National Republican., 1873-06-30
Mount Vernon Place Methedi.t Episcopal
Church south.

This church, located at the corner OF Ninth
aud streets, Is the only church Of the Southern
wing OF the Methodist persuasion In this city
IL Is large brick edllce, capable OF seating two
thousand persons. Though the congregation IA
largely composed OF the southern element, there
are also many members Of Northern birth and
education. IL has nne organ and an excellent
cholr under the leadership OF Professor j. II.
Daniel, the well-known teacher OF vocal music
IN the public schools. The pastor Is the Rev,
Alpheus Wilson, son Of the Rev. Noryall VIII
son, one Oh the oldest and most widely known
ministers OF the Baltimore Conference.
The services at this church yesterday were Of
very interesting nature, IL being the day set
ciety Of the church. The pastor chose a. MS te
that portion Of the word OF God In Isaiah liy,
0lh 70 lVlh verses, Inclusive: " For q small mo-
ment have fOrsaken thee, but with great mer-
cies will gather thee. In q little wrath mid
my lace from thee for moment, but with ever
lasting klndneas VIII have mercy on thee, saith
the L0rd, thy RedeemeT. For the mountains
shall depart and the hills be removed, but my
Kindness shall not depart from thee, neither
s%nnl % tne covenant OF my peace be removed,
saith the God that hath mercy upon thee"
These words were uttered under the pro-
found conviction Of the trials 10 which the
Church should be subjected. have forsaken, Is
sad MorI, and yet 4 has Us counterpart In the
declaration OF the Lord Jesus, when he says,
,Ihongh 70 away, Will not leave you COM
toriless,' The passage referred TO represents the
deepest sorrow 70 which the Jews could have
slfoyed; liner one 1t Is true had been erected In
It's steal, but there were no associations con-
nected with u IKE that which clung TO the tenn
pie OF solomon. The glory OF the Shekinah had
never dwelt In II; no sense OF Gods presence
was felt IN It. Beauty OF architecture, the
pleasures Of taste could not compensate for the
loss OF that spiritual enjoyment which had been
theirs In the days Of old. This abandonment
had been fearfully dcS!e:ed In the writings OF the
prophet Ezekiel, yet IL was not a hopeless
abandonment. 81 will return again. have for
kAken thee but for A moment Ahandonment hv
God Is needful puTgatlye OF the Church: by
this means the dead branches are Topped on;
onY sneh as haye NE N them can remain. 1t
was an easy matter so long a. God supplied the
lsrAelltes with mama from heaven and with
luails, for them 10 serve him, hut so soon as the
light o. ms countenanee Is ND from them they
fOrds no test OF religious character; no courage
Is rcqulfed,Mhen everything goes well with him,
Tor hun 20 say, even In the face Of Rsceptics,
job was an illnstri0us example OF what should
constitute true Christian. Deprived Of chill
dren, lands, cattle and houses, he nevertheless
says, "IhOugh he slAy me, yet will i trust In
him." No ordinary man could say that none OF
your Christians, who merely follow Christ for the
sake Of decency. Every energy OF his soul was
required 10 maintain his integrity As a Christian
Would you, think you, stand such q tesR Who are
those aTrayod In white linen7 Are they such as
suffer nothing 70 prove their ndeliy TO Christ
kead tho conclusion OF the text; these are they
who have como up through great tnbulatlon aud
have washed their robes white In the blood OF the
Lamb. Remnant seems to be fayoTite express
sion OF the prophet, aud he means all that word
implies. How many have we In our churches, II
the old prosecutions were 20 break out who
would be wiling 10 be martyrs for the sake OF
the truth How many would brave the dungeon
and the stakeS Too many, fear, would be found
burning incense TO Cesar. This apparent Aban-
tlonmeiit Of God draws the dividing line between
those who love the Lord Jesus Christ In sincerity
and such as merely make profession OF faith In
his name without possessing the spirit which Is
in Christ. Out Of all the host who were willing
10 aid Gideon only three hundred were chosen.
leave you 70 draw the inference.
Tue pastor then stated, IN oonol luslon, that he
AID not wish amy one 70 believe for moment
that there was such thing ~ good IN evil, only
! d evil may bo made lAs all things can bel To
L.. i'ind 10 Ino glory OF God, and eNhOrted his
4, arci8 - bear patiently all aii.etlona, Of What.
-atui meekly submitting 10 the VIII Of
Z - would again be revealed aud
Npatonanco shine away the
marked ability,