National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-08-18

votionni Exercise. and the Rain storm,
Synopsis OF scrmons-Dctnils OF tho
Camp = Religious Fcrvor with Danip
surrsurdIps. prospects OF the Failure.
SATURDAY. Aug. n, is7a
When the sound OF the camp bell rung out
upon the morning air, calling the company from
the land Of nod, eyes were opened to behold the
bright rays Of an August sun coming from the
horizon and creeping through every opening In
the foliage, from which II was drinking the moist
ure OF the previous nights rain. Hearts re- |
sponded to the gladness OF the heavenly bright |
ness, and faces were shining with smiles, rival.
ing those Of the new born day.
Friday night after our report closed Rev. O. A.
Hall, Of the Young Mems Christian Association
Of Washington, and the representatives OF thu
association who are here with him, held an In.
teresting meeting, which was largely attended, |
consisting OF social interchange Of religious views
and interpretations Of the various passages Of |
Scripture which Mr.. Hall read; also OF short
prayers and songs, mostly OF personal consecrr- |
ton to Christ for the great work OF the CANT
meeting.
About O'Clock p. m. the company assembled
at the preaching stand to listen to discourse BY
Rev. A. J. Gil, OF East Washington, and partci-
pate IN the usual devotional exercises subse-
quent TO preaching. During the announcement
OF tine opening btEhi W thllt ahN
all hands went to the large meeting tent OF the
YIN. G. A., when Mt. GIN preached a stirring |
sermon from the goth and goth chapters OF Acts:
almost thou persuadest me to be Christian"
The following Ia an abstract OF his discourse;
There are certain distinct periods In life which
because OF the personal experience connected
with them, are stamped on our memories whet
We make especial claim on Christ for help-they
are clmaxes In our experiences. These arr
more prominent In some lives than in others, a.
was the case with Martin Luther.
Such was the case with Paul when he CAV,
utterance to the text. He was before Agripps
pleading his own case.
Let US inquire trst what 1t Is to be a Christian.
The term Christian Is symbolic one-expressv,
OF our similarity to Christ, our great exemplar
The seat Of character, whether In the sens.
bilitles, affections or will-the scriptures plac,
II deeper than these-they fx It In the heart.
Therefore the Bible teaches the necessity Of co..
rectlng ard purifying the heart prior to regu-
lating the life.
Character Is the most important and signlr.
cant thing In tho moral universe. Compared
with wealth and position, 1t Is Of Infinitely more
value.
Life must be clothed In manifestations and
beatitudes before II can attract. There Ia power
connected with character-power to assimilats
and TO construct-giving ability to grasp. Il
was this power Of character In Paul that CAV,
him success. This power OF character Is OTTER
represented In q name; for example, the innu
ence OF the name Of Napoleon on French enthu
siam. Christian character Is tho stronges
form OF power, and the names OF Its apostle
and martyrs shine out like shafts Of light agalns
the heavens Of moral darkness.
Christ Is the exemplar. the gauge and measu
ment OF Christian character, and It IL our dut
to grow into his beatitudes by illustrating hi
spirit In daily life among the haunts Of destltu
ton and vice, seeking to elevate them. There
Al aggressive and passive power both In Chr.
uin life, making him as a battery fed by an ele,
trio current, giving him holiness to 20 out an
attack evil and commend the good. The worl
needs such men.
This character or term Christian implies wors
Religion Is more than a sentiment; we must M
Christs cross not only on our church steeple o
around our necks, but we must put II on GU
shoulders. Life Is not hymn but a battle:
has Its seasons OF exuberance, of victory. To Al
TAN this character we must have clear knowI
edge OF the Scriptures They are grand oil
Scriptures, Gods best gift to man; His letter o
love to us-not a critical but an experiments
knowledge Of the Scriptures.
