The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-08-01

the party. went after the exercises at the
church. Plates were laid for eighty guests
and an enjoyable feast was discussed.
SUNDAY.
Service was held at ST. Marguerite's
Church, which win for the present be the
Cathedral Church, and Pontifical High
Mass was celebrated The church was
beautifully decorated and choral services
ware held. The Bishop delivered the SER
mon and the entire service was one long to
be remembered.
Thus Davenport welcomed its new Bish
op, and now that it is double See city,
having both Catholic and Episcopal, it is
doubly distinguished.
UNION MEETING
In the afternoon prayer and conference
meeting Of the Baptist churches of the
three cities was held in the First Baptist
church, the Rev. Mr. Stiffier, of Daven
port presiding There was very full at
tendance, all of the churches being well
represented Several short addresses were
made by members present, one of the most
Stockholm, who is visiting friends in Rock
Island, He spoke very eloquently for
few minutes of the oppression of the
State church in Sweden, and the rapid
growth of the Baptist church. Twenty
five years ago there were but 100 Baptists
in Sweden, while now they number co.,
600. 1t was decided to hold another
meeting at Moline Aug. 18th.
BIBLE SOCIETY.
In the evening the meeting of the Rock
Island County Bible society was held in
the Baptist church. The ministers present
were the Revs. Messrs. j. S. McCord, j.
A. Reynolds, J. C. Holiday and J. B. T.
Patterson. The meeting had not been
properly announced in the papers, but
nevertheless there was fair and interested
audience present. The report of DIR.
Stark, treasurer, allowed very creditable
amount of work done in the past year.
Secretary E. W. Spencer read the nomina-
tions for officer for the ensuing year and
they were elected by reclamation. They
were as follows:
President G. Holiday.
Vice President-A. K. Philleo.
Treasurer. W Stark
Secretary-E. w. Spencer
Directors Hugh Warnock, Robt Ben
nett, David Hitler, H. c. Blackburn, W.
F. Gilmore, j. S. Fireman, J. w. Stewart,
n Olson, John Deere, John Truxel, F. NJ
IIo4f d.
N. Hasselquist.
The address of the evening was delivered
by the Rev j. T. Patterson, of the Baptist
church,
The subject of the sermon was Nation |
al Perils and their Antidote" The speaker |
prefaced his remarks by the stateme Mt that
he understood the term Bible Study" to
mean the study of the Bible by the peo-
pie.
Among the perils he noted was first a
tured the weekly papers as ameans of con-
veying pernicious information to the peo
pie in the shade of immoral stories and |
sketches. Their cheapness together with |
their increased facilities for distribution, |
have made them not among the least insig I
nificant factors which are shaping the ma
tons destiny, as also the cheap magazines
with their sensational stories. The minister |
commented upon the press generally whose
influence was most apparent, for the warn
ishing of crime, and their detailed account
of criminal transactions. The literature of
the platform and the stage received its
share of attention. The unwriten litera-
turc OF current slang was also touched up
on, and its influence pointed out.
The speaker thought the Bible if prop
erly studied would offer itself as an anti
dote to the evils enumerated in the class
just mentioned.
The intensely practical tendency of the
present age was characterized as a second.
The literature of the day was not consid
cred perfect unless 1t contained scientific
truths.
Lawlessness was regarded as a third evil
and fourth peril was the enforcement of
mental education from moral and religious
training. Skepticism and the perversion Of
the pulpit from its true mission were
as the last two perils that as
sail our nations life, and in conclusion,
Mr. Patterson pointed out the antidote for
the evils, by careful study and practical
Of the principles found in the
Holy Bible.