National Republican., 1876-11-13
RELIGIOUS sKavI rs YESTERDAY.
Assembly rresbyterisn Church.

Assembly Presbyterisn Church.
A large congregation yesterday attended tn.
ministraticns of Rev. Mr.. Little, the populs
pastor Of this church. The music, as usual
was excellent, embracing SIS an opening an
them Thomas praise the Lord ',invoeation
"Benedictus," BY Pearce; offsrtory, "Jesu
Only" by Fsirlsmb. The latter. charmin,
qusrtette, its first rendition, was sung witt
exquisite effect BY. Mrs. Fairlamb, Miss Nor
rell, Mr.. Keen and Mr.. Stockman.
>rRorHssYINe IN THE CAMP.
Mr.. Little preached with even more thai
usual power ami fervor on the above subject
from the following text: Numbers, xi29-
"And Moses said unto him, enviest thou fo
my sakef Would God that all the Lord
people were prophets, and that the Lord
would put his spirit upon. them" The con
duct of Moses and that of the people stand oui
In most vivid contrast as they begin their jour.
neying from Mt. Sinai. In his kind invitation
to Hobab, tto come with them, In his prayer
at the setting forward OF the ark, "Rise up
Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered" ;" and
when It rested, "Return, Oh Lord, unto the
many thousands of Israel" we see the most
perfect confidence in the Lords promises, and
the most prayerfui dependence on the Lords
presence and help. 50
DuL luc pcOplc, leu away Uy Tue mlXe0 N
titude that went out of Egypt with them, lost
sight of all Gods purposes and promises, found
fault with The mamma provided for them, ex-
acgerated In memory the good things of Egypt
ard lusted for flesh. No wonder Moses was
discouraged and prayed to die. But God had
REMEDY.
He commapdedtheg gathering of seventy OF
the elders at the tabernacle, who should bear
the burden with Moses, and promised to put
his spirit upon them. This was doing In spirit
ual things what Jethro had advised Noses to
do in temporal things, .(Ex, xyiiiI7 25, }
namely, laying the burden on many shoulders
instead of one. Two of the men appointed
(for some untold reason) did not 90 to the
tabernacle, "but the spirit rested upon them,
and they prophesied In the camp" go if-,-
By prophesying we are not TO understand
the foretelling OF future events, but state of
spiritual exsltatien which prompts extraordL
nary spiritual utterances, whether pertaining
to the past, present or future. Paul saws:
"He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to
edifcation and exhortstion and comfort. %
This -prophesying of Eldad and Medad
awakened attention, interest, alarm and envy
In others, but Moses, when he heard of It, ex-
claimed: "Would God all the Lords people
were prophets!" This brings US to our sub
ject- 80 f7.' .
PRoPHEsYING IN THE CAMP.
It may be defined as doing whstever the
spirit suggests, wherever you are, and is thus
distinguished from the more formal service of
Gods ordained ministers in Gods house.
The text teaches that int the camp, as well as
the church, men may and should prophecy;
that the power comes from the putting on of
the Lords spirit, not the laying on of mems
hands; that 1t is the privilege and duty of all
the Lords people to thus prophesy, and not
of q prescribed few, and that it is in every
way desirable that all should receive the
spirit OF Gcd, and having received It TO make
1t manifest wherever they are. The ways of
prophesying in the camp are different: -
First. 1t can be manifest in that most effec-
tive of all preaching. viz: Right-liying men
know true religion when they see it, without
being told of it or about It. There is won
derful power in bright face that arises from
temperament and freedom from care and sor-
row. But there's greater power in a bright,
Christian face, that comes from the receiving
of Christ's spirit, and shines in spite of sor-
row. When one carries In every part of his
life the spirit of the Lord Jesus, the spirit of
truth and love, every one who sees him knows
something of truth and love by sight, and not
by hearing. .. r.- ~ - s5
Secondly. It will be manifested in helpful
words to those sick in body, mind and soul.
