National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-18

expand, putting forth branches and beautiful
foliage, and the birds sit and sing away anon
I Inf But wh6e nL us thus gradual process ~
US with his influence that tits more rapid. Tn
process being progressive, ever tending to tn
conformity to Jesus, we should keep on till tn
good shall have been reached and the priEe won
In God, as in nature, there is . wonderful di
Versity. There may be q year in which thu
healthy tree may not put out new branches; bu
il you dig down beneath the soil you might fnC
that the roots had grown downward, that WheI
the drought comes it might live and stand mort
steadfastly. After the Lord puts us in darl
chambers We may appear weak in all earthly
things; when the body is emaciated the divine
life and spirit may shine more brightly. TT!
symmetrical in its proportions; faith and all arr
developed till they constitute a perfect man II
Christ Jesus.
This growth in grace is attainabIe only by
knowledge OF the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
He has the power to make the soilcd and uncleau
like Himself We need only to sit at His feet and
look up into His face till the transformation IL
perfect. We must not be satisfied with the pres.
ent, but seek and long for something better
We must not wish to be grand as q statesman
or fnancier TO get the applause of the multi
tude, bit to be grand as Jesus is grand, and we
shall meet the eOnsummation of all our hopes and
desires. You have heard these things long ago
you have heard the same old story long ago; you
have yearned to such m estate long ago; but
have been poor, diseonsOlate, and doWncast. But
what matters 1t II though the path be difficult,
blood in every step? come and say forget the
things past Yonder is the prize; put your ewes
on it, press, cling to the Master and the time will
and forever shine and live in the glory Of the
blessed Master. May God grant this through
the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
First Congregational Church.
Rev. J. E. Rankin, the pastor, preached in the
morning On Broken Communications with God, ~
from Sam. XPVII, 6 and And when Saul en-
quired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not,
neither by dreams, nor by Trim, nor by prophets.
Then said Saul unto his servants: seek me a
woman that hath familiar spirit, that may 90
to her, and enquire Of her,"
He began by saying that God holds, and desires
to hold communication with His creature man.
He has made the universe so that man can not
well forget Him. And even idOlatry and devil
worship are the abuse Of a divine instinct. King
Saul was a man of mixed character, never thor
oughly converted, susceptible OF transient reIig-
ious impulses, but strangely obtuse and stold re-
spectiug all questions Of right and wrong.
Take the characteristic Illustrations OF his
history. He is in the presence Of vast Philis-
tine army, threatening an attack, at any moment.
His own forces are timid and scattering. God has
commanded him to wait seven days for the return
Of Samuel; the last day is nearly gone; as vet no
Samuel. What If the Philistines should attack
them before they had offered sacrifice to God.
He is neither priest nor prophet, but he will do it
himself. Saul here regards this sacrifice in the
light Of q charm, an omen without which the bat
tie must not be fought
This is superstition: ignorant belief, i'll
lounded confidence in q thing true, and import
ant in itself, provided it be offered Alright. He
thought it safer to fight the Philistines with
God offended by disobedience than appropriated
by sacrifice. Just so men may read the Bible
perstitiOusly, with false ideas Of what it can do
for them; may pray superstitiOusly; may observe
the most sacred Christian advances supersti-
tiOusly. A knowledge of "Murray's Guide Book"
does not make man European tourist; neither
does knowledge OF the Bible make man a
n he ia fnfn lie
daily life, will forgive his enemies will repair an
injury, confess fault, correct misstatement II
from Genesis to Revelations. God breaks with
men because they use his sacred things untruth-
fully, superstitiousiy.
The second illustration was taken from Saul's
conduct when commanded to destroy the Amale-
kites And this shows rs what Jesuit he was;
how he thought the end sRnctiied the means,
that IL he saved the latest Of the sheep and oxen
for the Lord the little irregularty Of saving them
have the idea that the men who embrace the
Christian religion have kind Of discretion what
commands they shall keep and what they shall
eaness, they can lay up money for the Lord they
are eIonerAted from blame. Men peLjure them
selves TO save great reputation. They manu-
facture testimony in the interest Of great cause.
Samuel taught Saul that God utterly abhors Q
sacrifice made possible by disobedience; that he
wanted no sheep and cattle saved contrary to his
commands: or, to Ike II more modern, that God
wants no churches built with funds stolen from
the Government or the Indians or laid up by the
pursuit Of any unlawful calling. He prefers ODE
dlence to the commandment, Thou shalt not
steal" to the success Of church fairs. He does
not pu pose to divide his Kingdom against itself
t. 1t.
II God repudiated Saul, what was left him?
