The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-13
CHURCH NOTES.

TheCumberlandPre an church.
of which Rev. j. w. Polndexter is
the pastor, is apparently quite an old
building, and not particularly notice
able for its architecture. though there
IS considerable taste displayed in the
designs and colorings and soft tinted
shadings in the windows. Save few
memorial Inscriptions, there is moth
Ing of special interest to direct atten-
ton to the interior arrangements.
which, however, are convenient and
expressive enough for the purposes of
public worship; sufficiently conve
nient in that they are not calculate
by too attractive surroundings to
distract attention from the services.
and sufficiently expressive in that
their simplicity suggests nothing in
the world but the worship of God.
At least this is the way 1.-The eternal
illness OF things" strikes the mind of
the dlslnterested observer. Not that
such things should be toosimple, for
God Is entitled to proper considera-
tlon and his temples should be made
attractive not only to the communi-
cants OF the church but to the whole
world, to whom ministers are COM
manded to preach the Gospel, rather
than to those who go not astray."
Wen prepared sermons, carefully praS-
uced music, and moderately attractive
appearances are not only so many
measures OF respect to God, but are
what Is needed to enable the minister
10 nave audiences from the outside
world to hear him. Anything will do
LOT the congregation, who are pre-
Sumed to be already persuaded,
but what to them may be
very triGing and possibly
rather unseemIy features in church
precincts may be the very means by
which Others will be attracted and
eventually brought into membership.
Even boquet Of flowers at the altar
may direct the reflections of some
irreverent auditor to the God of ma.
ture, and by connection draw his at
tention to the sermon, for, as has been
SAID, "AH things IN nature worship
God"
But we are DEPRESSING, and come
back from the outside world to the
church and it's congregation. The
building, though small, suflices for the
present membership, which, it is no.
ticed, embraces some of our most
prominent citizens. One of them, it
has been suggested, may contribute SO
literally as to induce others to join
contributions to build a fine edilice.
DIR. Poindexter has had charge Of the
church for four years, during which
time the congregation has increaS ed
considerably, and now numbers about
l2O members. Expenses have been
Kept within reasonable bounds, au,l
the church. fortunately, is free Of
debt. The choir has some fine elements
for good singing, and some of the MEN,
bers have evidently improved their
naturally fine voices to advantages.
Miss essie Rankin, the accomplished
organlst is faithful in her duties, and
does well, considering the limited
capacity of the organ. Messrs. +.
Dumars, John Burland, Charles Con-
dit and Tom Cummings, Mrs. Afford
Smith and Misses Emma Driskill,
Jessie Driskill, Anna Castleman and
Maggie Castleman compose the choir.
Miss Amanda Hume is organist for
the Sunday school, something by the
way which is an important adjunct in
all churches as sort of preparato-
ry department for educating the chill
dren for church duties. Last Sunday
came up the rather interesting ques-
ton at this time of Christmas tree,
in which the superintendent, Judge
Smith, and the teachers as well, as
the scholars all seem to take equal in
terest, and it was determined to have
the tree by all means. But what
would most strike attention was the
Bible class led by MIR. Saunders, in
which is no younger member than Mr.
Castleman. 1t would be interesting
to give something more than the per-
spective and draw the full picture of
the Sabbath school, including in the
back grounds the outline of that class
as, with all the zest of youth,
each big man of the number
We'd with the others in textual and
contextual interpretations and criti-
cisms, and setting each other right
possibly in apologetics, hermeneutics
or some other line of Biblical instruc-
ton. 1t would be as interesting as
attending aschool of divinity in some
theological institution. But We have
not room for the picture, and only add
that WITH such earnest co-laoore3s tbs
pastor cannot fail in the work OF az
tension and enterprises OF hiS church.
DR.. Poindexter adopted as his text
the fifteenth and sixteenth verses OF
the third chapter of the book of Reve-
laGlOQ, as IOllOWS. Il KNOW my
works, that thou art neither cold nor
hot; would thou vert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm,
and neither cold nor hot, will spue
thee out of my mouth"
His sermon was most learned and
eloquent address, applying the text,
as addressed by the Saviour to the
Laodiceans, to the churches Of the
present day, and showing that open
enemies in matters of religion, as in
everything else. were far more to be
feared than pretended friends. The
characters of Arnold and Iscarict
were cited in illustration, and Saul OF
Jarsus in contrast with the Scribe3
and Pharisees. Vain and lukewarIn
Christians were graphically pictured.
True Christians, he argued, should
feel the need of their Saviour every
hour, and then there would be moro
spirituality in the churches.
DIR. Poindexter is an impressive
speaker, and his sermons are eminent
ly practical in their applications.