Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-17
The Churches.

yesterday morning, ana 1n the evening Spoke on the subject s'The Folly of Atheism" The preacher alluded yesterday in terms of satis- faction and hopefulness to the commence ment of the work of erecting the new edifice, and which now happily begun will doubtless be carried forward successfully.
 AT THE GEORGE STREET M. E. CHURCH.
 Rev. c. E. Harris preached logical and forcible sermon yesterday morning on s'Faith,'' basing his remarks on Luke, 17th chapter and 5th verse, 'And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith" MT. Harris gave very lucid definition of faith and the necessity on the part of humanity to exert it in the direction of God and divine things. He argued that 1t was impossible to the finite mind to comprehend God, but by the exercise of the simplest faith all may ap- prehend him and be saved. Space forblds giving more than a brief reference to this able sermon that pleased and edltied all that were fortunate enough to be present. Tn the evening Dr. Goodsell occupied the pulpit and preached fine discourse.
 AT WESLEY CHAPEL.
 Rev. Dr. Goodsell returned from the con- ference and occupied the pulpit yesterday morning, much to the delight of his people. He preached an admirable sermon, passing his remarks from the 18th verse of the 4th chap ter of the Acts of the Apostles. The apostles, the doctor said, created disturb ance among the people, and they meant to do it; but it was not that kind of disturbance brought about by alcoholic stimulants, nor of the kind when men have peculiar ideas they want to thrust upon the people. But they meant to disturb mems conscience about their sins and awaken them to a better life. The text tells us that the people marveled when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, but it also says they took knowledge of them because they had been with Jesus. The people knew, the pastor said the i'm pulsiveness of Peter-knew his temper, his disposition. Peter was strong and robust in physical health, while John was the opposite in this respect. Frail it may have been in the body, yet gentle in force, finding his way into the hearts of men. Cannot we find some attractive force in these two disciples that will help us /? Knowledge made alive by the Holy Ghost is what the Lord would have for his work. Peter and John were repre- sentatives of differ ent types of humanity. They had walked with Jesus had been in
 
 noble life, and felt somewhat his power to stir up the people. ''They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus J And what power the Saviour had over men. Angry men grew calm when they looked up- on the placid face of Jesus. Covetous men grew generous, and the masses were attracted by the gentle forces of his nature. So ought we to walk that those who see us may per ceive force for good. The pastor brought out very wildly the strong attachment that Jesus holds upon those who follow him, and "greater works than these shall ye do, be- causeI go unto my Father" was the comfort ing words to his disciples. The Lord Jesu. desired to be with us as governing force and as communing friend, and when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shal see him as he is.
 After the sermon Dr. Goodsell explained to his people the reason why the corner stone of Trinity church was not laid at the close ot conference, and said he hoped to perfect the arrangements the present week, and due no tice would be given through the press and from the pulpit of the time of the ceremony. AT THE NORTH cHURCH-A FoREER PASTOR REV. E. L. CLARK.
 The bright spring day, and the attractive interest to see and hear the former pastor, Rev. E. L. Clark, of the North church, brought to the services 8 full attendance. The opening chant and the singing of the first hymn by the choir, "Jesus, Lover, of My Soul, were given with animating spirit and power. The usual responsive reading of Scripture selections was omitted. The text chosen was in I. Cor, xiv. 15, 'I will pray and sing with the spirit, and with the under standing also." These words of Paul. said the speaker, bring forcibly to mind the utility of Christianity and it's practical appli cation to our minds. The gift of tongues ht defined as 8 mysterious communion of mans spirit with God. Though it may be uttered audibly, the meaning is not understood by others. But to speak with the understand ing is given with or immediately following the communion of mans spirit with God Alluding to the day of Pentecost he said, frs came upon the apostles and believers assem bled the gift of tongues and afterwards tn power to speak in the language of the differ ent nations from which the hearers hat come. In the raising of Lazarus from tht i dead in Bethany, Jesus groaned in the splr1 and wept before saying, "Take ye away th' l stones'' and sLazarus came forth, demon l strating Christ to be indeed the resurrection | and the life. The sermon was replete wit l l commanded close attention. The meeting o I his old friends and parishioners, wh
 stopped after the service in friendly recogni 1 tion, was pleasing occurrence.
 The sermon in the afternoon was founde
 on the last clause of the second verse 0 Revelations, xviith chapter, 2d verse, 'sAn
 the leaves of the tree were for the healing 0
 the nations' A few verses of the conteS
 were read and parts of the chapter, when tn speaker called attention to the absence i
 this last vision of the Revelation of any allr
 sion. to mansions prepared for the blessed il
 heaven. This, he said, is quite in con
 trast to Christ's parting words to tn
 disciples. These tell of his presence and tn
 presence of angels and places prepared fo
 them above. Both the beginning and tn
 end of the Bible tell of the tree of life, bu
 the verse of the text describes it as it were a
 overarching grove of trees on each side of th | river and ''bearing twelve kinds of fruit an l yielding her fruit every month." The ire | quent mention of trees in the Bible Is emble | nautical of peace and happiness was allude to, and to the word a life as applied to then | (In this connection was told the beautifr
 story of Aaron's rod, common travelin
 staff that miraculously budded and blossome
 and was afterward placed in the ark of tn 1 covenant.)
 The very swaying and lowing of tn l branches of the noble trees in our City c
 Films, moved by the breeze, showed life an grace in harmony with the worship of Go
 to-day. In many truthful and surprising re
 lations tree life was shown to be like our life
 The winning, helping side of religion wa
 shown, and none of the sad results of sin c
 which we are sufficiently conscious. Tn
 choir's part of the service and the congrege
 tional singing of the appropriate and beaut | ful hymns were in full accord with the SCI l mon.
 The flowers on the marble table in iron
 of the pulpit in their fragrance and beaut
 added the charm of spring time to the day. l PRAISE SERVICE AT DAVENPORT CHURCH.
 The praise service given by the choir of tn
 Davenport church last evening attracted
 very large congregation. The quartette, COT
 sisting of Miss Jennie Fields soprano, Mis
 Ida Potwin alto, Mr. Frank A. Corbin tenol
 and Mir. George P. Smith bass, were assiste
 by large chorus. Mir. Arthur D. Bliss @
 presided at the organ. The following wa
 the order of exercises:
 | Organ prelude
 | 2-Invocation.
 | 3-Selection from the Easter service.
 | 4-Reading of the scriptures.
 | 5-Contralto solo, "Is this Al1?"
 l 5-Hymu 674, by the congregation.
 Bass solo, "Pity, Q Saviour" | 8-Trio, "Praiss Ye."