National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-17
AT RYLASD CHURCH.
First Sermon Of the New Pastor, Rev.
VIM. II. Chapman.

FIRST sermon OF the New Pastor, HeV.
VIM. II. Chapman.
In Ryland chapel yesterday morning tho
Rev. VIM. Ii. Chapman, the now pastor of that
church, preached to large and appreciativo
audience, taking his text from the first four
verses of the second chapter of the Acts of the
Apostles. The speaker said this plenary
etfusion of the Holy Ghost, displayed on tho
day Of Pentecost, was in strict accordance
with, and in fulfllment of, divine prophecy.
The disciples were assembled in one place
and of one accord. One mind, one thought
pervaded them all. Christians of to-day must
be in tho same state of fellowship and har-
mony upon assembling for worship If spiritual
growth and the advancement of Gods king
dom in their midst is to be the result.
The plenary etfusion of the Holy Ghost was
n ecessary to tho success of the disciples
ministry Men of humble origin and limited
social advantages, AS they were, would have
been deferred from facing q frowning world,
from disputing with the culture and learning
of the times. with everything against them
from a worldly standpoint-these men would
have lacked moral courage to have cham
pioned the cause Of the worlds Redeemor
without it. 1t was necessary to the estab
lishment of Christs own words " | will pray
the Father and He shall give you another
Comforter, that lie may abide with you for
ever" 1t was necessary that it should occur
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repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem.
The power that accompanied this mani
festation was sufficient evidence of its divine
origin. "And they were filed with the Holy
Ghost and began to speak with other tongues
as the spirit gave them utterance." I'm
learned men could not have acquired this
knowledge through any ordinary process, but
it was necessarily miraculous.
Jews from every nation Of the known
world were probably there, and yet every
man heard the gospel declared in the Ian
geage of his native tongue. This visitation
of the Comforter was not for one day only,
but was pledge to the church for all time.
And that pledge has been faithfully kept all
through the ages Gods church has had the
presence Of the Holy Ghost ever since. What
is true Of the church is true Of the individual.
1t was the realization of the presence of the
Holy Ghost that enabled Paul to exclaim, 81
can do all things through Christ, who
strengthens me-"
1t was this presence that enabled the great
apostle to the Gentiles to maintain his Chris.
tian integrity in the presence of adverse
magistrates and rulers. 1t enabled Stephen
to calmly meet martyrs death. 1t has been
the stay and strength of all true disciples in
the whole history of the Christian church.
No emergency has ever equaled its power.
No force of the world and satan ever pre-
vailed against it, No man that continues to
look to God for this comfort and strength
will ever backslide.
The power of tongues conferred upon the
deciples on the day Of Pentecost was in u
measure prophetic of the universal spread Of
the gospel among all nations. Don't imagine
because the heather may exist in obscurity
and the red men in savagery, that Gods plans
and purposes are not to reach him in his own
tongue with His glorious gospel. Every ma
! tion and tribe shall sooner or later, hear the
| word preached in their own language. The
echo Of the gospel will be heard in the midst
of his solitude and the light Of its truth will
dissipate the darkness in which no dwells
| The day is rapidly approaching when the
herald Of truth shall have reached with his
| sublime proclamation the ear aud heart of the
| most distant moral wanderer, and from his
regenerated soul evoke the responses, II
know my Redeemor liveth."
Mr.. Chapman is about 6 feet tall, broad
shouldered. we'll proportional, and of COM
manding appearance His hair is turning
gray and heavy iron gray beard lends
dignity to his appearance. He seemed to
| have notes to refer to, but did not use them
during his entire sermon. His manner Of
| delivery is easy and graceful, but warm aud
earnest. He is supple and active, and is
! probably little past 80 years of age. The
| church was filled to its utmost capacity, the
! old gallery, formerly occupied by the choir,
being more than half full. The congregation
were very attentive, and the responses from
some of the senior members were frequent
| and earnest.
After tho sermon Mr.. Chapman made few
remarks in an informal manner to the con-
gregation. He declared that his purpose
was to prove himself the pastor of the con-
gregation, and not to confne his labors to the
membership of the church alone. He hoped
all the members of the congregation would
speak to him whenever and wherever they
met him. He wished especially to have the
confidence and love of the young people, and
that end intended to mingle with and among
| them,
In the morning he visited tho Sunday
school, and in brief address won the hearts
of the little ones, as we'll as the officers and
teachers of the school.