Finally, there are many men NOWADAYS al
most perauaded 10 be Christians, attracted .
the Church by the purity and beauty Of Christla,
character, and countenance aud support the In
terests OF religion. Such Is q dangerous becaus
seemingly safe position, almost up the emlneuc
OF Zion. one step more and these would b
within Chrlst's true fold, but looking back the
faii and perish In sight OF the battlements .
glory, 10 s'nk lust within the harbor. such
the destiny OF the almost Christians,
At the close Of the sermon the conpreyaiIo
sang the beautiful hymn, entitled
ALMOST PERSUADED"
OF which the following Is the frst yerse.
almost persuaded now to believe:
Almost persuaded Christ to receive.
seems now some soul to say
TO spirit, go thy way,
some more convenient day on thee Ill call,
At the close OF the meeting exhorta;Ions an
prayers were continued for half an hour.
rms morning after breakfast q Methodist ex
perience meeting was held In one OF the meet
ing tents, In which many Interesting detail, a
personal Christian life were told.
AT a. m. the company assembled at IN
preaching stand for morning service, Professo
Henry Harmon, OF Dickinson College, read
chapter OF scripture, and made edifyng and In
terestlng remarks relative to Its proper transls
uoh anu Interpretation, making happy applies
ttons OF Its truths. This meeting was continue
until after 10 O'Clock, with prayer and the recIt,
OF personal experience. At a, m. the CON
pany again congreglted for public services I
tie prsachers stand. Rev. George Hlldt, W,
entered the ministry In 1926, preached from n
ioliowing text and the Inspiration Of the A
mighty Riyeth them UNDERSTANDING Tn
speaker proceeded to show how the spiri,
man differed from the principle OF life in yegeta
ton and tue Instinct Of the animal Kingdom, 1
that 10 grows aud develops while these renal
Always the same without Improvement Will
the spirit In man is lmtless aud immortal
cannot ha hal
derstood by Its effects. 1t Involves the questio
whence came man and whittier doth he tend
what Is his destiny? The reciprocity OF feein
eaklndied by friendship, sympathy and otht
FORMS OF tho mingling OF kindred spirits illul
trates that this spirit Is from God and tends
Col and heaven. 1t has power to suffer or eDjo
while connected with the body, but indepenIep
orr and by purity OF reasoning, 1t will be able 3
DO tue same when separated from the body. Tn
speaker then remarked relative to the GREATNESS
OF THIS spirit In man; while differing in capacIt
IN inherent persons, It Is equally immortal In ali
the obligation to devote the powers Of this spri
to God was forcibly presented, together with n
high destiny and the vastness OF Its Ioss-to q
away into everlasting punishment, not to hay
the powers or the soul blotted out but expanded
that the eternal misery Of Its possessor may b,
enhanced.
Rev. Basil Barry, OF Rockville. who entered the
Methodist itinerary In 1916, opened the mornln,
services with prayer.
After the conclusion OF Mr. Hlllts sermon
Rev. Mr.. Norris, OF Waugh chapel, exhorted
and extended an Invitation to any DESTROYS al
seeking religion to present themselves 10,
prayers.
M2o'cock p. m. meeting was held In IN,
tent OF the Y. NJ. G. A., presided over by Mr.
HAL. It's character vas social, consisting OF
singing, prayer, expressions OF religious view
OF criptures read. Many requested prayers 70
certain Individual friends and relatives, an,
others for themselves. OF the latter there wer,
thirteen. This was very spirited meeting.
At p. m. all hands assembled again at III
preaching stand, when Rev. John LanahaI
preached powerful sermon from Samuel
xyil:32: "Let no mans heart fall because OF tn
Phllistine."
The speaker said his theme would be religion
courage, and remarked that II Is frequently un
expectedly developed. Little thought Dayl,
that morning Of the crisis OF that day in whcl
he should form the centre. Ills courage was IN
development OF moment, and before he wa
aware OF It he found himself committed to
deadly conflict with great foe.
Soft frequently Is with religious courage. Lax
the hTo In the nlni, II will nash when the strik