Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-05-10
McKENDREE CHURCH.
The Meeting Last Night-DiscOurse
by Bishop Marvin.

The Meeting Last Night-DiscOurse
by Bishop Marvin
1t was announced last Sunday, by Rev.
DR.. Kelley, in McKendree Church, after
the conclusion of the memorial services
commemorative of the late Bishop An
drew, that on Tuesday night mss meet
ing of the friends of Metbodism would be
held in the same church, and that the
meeting would be addressed by Bishop
Marvin.
TIE church was opened last night at s
o'clock, but the unfavoTable weather doubt
less prevented many from attending who
would otherwise have been present.
Shortly otter o'clock, DIR. Kelley stated
that the weather had prevented the choir
from being present, as well az others, and
he therefore requested the congregation
to sing: D
Jerusalem my happy home,
Name ever dear 10 me"
While waiting to determine the charac-
ter of the meeting.
After singing the hymn, prayer was Of
fered by Mr.. Hughes. Hymn 155 COM
mencing,
Let angels prostrate fall"
was then sung, when Bishop e. NJ.
Marvin, of st. Louis, stated that DR.. Kel-
ley was unwilling that the audience should
retire without having a discourse. The
occasion was intended as a special one and
a speaker had heretofore been announced
but was not present. There was no ex-
PLANTATION for his absence, but of course it
VS. to be attributed to the inclement
weather He would read one of the most
interesting narratives in the Scripture and
call the attention of his hearers to the les
son taught by it.
DISCOURSE OF BISHOP MARVIN.
The reverend gentleman then read the
10Th chapter Cf st. Matthew, from the 21st
to the 2Sth verse, recording the affecting
and well-known story of the Syrophenician
woman, who told Christ that even the
dogs ate the crumbs that fell from their
masters table.
He said that this narrative was intended
to illustrate the act of faith in personal ex-
perience. In referring to the fact of this
Canaanitish womans daughter being pos
sessed by devil, the speaker said he
would not attempt to explain The nature
of this possession, but would simply re-
mark that it was diaboical peIversion of
all the intellectual and moral faculties. He
then explained the subject of his discourse
at length, and said that faith did not hinge
so much upon the intellectual as on the
moral condition. The little child gave
clear manifestations Of faith, and reposed
implicit confidence in its parent. The
child's faith was simple, and the great
majority of mankind we're SO situated that
they had no very great opportunities for
extended scientific research, SO as to es-
tablish their faith on broad analytical
grounds. The woman in the text had
probably no very extended foundation for
her faith, but it was nevertheless broad
and deep Her confidence in Christ was
great, and she believed implicitly in Him.
Her heart was open to the voice of God
and she recognized in Jesus the promised
Messiah. Here faith was subjected Il
three different and severe tests. First
Christ paid no attention whatever TO hel
i quest, and answered her not /
n vord. 1t might well be imagined
mat this was very trying to the womani
faith, and II many who live at the present
day had been in her place, they woult