Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-07
The Churches.

Rev. Mir. Barnhart's Sunday Evening |
 Dfscourse-The Work Of the American |
 Board in the African FieIa-A Service at |
 Center Church.
 Rev. J. w. Barnhart, pastor of the St. | John street M. E. church, preached an able | discourse last evening from the words found | in the general epistle of James, 3d chapter l and the last clause of the 5th verse: "Behold | how great matter little fire kindleth." In 1 his opening remarks the preacher referred to l the fact that there was science that taught that this universe of worlds was made up from a fine mist that exists in the atmos- phere and that all worlds have really come from nothing It is said that out of light has come light, and by certain evolutions man has been created by natural processes, and that by certain laws we have come to be something that was not. Continuing, the preacher said You would not expect to plant seed at your door at night and find full grown tree in the morning, as this rapidity of growth is not anticipated There are things in this world that grow from little things and reach great results. When we set an agency to work, no matter how small that agency may be, we stamp it with immortality. l tions that go to make up passing history3 It is impossible to tell. Philosophy tells us that a pebble. dropped in the middle of a lake stirs | every drop of water on it's surface, although the ripple may be invisible to the human eye. This world of ours is subjected to invisible changes by little causes. It is pt the mighty things that are always the greatest. A grain of sand thrown into the eye will stop the vision; placed in the heart it will stop the current of life. Our bodies are opaque and we cannot see within them We must be re- fiecting the glory of holy God or the sin of burning hell. This being the case let us look at our accountabilities. If a man makes | hammer sword and puts on paper hls name to let the buyer know where 1t came from you may know that he is ashamed ot his work. If he would have it known that he is the maker he will stamp his name into the iron or steel where it will remain. 50 with mans life; if he desires to live pure life it will be stamped upon his every action. Convert child, @ little girl perhaps in the Sunday school, and you may save soul whose influence will be felt for ages to come We cannot escape our responsibilities. Great I
 haps you cannot do as much as somebody else, but you may save soul. Do not then say that your influence is nothing, for it will 20 on through infinite ages. We leave be- hind us that which will enrich the world, or that which will blight and destroy. The in- fidels of the world like Paine, IngersoH and others are not ready for judgment and so we look forward to general judgment. A little child is born in Bethlehem and tonight we hear the echo around the world, ''On earth peace, good will toward men" I would i'm press on every one tonight that they should now commence to watch the moments as they fly and live for God and the salvation of the
 world.
 large audience assembled at the Church of the Messiah last evening to hear the pas tor, Rev. Mr. Houghton, preach on endless punishment As is well known the reverend
 gentleman has discoursed on this topic fo,
 several weeks, taking at each service one o1
 the Greek or Hebrew words which is synono nous with the word 'sHen" and comparing it with various portions of the Bible where the word is used. Last night the word l 'sGehenna" was considered and the audience
 was treated to an interesting discourse, the
 closing remarks being eloquent and the sermon throughout an enjoyable one. Nex1
 Sunday the word Everlasting, D will be the
 subject of the evening discourse.
 Rev. Dr. Means, of Boston, delivered : very interesting address at the Center
 church last evening on the work of the A B. C. F. M in Africa. He spoke of Africs , geographically considered and of the socia
 and religious aspects of the country. He
 gave details regarding eannibalism in the in
 terior and other atrocities and cruelties prac ticed and told what the missionaries were ac complishing. He had a map hung up, b. means of which he illustrated this address : There was large congregation. The speak CT was introduced by Rev. Dr. Bacon.