Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-11-13
LECTURE BIZ THE REV. DIR.
PRLTEsg.
The Largest and MGs4 Fashion
able Gathering Ever Seen
in Memphis.
Interesting Discourse ON the
Mission CT tEae Church.

It is GU pleasure 70 record the fact ths
last night the largest and most fashion
able gathering ever seen in Memphis as
sembled at the Greenlaw Opera Hous
to greet the Rev. DR.. Palmer, the clio
quent and gifted divine, on occasion o
his lecture on The Mission of tn
Church for the benefit OF the Ladies
Mission Chapel Association Of the Pres
byterian Church. Not only was thI
church, OF which DR.. Palmer is an orna
ment, well represented, hut every de-
nomination of Christians, by the mos
distinguished and thoughtful of theiI
membsrS. It was a fitting compliment
TO the genius that presided Over the
occasion and the highest that Memphis
can afford. Beauty, wealth, intellectual
culture and intelligence were well repre-
sented in the elegant auditory before
whom DR.. Palmer ~di5coursed most elo-
quently, and with ali Of his old charm oil
manner, upon the comprehensive sub.
ject, 1.-THE Mission Of the Church,
Listened to with marked attention, the
matter as well as manner of delivery
were well worthy OF it. We regret that
want of space prevents the placing be-
fore our readers this morning a more
complete report than that which W. ap-
pend, and which will but poorly convey
to them an idea Of the combination OF
dignity, simplicity, erudition and sehol-
arly attainmentthat make up the charm
of the first among the eloquent CHRISTIAN
divines of the South.
The lecturer introduced bis subject by
presenting some of the objections made
against Christianity, and its alleged abb
surdity, rs well SIS the denial of the ne
cessity OF Revelation, which charges the
Church could well afford to let pass by
in silence. To the Church was due the
elevation Of the world, and no lever was
80 powerful to counterfeit the evils which
cling around great cities as so many
fostering sores, as that Of the Influence
of Christianity. OF all the instruments
which could be devoted to remedy great
social evils, none compare to the Church
Of the living God. His province to-
night was to impress upon the minds of
his hearers the value Of this great and
sll powerful instrument in developing
and making o great results. The
Church was a divine Institution, and as
such had unlimited resources given to it
by the Savior Of mankind. The germ
not only Of Christianity, but of the
Church, ran back TO the most remote
ages. 1t had passed tTiumphautly
through successive generations and. had
Outlived all the empires Of the earth.
where are they now ?n Gsked the
speaker. II there he an empire which
must fall it is the one established by force,
but the Church Of GC5 has been
reserved immortal until the present time
and throws its religious influence over
the whole world. God hath created 1t
and given it g character. "If ~ said
the speaker, +" were to have the choosing
Of the ThermOpyi@ of the Church.
the ground upon which the last grand
battle Of Christianity was to be Fought
would select the doctrine Of the New
Birth, which, by Tegenerating the heart,
made man, who was inherently bad, in
herentiy good. The Church is the proper
and only medium for reforming society.
Her only weapon is truth-her only ar
gument is love. It addresses itse!f 70
the reason Of men, using no other instru-
ment but truth. Her influence upon the
earth will continue 70 Increase forever.
She must, therefore, be a power Ia the
world, and her energies, where once
aroused, no power can withstand.n He
alluded to the Church as 2 Kingdom,
with Christ as its Monarch, and Illus
trated its love for ell mankind by refer
III ~ EArI ~ ShiAdf EAAt AJNAtE VIE
and the b9undlessness of a naothsr's love,
He alluded to the living ministry,
urged thu MULTIPLICATION Of churches.
Build up all the waste places with mis-
sion cbspels. He confessed bis dlssp-
pToyal OF large aud overgrown churches,
and thought that none should be permit
ted to expand until they became unman-
ageable. The next necessity was to Vi
tslize them, infuse life toto them, form
committees of male and female men,
befs, who should go out into the lanes
and thoroughfares TO sUgeoF the needy,
comfort the distressed, nurse the sick,
place the word Of the living God in the
hands Of all, distribute tracts, and in 3
word never to cease doing good. The
Reverend gentleman paid a glorious trib-
ute to woman and the earnest labor she
was capable of performing in drawing
TO God. He also, in his remarks,
eomplimented Memphis, her past and
the great future in store for her. We
must reiterate our regret that the elo-
1uent discourse could cot be given in
full, but our space will only permit a
short and disconnected synopsis.