When the body is in need all feel that they
can help supply these wants, and that their
hunger will present too careful scrutiny of
the food supplied. But when they are sick in
mind or sonl there is prevalent feeling that
only minister can talk and pray with them
to their satisfaction or good. 1t thus happens
that while most tempting dishes are prepared
for the body their souls are often left hungry
and unproyided for. 1t is prophesying In the
camp when every Christian embraces all such
opportunities to speak helpful, comforting
words, and not wait for an ordained minister
to be called. So in all religious conversations.
We live In free country. We are Obliged to
hear profane and uneodly conversation in
every place Of resort and travel. Why should
they not hear from us language and conyer-
sation that is the opposite Of this They do
not hesitate to ask US to smoke or to drink or
engage In any worldly pleasure. Why should
we hesitate to ask them to join with us in
spiritual pleasures? .HH
Thirdly. 1t will be manifested In all family
religion. In other homes we may be restrained
by questions of etiquette, but in our own
homes we are supreme. 1t is our right to
give tone to conversation, direction to all pas
timee, and introduce such exercises as we are
to. 1t is the duty Of guests to
conform to our wishes and customs. Hence,
Of all places home is the best place to prophesy
In the camp, Family worship, observance Of
the Sabbath and attendance upon religious
services should not be given up or changed
when we have visitors, but should be made
means of interesting them In spiritual things.
FourthlY. II will be manifested in syste-
matte lay work, such as the Young Mems
Christian Associations in our different cities
ire doing with so much success. It may be
said In favor Of all this kind of work that It
attracts attention because 1t Is universal. It
s expected in the Church and in the minister,
and produces little effect, because men are &C.
to It. The same thing done in q
amp by lsyman has often been more purer
han If done by a minister In the church.
Again, 1t is considered by the mass Of men
higher evidence Of the Lords power when men
who have not been ordained to preach yet
hrousrh the Lord 8 spirit are enabled TO do the
preachers work. Again, the voluntariness of
,he act carries the impression Of sincerity. /.
Men are readyto believe those who seem to I.
prophesy because they want to, not because
hey have to or 1t is their business to do It. 4
Above all, 1t takes Christianity TO the people
where they are, instead of waiting for them to
,ome to 1t In the places where 1t Is preached.
Finally. The ministry will not be jealous
IF such colaborer, but, In view of the great
1ess of the work to be done and the difficul-
les in the way, will welcome all the Lords
people to the work the spirit puts upon them.
Neither will God suffer the minister's peculiar 7
work to suffer or pale in dissipation. The
SICALCI tuc euCCtec vi bQCu hOIk LIE
greater will be the demand for q ministry,
wholly set apart for the preaching of the
Word, for which they are prepared by educa-
ion and training, and TO which they have been
called and ordained of God. 49,
. The First Independent Congregation
of this city held their first services yesterday
1t ESQ O'Clock in Tsllmadge hall. A fine
audience greeted DR.. Taylor, who has been
chosen as the pastor Of this new church. The
nusic was Of superior order, Professor scheil
organist and Professor whipple director of the
choir. The opening exercises were conducted
as per printed programme, with some varia-
lion, an interesting item Of which was an elo-
reading by our fellow citizen, Mr..
Palmonl, a very fine elocutiouist, who gave q
charming rendering of Litten's fine poem, en-
titled SEVEN this shall pass away"
The Introductory services having been con.
ciuded, DR.. Taylor read text from Acts K.
The theme Of The discourse was that "spiritual
visions modify human prejudice" Simon Peter
was q Jew BY birth and training, but was chosen
by the Master of Gslliles as disciple, and
entered the school Of the young radical re-
former with all the preiudices Of his Jewish
creeds and bigoted zeal for clan, sect, for,
at that time the Jews were divided into many
sects and clans. The disciples found one cast
fufr afIt davfis and dfd fos fnIlnw fharn and