Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-01
CHURCH NOTES.
Religions Affairs of Yesterday.

home in undress uniform TO going INTO
the sun in stiff dress. Consequently
the churches, as a general thing, were
not largely attended.
A very good audience attended the
Disciples Church to listen to an elo-
quent discourse from Rev. Martin Nc
Farland, Of Missouri.
Comparatively few churches had SER
vices last evening, which fact Injured to
the benefit OF the others by giving them
.arge congregations.
AT THE FOURTH STREET NJ. L.
A very good audience assembled at
this church Yesterday morning to listen
to Rev. Mathews, OF New Orleans,
whose reputation had preceded him
here. The choir rendered several beau
tiful and artistic selections, in a manner
in keeping with its usual fine style. The
pastor discoursed on the general sub
iect: at is the sick, not the whole,
who require physician" lie
is highly interesting speaker
and for an hour and upwards held the
entire attention OF the large audience.
His discourse abounded in line lam
guage and was replete with anecdote
and happy illustration. 1T is said he
NAV, at some future time, have charge
of congregation here.
AT ST. MATHEWS.
Large congregations gathered here
both morning and evening to greet
their former pastor, Rev. j. G.. Arm
strong. now rector of the Monumental
church, of Richmond. Special prepare
ton had been made by the choir, one
of the finest in the State, and some
grand music was the result.
In the evening Rev. Armstrong took
for his theme the 23rd verse of the 9TH
chapter of Judges: Course We MeIoz,
said the Angel OF the Lord; curse We Bit
terly the inhabitants thereof: because
they came not to the help of the Lord
to the help of the Lord against the
mighty"
We know nothing of Meroz, and can
only conjecture IFS geographical lOca-
ton, but sufficient is predicated in
the context to enable q practical
or spiritual application. The words
were sung by Deborah, after the victory
of the Israelites over the Canaanites
under Sisera, who had himself been
killed, by the treachery OF Jael, the wife
of Heber, the Kenite, with nail The
battle was fought and won by the river
Kishon, the place where Israeps God
had destroyed the prophet Baal, through
the instrumentality OF Elijah. Near
this spot was Meroz situated and had
witnessed the battle from its incipiency
to its consummation. But 1t took no
part in the fearful tragedy. 1t stood
neutral, though Israel was outnum-
bered by its foes. Its people came not
the help oft Lord" And Deborah
pronOun ced this fearful curse.
The application is evident. We are
fighting a great battle to-day, in which,
though there are no literal trumpet
blasts and war din, issues of vast inn
portance are involved, battle that has
been going on ever since sin and wrong
came to dispute the throne with right
eousnss and virtue. The battle wakes
hot and the forces are in close contact.
This fact is apparent to all open eyes.
Are your thoughts directed toward
science? Scientists, who are promul-
eating false doctrines in the name OF
science, are engaged; doctrines that
would push God aside and out, and
would overthrow personal responsible
ity and would sweep away the mo-
tives to high and holy living.
Because of certain fixed laws OF nature,
God cannot answer prayer or sympa
thize with want! Because there are
such sciences as Comparative Anatomy
and Comparative Zoology and Compar-
alive Physiology, man is but a highly
developed animal, and our ancestor in
the remote past is the ancestor OF the
tadpoe! And between these and va
rious other differences the steps to degra-
dation i'm faith and morals are easy and
short.
Are your thoughts directed to the
civil and political world? Respect for
government, law and order, does not
seize very readily on the sympathies OF
the great mass of men to-day. The
spirit of disobedienCe and anarchy is as
sorting itself loudly in the Socialism,
Nihilism and Communism of Europe.
We all know the prevailing dishonesty
OF our AGE; the corruption OF the ballot;
the brihes OF legislation. This is our
age. And yet, to those who descend in
TO the depths of her harmonizing and
unifying philosophy, science is bringing
out God in grander light and more mas
siye proportions than ever; and exhibit
ing the foundations of Christianity as
deeper, broader and stronger than be-
lore. And to counterbalanCe dishonesty
i'm trade and politics, are wide spread
education, organized charities and so
wide a field for energy in attaining the
best and highest ends OF life.
And vet we may not forget the great
battle raging between the moral forces OF
the world: Atheism with Theism; Ma
teriaism with Spiritualism; Necessity
with Freedom and Responsibility; Dis
honesty with Honesty; Vice and Sin
with Virtue and Righteousness. Where
the church is arrayed, all know; what
evers he may have done in the past, her
influence. on the whole, has been in be-
half of the publication and elevation OF
humanity.
But where is Meroz; and where is its
part in this battle? Whom Meroz typi-
iies are those who stand neutrally by
the field of the great moral battle, as
mere spectators. They may wish
well for the cause and hope it
will succeed, but do not help it.
They need not be described at length.
You know whether you are Meroz or
not; or whether, like Barak, you viii be
shamed into activity when Deborah
leads the wav. As man you should
be svmpathetically and practically iden-
titled with the church, for she wages war
on behalf of all those virtues which are
necessary to build up the manhood and
against all those vices which would un-
dermine and pull it down. "The church
is the great bulwark and cOnserver
of all those moral principles and
ideas, the maintenance of which is
so necessary to a nations true pros
perity, strength and honor. AS a
father, husband, brother or friend you
should throw your active influence for
and into the church, for she is the truest
friend on earth to your daughter, wife,
sister or sweetheart, and the grandest
palladium of their virtue and honor"
1t is impossible, in the above syn
opsis, TO do Justice to the eloquent and
scholarly discourse delivered by Mr..
Armstrong. The magnetism Of the de-
livery cannot be written, but was fully
r ,,-bo hoo II hin,