The New York herald., 1879-09-01
FIRST PLACE M. E. CHURCH.

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL TO sAvE-sERMoN
BY REV. DIR. SIMPSON.
The announcement that Rev. DIR. Simpson, of
Texas. would relate numerous outrsges committed
on Northern aud colorcd citizens. to which he had
been eve witness, drew numerous auditory to
the First Place Methodist Episcopal Church, South
Brooklyn. The acting pastor, young student
named Abraham Cavanagh. in his opening prayer
besought tho Lord that those attracted merely by
the advertisement might not take the disappoint-
ment caused by the preachers absence to heart but
that other words might conduce to their spiritual
benefit. led many to believe that Mr.. Simpson would
not appear. Just before the young man was on the
point Of selecting text. however. he entered the
church and mounting the pulpit was introduced to
the audience. He took for his text. 1. Cor
inthians. l.. 1s-"For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto US which saved It is the power Of God
from which he said he would argue on two points-
Do perishf and. Is the power of Christs Gospel
sufficient to save from perishing? And no
meant rs intended from the context OF the PASSAGE
perish physically. The subject Of q mans being
cternally lost does not enter into the present
ment In the South 1t is too painfully apparent
that men are bodily perishing. Ho had been among
them for thirty years and knew Of what he
WAS speaking Since the close Of the rebellion and
the adoption Of the reconstruction acts twelve
sassins had been recorded with names. dates. &C..
and probably many more whose names will never
be known, and all for the only reason that they
serted their privilege Of manhoodeither by casting
Q ballot ~ they pleased or denouncing q wrong
The Rev. James Gilliard, Of Vansant county,
Texas, was murdered for his defence Of some Of his
race, and the outrage Rlarng that !. who had
never taken any part in politics. wrote to Washing
ton about it, aud told by the Attorney General
that for all such lawless acts redress could only be
obtained from the State government. ! accordingly
sons present. but before it could be discussed
were attacked by these unconverted rebels. The
chairman Of the meeting, Fred w. simmons. was
killed. and several persons were wounded. / was
takon prisoner aud locked up and during the night
oil my property was burned down. Bailed out,
escaped, through the aid of the Choctaw
and Chickasaw missions, and reached Washington,
where was told nothing could bo done for me. and
that hundreds in similar predicament. The
speaker told the story OF the Chisholm assassination,
or the killing of Rev. Mr.. Pollard aud the presiding
ored, and but two things could remedy the dihi-
Guilty one of which is inevitable another the
Gospel of Jesus Christ. The North had always
every appeal of the South for aid, sending
down her millions in the time OF the yellow fever
scourge year ago, and yet such love and Kindness
have not changed their sentiment one whit.
The power of the Gospel OF Christ has the power
to save, and perishng humanity can alone look to 1t
for a happy future. He gave several instances of
the happy effect of evangelical religion in redeem
ing neighborhoods and urged greater efforts to
faith only in the love of God. dropping all isms.
parties and predictions would save tho people from
bodily perishing. and preserve the unity and
strength of the nation.