things the still more blessed fact
that He Is our Owner ulso. But perhaps
the most Important reason why we be
long to God Is because lie bought us, re
deemed us. "Ye are bought witii u price."
The Idea of being bought is that idea In
redemption w hich modern heretics dare to
style mercantile. But mercantile redemp
tion Is the Scriptural one, provided It does
not lose the sense of an utoiiement, as Is
apparent to all Bible students. "The Son
of man came to give His life a ransom
for many." "Who gave Himself a ransom
for all." These quotations apply the work
of redemption to the saving work ef
Christ.
BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.
Truly, are we "bought with a price;"
"not redeemed with corruptible things, us
silver ami gold, but with the precious blood
of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot." Under the Mosaic law
nlienated lands might be recovered by
the payment of a ransom, so the blood cf
Christ is the price of our redemption from
sin. "Who gave Himself a ransom for us,
that Ho might redeem us from ail iniqui
ty." "Christ has redeemed us from the
cursp of the Inw, being made a curse for
ns; for It is written, Cursed Is every one
that hangeth on a tree."
Like the noble Roman youth who, cs
tradition tells, leaped full-armed into the
yawning chasm because the cltv could
only be saved by the sucrirlce of her best
treasure, so did Jesus, the "well-beloved"
of heaven, the noblest treasure of earth,
the "only-beorotien of the Father," the
Head and Chief of our humanity, yield
up His life to redeem the life of the world.
He gave Himsslf for us. "He suffered, the
just for the unjust, that He might bring
us unto God."
"Ye are bousht." Is a fact, or ye are te
dcemed. Terrible alternative this is.
Surely, after all that we have learned
out of the word of Clod touching this mat
ter, we cannot question the fact that we
belong to God. A silly child when he plays
at selling would like to take the price und
keep the article too; but everybody knows
that this cannot be. If you keep the goods
you ennnot have the price, and if you nc
cept the price the goods are no longer
yours. You may have either the one or
the other, but not both. Do you think that
you can belong 10 yourself and claim
your redemption price, too? Surely, you
do not wish to he regarded as being silly?
If you accept the ransom, then the thing
redeemed is no lonser yours, but belongs
to him who bought It. 1ft am redeemed,
1 am Christ's. If 1 am resolved to be
my own, 1 must renounce my Redeemer,
and die unrunsotned. Since, then, it is a
settled fact that we are not our own. but
tbnt we belong to God, let us consider
what follows from this.
I. God's ownership of 11s lays upon Him
the responsibility of caring and providing
for us.
II. It lays upon us the responsibility cf
surrender, trust and obedience to Him.
JUSTICE OK THIS TEACHING.
First Let us consider the responsibili
ties of ownership. We read In I Tim., v,
8, the following: "Hut if any provide not
for his own, and especially for, them of
his house, he hath denied the faith and Is
worse than 1111 Infidel." The whole world
acknowledges the Justice of this teaching.
To own anything, means that the owner Is
hound to cure for, protect and bless, to
the limit of his ability, that which Is
owned. We are all so accustomed to look
so exclusively on the human side of our
salvation, on our duties ami our responsi
bilities, that we lose sight almost alto
gether of God's side, and thus miss that
which, after all, Is the vital point In the
whole matter. The risponslbllltles of an
owner, and much more of a Creator, am
greater than can be expressed. Parents
ft el this, and by a universal Instinct,
which Is Inalienable in their natures, they
all reullze that they are held responsible
to their own consciences and to their fel
lowmen for the welfare of their children,
in the same wuy, owners of unlmals, own.
ers of property, owners of anything what,
ever, are considered to be bound to care
for that which they own, and are held re
sponsible for them.
Christ Himself asserts this truth when
He compares Himself and His own filths
ful care of His sheep to the neglect and
unraithfulness of a hireling "whose own
the sheep are not." "1 am the good shep
herd; tbe good shepherd glveth his life for
the sheep. But he that is a hireling and not
the shepherd seeth the wolf coming, and
leavet h the sheep and fleet b; and the wolf
catcheth theui and scattereth the Sheep.
The hireling fieeth because he Is a hire
ling, and csreth not for tbe sheep." I
am the good shepherd end know my sheet,
and am known of mine." The hireling
shepherds fed themselves, but not the
flock; theowner would feed the flock, event
though he must go without food himself.
