The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-22

snail scourge, and drove out those that
bought and sold, and overturned the
tables OF the y.ohangers, saying,
SIT is written, my house is the house OF
prayer, but ye have made it Q den of
thieves" It is deseoration to use the
house OF worship for public purposes
whereby money is made. such as lectures
on various subjects, concerts, fairs,
Christmas trees, go. The venerable
speaker raised his voice in utter condem-
nation Of all such practices, and sincere
" hoped this new church would never
viewed many of them as not whit bet
ter than genteel dancing parties.
Reverence for Gods house., he grieved
to say, was becoming less and less. He
has seen ministers of the Gospel 80 far
forgetful Of the Hacredness OF the house
OF God as to put their hats on as soon rs
they leaye the pulpit. or even the COM
munion table. They would show more
respect in General Grants house, human
and faulty as he is. Remember that
the new church is to be kept pure aud
clean, and let your conduct always be
reverent. The church is no place for
gossip, or to ask questions concerning
the drops, or acquaintances. or politics,
or the news; but enter it with reverence,
ns Moses took off his shoes in the holy
place. Walk to your seat. kneel devout-
ly, and always remember that you have
come there to meet the Lord Jesus, md
treat him with due respect. Let not the
eloquence or ability OF any minister be
your reason for attending this church,
and never forget that you meet in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not
in the name OF any mortal man. Me-
thodism has been running down in many
of these matters of late years, and is
suffering fearful losses. The time has
come for us to start anew. Do not come
here to gossip and frolic, but be sensible;
come to think and feel and pray, and
God Almighty will come down, and the
pentacostal days will como again upon
us all. My desire is, ere these trembling
limbs are laid in the coffin aud consigned
to the silent tomb, to see those days re-
turning. Paul says, whether we be be-
side ourselves, it is to God. If these
people were beside themselves, it was
not insanity, it was to God. And now
1 commend You to God. I shall never
see you all again in this world. but I
shall never forget Columbia. Though
South Carolina did not give me birth.
yet she gave me living place until T
entered the university. I have been
travelling preacher for sixty six years and
nine months, and am ready to spend
and be spent in the service of my Lord
and Master. God Almighty bless you
all, and enable you to work worthy of
the high calling in Christ Jesus. If You
live as you ought to do. you will find
there is no ebb tide in your Christian
experience, but one steady, onward flow
from conversion until death. There is
no such thing as shrinking grace, but
only the never changing love OF the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev. VIM. Martin read the following
hymn, which was effectively rendered
by the choir:
When to the exiled seer was given
A rapt'rous foregaze into Heaven,
All glorious though the visions were,
Yet he behold no temple there.
The New Jerusalem on high,
Hath one pervading sanctity;
No sin to mourn, no grief to mar,
God and the Lamb it's temple are.
But We, frail sojonrners below.
The pilgrim heirs of guilt and woe,
Must seek tabernacle where
Our scatter'd souls may blend in prayer
o, Thou who DER the cherubim
Didst shine in glories veil'd and dim,
With purer light our temple cheer,
And dwell in unveil'd glory here.
Rev. Sidi 81. Browne then offered the
following prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, thou
art infinite in all thy perfections, and
marvellous in all thy works. Thou hast
made the world and oil things therein
and seeing that thou art Lord OF heaven
and earth, thou dwellest not in temples
made with hands: thou art Spirit, and
art worshipped in spir:. and in truth, in
all places of thy dominion; yet we thank
thee that thou dost allow Ms to build
houses for thy services. wherein thy
people may attend upon thee without