The national Republican., 1867-05-25
TIE METROPOLITAN PULPIT.

hnty IoI ns k0oo lalsn.
THE METROPOLITAN PULPIT.
On Sabbath evening last we attended
the Assemblys Presbyterian church, on
the corner Of Fifth and / streets north,
Rev. T. B. McFALLs, pastor; and in pursu-
ance Of our allotted and agreeable duty,
we shall give such facts and incidents in
connection with this society, and such
notice Of its pastor as, to us, seem Of gen.
eral interest.
We learn that this church was organized
in March, 1853, having at that time only
twenty members. The number Of commu-
nicants at this time is one hundred and
sixty-seven. The first pastor Of this church
and congregation was Rev. ANDREW O..
CARVIns~.. r. ---- -i--L-s IA i,stailaa
in due form by the Presbytery Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia. At the same time JoHS
DOUGLASS and JOHN T. CLEMENTS were
elected elders. r....
Mr.. CARurHERs resigned the pastoral
charge ofthis people in 1861; and Rev. t.
b. McFAILs was elected and installed
pastor in April Of the same year, and, we
Judge from appearances and by what we
learn from persons likely to be wel..in-
formed in these particulars, that there has
been good degree Of prosperity in the
church and society during Mr.. McFAILs'
connection with it. They have flourish
ing Sabbath school Of $50 scholars; and W.
J. REDsrRAKE is the superintendent. The
church edi6ce is well located, has a
pleasant vestry, and convenient and COM
modious audience.room, where the regular
meetings Of the church are held.
The organist, as we learn, is Mr.. Isaac
S. TICHESoR, gentleman we should judge,
if we may predicate anything Of his efforts
on Sunday evening, who understands the
duties of his profession, and can exhibit,
when occasion calls for it, the real effects
of that grand old harmony which is so ap-
propriate and SO soul.stirring in the religi.
ous devotions Of the house of God.
The congregation on Sabbath evening
was fair but not large. The sermon was
OF the character that we expected from
this sincere and earnest young divine.
Mr.. McFALLs text was Romans, sixth
chapter, first and second verses: What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in
sin that grace may abound? God forbid.
How shall we who are dead to sin live any
longer therein?"
The preacher at the outset met the Oft
repeated claim that many persons set up
that because grace abounds there is a
liberty, a license to sin. Grace being full
and ample, and pardon through the Sa-
viour being freely offered, men may there.
fore take occasion to sin, as through the
freedom and fullness Of Divine grace mercy
will be rendered them. He repudiated
most distinctly and most emphatically the |
false and destructive heresy that men
may make the abounding grace of God an |
excuse for continuing in sin. He said that |
this fact that grace was vouchsafed to man |
was an inducement to lead him to abstain
from all sin. He insisted that the grace Of
God cleanses from all sin; that it justiGes
and sanctifes the human soul; that he
who is born Of God-that is, the man who |
is the subject Of the grace of God" can
not willingly sin, because he IS born Of
Cod The sermon was complete yindi. |
cation Of holy living, urging it as the |
great and paramount duty of the Christian
to strive after holiness, and live in all cir
cumspection before God and man. We
do not, as matter OF course, in this con.
nection, attempt anything like report of ,
his instructive and able discourse, and we /
ear that we have done injustice to the ar ,
yument in what is said above. We give I
'nly such outlines of the forcible state
nents OF the preacher as impressed our
'wn mind, ana that, too, from memory
There were two characteristics in this =.
sermon to which we desire to give prom. :
nence, and they are these: In the first
'lace, all the statements and arguments Of ?
hr. McFALLs were fortified and enforced Z
~ appropriate Scripture quotations, show 7
ng that he does not build upon mere out
'ide PHILOSOPHERS and speculations of men;
'ut upon the sure foundation of the word
II God. Another quality of Mr.. McFALLs' /
preaching is, he marches, so to speak, d. t
ect to his conclusions, and when his argu. 4
nent is finished, it is finished. He does b
iot go back to repeat over again what he
las said for fear that somebody does not n
understand him
MT McfALLs is a clerical looking ger
lemani and when We soy this we =
mean to be understood that j, ~ nv
lerical airs for mere effect. . puts on
rary, he looks the cle- oh Tue con
Without any endeavc ''gylhnh US nc is'
ellow,man the Irs to hide from his
W, fact that he feels the
rreat and nich attach themselves to his
lin r. sacred calling. We should Judge
Y. be a man about thirty years of age.
e is Of medium size well and compactly
built, of a comely person, and will be called
by all good-looking man. All these
qualities may, under God, contribute to a
minister's usefulness. From conversations
which we have held with persons belong
ing to Mr.. McFALLs' church and society,
we are led to the conclusion that this young
and influential Christian minister is highly
esteemed and beloved by his people. |
Among the churches and pastors Of his |
own denomination bia racord Ia oIoo. -. 1 |