Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-24
Church Notes.
NORTH CuuRCu

the earth's resurrection from winters icy grasp. After the opening service of chant and hymns, prayer and responsive reading of the scriptures, Dr. Hawes chose for his text part of the 31st verse of Acts xvi, the chap ter read at the first of the service, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved" Re- ferring to Paul's presence in Phillippi, the chief city of Macedonia, having come with Silas in response to @ heaven-sent call, the pastor said all great enterprises begin thus in strong conviction of the leaders of them in a divine and superhuman call These familiar words of the text spoken to the Macedonian jailer are addressed to all mankind. It is the very gospel call to be saved. How in con- trast with any expected manner of answering the Macedonian cry for help was the preaching of Paul and Silas in this new place. First few converted women at the river side, where Lydia believed and was bap- tized, heard the word. Next the casting out of an evil spirit from female slave. Then amid the uproar raised by her masters, the suffering of stripes and imprisonment of these servants of God, this notable miracle of the great earthquake and the setting free of the apostles by the very magistrates who tried to punish them takes place. Thus the news of salvation by faith spread through the world. After strengthening and comforting the be ievers they proceed to other cities. The lessons of this Scripture were eloquently set forth. Though the attendance was not quite as large in the afternoon, the galleries were filled in part by the orphans, who have been missed from their place for many stormy and unpleasant Sundays past. The devotional exercises at the asylum in the forenoon are conducted by MT. Willis of the Y. M. c. A. The text of the afternoon sermon was from Pauls epistle to Philippians III chap. 13 verse, Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before" The teaching of these words is to strive for the attainment of perfect Chris tian life, said the pastor. Such was Paul's life. The world owes him and will always owe him gratitude for this high and holy lesson more than for the acts of his eventful life Yet the best of instruction will con tinue to be derived from the writings of the great apostle of the Gentiles. The singing was rendered with fine effect.
 At full meeting of the church and socie- ty, agreeable to notice on two Sundays pre- vious, in the chapel after a full expression of his views and wishes by the pastor on the subject of substituting Bible instruction or Sabbath school service instead of an after noon service as at present, it was unanimous ly voted to make the change. The vote leaves the exact method and details to com. mittee of the pastor and deacons with the societys committee to arrange as to time and mode.
 AT WESLEY CHAPEL.
 The clear bracing air of the morning brought together a large congregation to hear Dr. Goodsell preach. His subject was ''The relations which the church holds toward its children.n His text was those memorable words of Jesus, Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven," recorded in Matthew's Gospel 18th chapter and 3d verse We must not go to the catechism, said the pastor but to Christ himself to know his teaching toward the little ones. Jesus taught very plainly in the text before us his estimate of the lambs of the flock. They have a large place in his heart. They are to be brought very near him. They are not termed little outsiders, but lambs of the fold belonging to Him. The Master did not say suffer such and such amiable onesa to come unto me, but let them all come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven. The church has responsibility in this mat- ter, and how dare we reject what Christ says belong to him. The pastor quoted from the catechisms of different creeds, explaining very clearly the wide differences known to exist in regard to receiving children into the church. As God has made the little ones members of his fold, so we as church re- ceive them. The children belong to the church and they have rights in the church. The teaching in the Sabbath school is an ele- ment of power and in this direction should be earnest, thoughtful la5or. The pastor very clearly defined the duties of those who teach the young and also brought out very vividly the blessings attending the loving work of the earnest teacher.
 If, said the pastor, we treat our children as if they were Gods children they will be more ready to fall in with Gods work. We must teach them that they have part and a lot in this matter. We must show them how much Jesus loves and cares for them. We must throw around them sacred influences. We are to seek every opportunity to do them good, and then when the moments come for reflection and we can look up to the master and say that we have tried to do what we could, and the thought comes to us that per- haps God has permitted us to increase the number who shall praise him around the throne will not the memory of our devotion to the little ones be a great rewardIfor all our labors?
 There was generally quite a large attend ance at the churches yesterday.
 At Center church Rev. Thomas Brastow, of Burlington, Vt., preached in the morning and afternoon two interesting discourses.
 St. John Street MI, E. Church.