He quickly decided. He sought out the medium
OF Endor, forbidden as such spirit communica-
oIs were. II God had broken with him, he
would form new alliance. He has another bat
tie before him how will il be decided? He must
have supernatural knowledge respecting this
question. knowledge Of the future, personal &C.
quaintance with disembodied spirits destroys the
posi- blity Of the lie Of faith. defy any man to
believe in the doctrines Of modern spirltualism
and held to the central truths Of the Bible. 1t
the frank and genuine confession of Christian
woman, when urged to investigate for herself,
II can 60 no further. l md IL takes me away
from my Saviour" Modern spiritualism takes
men away from the Bible. away from Church Or
dinances, away from the society Of the Lord Je-
sus-substitutes real or imaginary communings
with the spirit world for cOmmunings with the
living God. 1t Is said that the ranks Of modern
spiritualists are filled with people who have been
members Of the Christian Church.
They have grayitatcd there, as Saul did, be-
cause they had broken with the God of the Bible.
" hen prayer has ceased to be a reality; when
Christian ordinances have become a mere matter
Of form; when men have come to do what their
conscience and tie Bible condemn, they want q
Jesus Christ
there Is anything in sPirtualIsm, it is forbid
den in the Bibles If there s nothing in it. it is for
hidden by the principles Of common honesty. "As
many as are led by the spirit Of God they are the
sons of God" Be Il ours to be led blythe spirit Of
God; to make obedience to God the first and su-
preme thing; then he will hold communion with
US, as father with child; will guide us by his
counsel and afterwards receive us TO glory.
St. Paurs Ritualistic Church.
The services at this church were Of the most in
teresting character. The congregation was not
large: and owing to the temperature of the room
1 considerable portion we're obliged to leave be-
fore the sermon began. The rector, Rev. Mr..
jackson, diseoursed from St. John second chap
ter and seventh verse "Jesus said unto them fill
the water pots with water" Mr.. Jackson said
ali have part to fulfill in the covenant of God.
Some thin K II will all come right without exer-
ton, and Gods orders are left alone. God does
not admit Of this, and no man can be saved unless
be performs the duty assigned him, and obeys
Gods covenant.
Even those who have not spark Of Christianity
feel that in the end they will receive Gods grace.
from God. Man must do his part to be saved in
the world TO come. This principle is eoneisely
son. Man has a WORT assigned him, and he must
perform It II he expects God to perform his.
Laws Of nature and grace are essentially one, and
without exertion nothing will be gained; with It,
God will reward. Exertion does It's own part in
drawing together the matter Of which man is
composed. "All thy works praise thee, Lord. !"
This means that all things do their part as be
has ordained. Nothing must be left undone. II
seeds are sOWn they will spring up: IL none are
sown there will be nothing at the time Of harvest.
These ideas Of expecting results when there IL
no effort, is absurd, as Gods order cannot be set
aside. All must earn what they desire-"the
laborer is worthy Of his meat" The vessels must
be filled up before the wine can be drunk. MAI
must do what he can to fll the pots. He next re
feTred TO the miracles oil the loaYes and nshes, and
charged that man must have faith. II exertioE
had not been put forth Jesus power would have
been nsught. God orders It. 1t is his law. Nc
benefits will be derived without It. Obey Cod
commandments and he will reward. A orothel
cannot act for the other; he mnst act for himself
when the blessing will come. He will not make
good the shortcomings unless man does his part
This cannot be delegated to another; he mus
come TO the house Of prayer, and the score mus
be wiped out against him. A fresh start must b
made in godly life. God will do his work, anC
man must do his.
St. Cecilia's Academy.
This institution of learning was formally dedi
C tied on Saturday, and Mass was celebrated in 4
for the first time by the Rev. Father F. T. Boyle
who also blessed the building. Several Of thu
parents of the scholars and others, friends OF the
Sisters in charge, were present. This building Il
one Of the finest east Of the Capitol, and is the
property Of the Sisters Of the Sacred Heart. TT
construction was commenced in June last, by Mr.
Beers, the we'll builder, who was the con
tractor for the entire structure. Under sub-con
tract with Mr.. Beers, Messrs. Nash & 90. don't
the bTickWOTk; Mr.. d. McMenRmin, the stone
work, and Mr.. James Hughes, the plasterInR. II
has front Of 6ity-eight feet on East Capitol
three stories high, with basement; the East Gap
itol and Sixth street fronts Of press brick with
brown stone trimmings.
On the hTst floor, to the left Of the main hall
which is eight feet wide is the parlor library and
chapel; to the right Of the hall is the vocal class
and al