Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-28
At THE DUKE STREET NJ. f..



The auditorium Of the Duke street
terday morning, and the galleries were en-
tirely devoid of auditors, except the choir
and the lone occupant of "Jimmy Dore's
corner" the occasion being the introduc-
tion of the new pastor, Rev. VIM. &. Robin
congregation by the conference just closed
at Pottsville. Rev. S. II. c. Smith, late
pastor of this church. also preached for his
Philadelphia. The Duke street people
greeted their new pastor with handsome
floral decorations and the word "Wel
come,' wrought in lockwood leaves, sus-
pended across the chancel. A large cross
communion table and a bouquet on the pull
Mr.. s. NJ. Myers during his temporary
stay in the city,is tall, broad shouldered,
fine-looking, gentleman, with dark hair
falling over his shoulders and bald fore
head he is about tifty-five years of age,
previous charges.
After the singing of the 77Oth hymn
Rev. Robinson engaged the devotional at
tentiOn of the congregation with prayer,
in which he remembered the educational
institutions Of the country, the press and
public offi,i,ls. He read the xlvi. Psalm
and part of II Corinthians, iv. chapter.
Hymn No. 769 was sung, the collection
lifted and Mr.. Robinson proceeded with
his Introductory sermon ON tho theme
The Love Jehoval, Bears for His Church.
TEXT: For the Lord shall comfort Zion he
will comfort all her waste places and he will
make her wilderness like Ellen and her
desert like the garden of the Lord Joy and
gladness shall be found therein. than!sgiv-
Ing and the voice of melody" Isaiah Il, 3.
After a short account of the "royal
prophet" Isaiah, son of Amos and father
in-law of Hezekiah, the preacher dwelt
upon the significance of the Old Testa-
lnent in its relation to the New, the
promises of its prophecy and the solemn
truth it taught that the same Providence
which had guided the destinies 6f the
early people was the God of to-day. Mr..
Robinson described the local Zion of sacred
history and explained how the term had
come to be used for the Church of God in
its broadest meaning, citing many elo-
quent passages Of scripture in illustration
thereof. The only danger of Zion becom.
ing discOnsOlate lies in fOrgetfulness of
God and the only protection against this is
purity. By some the meaning of the text
is widened into prophecy of the final
conversion to Christianity of the Jews and
their re- establishment in Jerusalem as a
United Christian nation. Without affirm
ing his belief in this, Mr.. Robinson init
mated that it was not to be discredited.
For some reason God had wonderfully
preserved the identity of the Jewish peO-
pie in all their disintegration and persecu-
tion gradually proscriptive anti-Jewish
legislation had been abated and Bismarck's
latest attempt to renew it was short-!ived !;
the Jewish mind was in state Of unrest
and showed an inclination to accept the
Christian Messiah, if the one expected by
them came not soon he urged his con-
gregation to pray for the Jew and for his
to ''Our Holy Christianity"
In referring to his own coming hither the
new pastor spoke feelingly of his mission
from God, entreated a spirit of mutual
gOod-w will, forbearance and Christian en-
deayor, and trusted that all personal diff
ferences would be sunken and prejudices
in common zeal for the COM
mon cause of advancing Christ's kingdom.
Hymn III was sung and Mr.. Robinson
made the usual announcements. Among
them was one to the effect that the class
of Sunday school teachers engaged in the
study of the International lessons would
meet in the Y. NJ. G. A. hall next Sat.
urday afternoon, Rev. 8. Stall, Instructor.