These foolish shepherds neglected Ihe dis
eased and failed to strengthen the weak;
thev did not seek for those who were lost,
and they ruled the flock with force and
cruelty. The owner heals the sick,
stfenghens the weak, seeks the lost and
rules the flock with gentleness and love,
HE LOVES US.
And such Is Christ, the "good shepherd.'
to whom we belong. He loves us with
sn undying love: God coinmendeth His
love toward us, In that, while we wera
yet sinners, Christ died for us." He car
ries all our cares. "Casting all your cares
upon Him. for He careth for you. ' ' He al
so supplies all our needs. "My God shall
eupplv all your need according to Hie
riches In glory by Christ Jesus He la
boundless In his resources. "My Fwher i
rich In houses and lands. He holdeth tha
wealth of the world In HIS hands, or
rubles and diamonds, of silver and gold,
His efforts are full, He has riches untoU.
And He gives most liberally to all Hie
dear children, blessings so rich, so full,
so free. Llstenl "All things are yours;
whether Paul or Appollos, or Cephas, or
the world, or life, or death, or thlnge
present, or things to come, all are yours;
and ye are Christ's, and Christ lGod s.
He Is our ample provider in all thing
needful, and why should we fear? Ha
gives us our daily bread, he clothes us in
beautiful garments. He sends us rain and
sunshine in due season; He Is our teacher,
our guide, our help, our deliverer, our
portion forever. ,
In the light of all the foregoing revela
tions concerning Him whose we are. who
would not be eager to surrender them
selves entirely to such a blessed owner
ship nnd control? The control of love is
always lovely, even when that love l
earthly: because In the very nature ot
things love can choose only the best it
knows for Its beloved one, and must pour
Itself out to the last drop to help and to
bless them. How much more, then, must
be the blessedness of the control of God,
who Is love Itself, and In whose ownership
there can be nothing but Infinite anil
fathomless bliss! Now we are the Lord s,
and knowing how generously He deals
with His own, we are led to abandon our
selves to His care and keeping and to con
secrate our all to His service. God de
mands this act of consecration upon our
part. It Is necessary to secure our com
plete salvation from sin. to fit us for the
highest usefulness in His service, and to
bring us Into complete harmony with Hie
will, who worketh In us "both to will and
to do of Hit good pleasure." Listen to
the burning words of Paul: "1 beseech
you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God. that ye present your bodies a liv
ing sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Qod,
which is your reasonable service."
ARB ALTOGETHER GOD'S.
We are altogether God's, both body and
spirit; for Christianity concerns Itself
about the whole man. "Your body lsi
the temple of the Holy Ghost." The mam
who. not neglecting other duties, seeks to
make his body strong and vigorous, Is tu
be commended for his piety. Athletics,
rightly ordered. He In the realm of re
ligion. The man, who Is afflicted with a
weak or diseased body, perhaps the fruit
of old sins, Is often greatly hindered In 'lis
active service for God. Our body has s
port In "the great salvation," and we have
no right to defile this sacred edifice to In
jure It by abuse, carelessness or neglect,
or to wasto its strength in Idleness or
sinful Indulgences. Sometimes the body Is
looked upon as being necessarily the en
cumbrance and the foe of the spirit. This
Is not the Christian way of thinking.
Rather let us regard It as an Instrument
that God has wisely constructed, "fearful
Jy and wonderfully made," and through
which tho holy energy of the spirit may
serve his purpose and do Him honor. A
consecrated sons and daughters of God.
we dare not exercise caprice, follow our
own prejudices, wayward wills. Irregular
appetites, or lend our services to another
muster. Christ must be all and In alt.
"No man can serve two masters. ' God
wants the whole soul without reservation
or half-heartedness, and He ought to hav
"it must be His for all places, season
and circumstances; tor life and death, and.
forever. Well may John Flavel exclaim:
"Ah, what a life Is the life of a devote
Chrlstlun! Christ all for you, and yoii
all for His. . Blessed exchange! Soul.'
satth Christ, 'all 1 huve Is thine. 'Lord.
salth the soul, 'and all I have Is thine.' '
Spurgeou suld that tbe strongest man In
all this world Is a consecrated man. John
Wesley said that If he had one hundred!
men who loved 110 one but God, and feared
nothing but sin, he would set up the king
dom of God on earth nnd shake the gftUS
of hell lu twalve months.
RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUST.
Upon us rests the responsibility of trust
In God. This ought not to be a difficult
matter to us, yet In times of real trial our
confidence In Him seems to be very much
shaken, it ought to be the most natural
thing in the world to trust God; and with
those who dwell near Him It Is so. In
whom should we trust but In Him whu
has ull power and truth und love within
Hlmseir? Wo are always sure In putting
our case Into the hands of our Father an.l
Cod. "Blessed is he that trusteth lu
tho Ixiid, and whose hope the Lord U."
"Trust In the Uu-d with all thine heurt;
anil lean not unto thine owp understand
ing," Is very sensible advice to all believ
ers at all times, for God, who hath mada
rich promises to them. Is sble and willing
to perform what He bath spoken.
It Is the strong, buoyant confidence lu
God and His love which gives energy and
spirit to do right without doubt and de
spondence. Our trust In Him must never
fall us. It la our life. The heavens may
grow black at times, and everything
around us have a gloomy cast; but our
poor hearts must not then Imagine that
the eternal promises of our Father will
fail. W must chide such folly and full
back upon the eternal verities of the Gos
pel. God is Immovuble and Immutable,
and "They that trust In the Lord shall bo
as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved,
but ubldcth forever."
Obedience Is also expected of in by Him
to whom we belong. We must submit to
Bis authority, and observe His command.
The true convert, at the very beginning
of and throughout his Christian life, asks
with Paul the question, "Lord, what wile
thou have me to do?" He does not choosu
his duties, or dispute and argue with
his commander, neither does he have any
"lead at his heels" to hinder him In the
speedy performance of duties at hand.
He asks no questions; he makes no stlgges.
tlons; he does not consult his wishes or
feelings, but trusting In the Captain of
his salvation, he hastens to do what he Is
bidden. Love is the Chrlstlun motive to
obedience. Without it. It is very diffi
cult for rum to obey.
SIOT1VE8 THAT INFLUENCE.
Compulsion, fear, reward and other mo
tives mny enable a man to bend his will
in obedience to another; but nothing Ilka
tho love of Christ does elicit the responso
of obedler.ee to him that he desires. He
says, "If ye love me, keep my command
ments." Where there Is love to Christ,
there is scarcely any need of a command
to obey Him. It will follow as the stream
from the fountain, or light and heat from
the sun. Genuine love ever manifests In
practical forms. It does not begin and
end In mere sentiment, In good wishes, in
sighs and tears, but is essentially practi
cal, and that, too. in ways most pleasing
to the beloved. Nothing can be love In
the sight of our God which does not shapa
Itself into obedience. The apostles recog
nized this teaching, and it speedily prove,.
Its power to work unparalleled marvels.
Thus, by a life of consecration, trust
and obedience can we best glorify God
in our body and spirit, which are His.
What a blessed thought! We are God's
and He is ours, united spiritually In Christ
Jesus, In whom "we live, and move, and)
have our being." The Holy Spirit bear
witness with our spirit that we are the
sons of God." "Christ Is our life." "1
live." says Paul, "yet not 1, but Christ
llveth in me."
The question of our text. "What! know
ye not that ye are not your own?" ought
to be answered by these hundreds of young
people here assembled with a glad and
hearty "yes 1 do know It. I am not mv
own, but God's. 1 belong to Him alone,
and Htm only will 1 serve all the days ef
my life."
"Since I belong to Thee, my Savior, God,
All must be well, howevei"1-ough my road
However dark my way or prospects be.
All, all Is right, since overruled by Thee.
Feeblest of all Thy flock. Thou knowest
me. Lord:
Helpless and weak, I stay upon Thy word
In all my weakness this Is still my plea,
Tliut Thou art mine, and I belong to Thee,
Then come whatever may, I am secure.
Thy love unchanged shall to the end en
dure;
Frail though I am. Thine everlasting arm
Shall shield Thy child from every breath
of harm."
The meeting closed with the lng
Ing ot a hymn by the audience aad a