Omaha daily bee., 1884-06-09
SOUTH ~PRESBYTERIANS.
Rev. L. c. Halls Sermon Yesterday
A Sabbath School Started.

The South Presbyterian church COM
menced yesterday its regular life work,
which is to be carried on after many men
and women who arc now engaged in it
have gone to reap the reward of that
which in this life they have sown. The
Sabbath school having Mr.. Welstans for
superintendent, Mr.. Hagens for secretary
and a number of good teachers, some of
them from the Dodge street church and
some from the Southwest church vel
coined a large number of scholars who
were glad to have the opportunity of as.
sociating themselves with the organization
and work; and the parents are as pleased
as are those who have, on account of dis
lance, been deprived of the privilege of
attending divine worship. The two
mother churches look with care and soil
citude at the work, and do not suffer it to
want for support.
Rev. 7. G. Hall, who preached at the
usual hour, chose his text from the pro-
phesy of Isaiah: BLESSED are We that
SOW beside all waters."-I 30, 20:
This was a time of trouble to the Jews. 1t
was the result and punishment for their sins,
and they realized their sinfulness and the po-
sition in which that sinfulness placed them.
And that they might be brought to humilia-
ton, God allowed their enemies to overpower
them and drove them into captivity. And
while they were in that position n redeemer
was promised them, and while they were OPP
pressed by this severe judgment, they might
have something on which their weary souls
might rest and see that while God afflicted
lie did not forsake them. But while they
were enduring this chastisemsnt, they were
not to sit down and fold their hands in indif-
ference. They were to continue their work
with as much zeal as if they were prosperous
and net oppressed-they must SOW beside all
waters. Their faith must be exercised and
the promise of the blessings of the future was
to be impressed on their minds as they work.
ed as If those blessings were already realized.
The Redeemer has come with his many mi-
racles and divine power. He has promised the
Holy Spirit who would teach us all things and
bring all things to our remembrance. The
Holy Spirit has come, and where there was
spiritual slavery the is now spiritual freedom.
But are we therefore to wait? We have the
necessary means, we have a world to conquer,
tn ~erefore, the words of the tsxt comes with
force to us, Sow besides all waters" 1t diff
fers not how many deserts there are, the com
mand is from one who can change a Sahara to
an ocean, and we must obey.
How are we to sow this seed? Some may
think that their circle of influence is 30 small
that they cannot go on the street corners
and preach the gospel of Christ to those who
are determined that they will not hear the
gospel. But this is not the meaning of the
text, it does not specify what character of
work you must do. There is a possibility of
O nuuIn hnutIn MI nta Ill L
ordinary duties at home. The children in the
next yard may not have been invited to at
tend the Sabbath school, other neighbors
might rejoice in the thought that there is a
person who was here sometime ago and who is
coming again, and who loved them so much
that he died for them, if someone would tell
them OF 1T. In places of business and at the
shops there are times when a word will have
the force of a sermon. Sow beside all
waters"
There are places where laymen can do eff |
Gent christian work that the minister OF the
gospel would have no opportunity whatever.
therefore, on account of it, they are as respon. |
sible for their work as the minister is for his.
There is not a person that has not an inRnenc
in lie, and that influence il being eXerted
every day, and because of this influence for
and against purity, truth and virtue, the fields
should not be left on account of having been
sown once; every year the seed must be scat
'Nfh va ~ SiiDiiN Va
not counterfeit and o~vea4uen ours. This city
is a field, your labor is needed here. Others
are planting trees, win you not plant the seeds
which are gathered from tho word of God.
What shall we SOW? In order that we may
attain good results we must not accumulate
ri :hes for o hers to take pleasure in. Con.
slider the temptations which are about you
and which are causing people to become slaves
and not freemen. There is not one who is
not attacked by the father of lies" in some
form, 1t may be Sabbath breaking, evil
spanking, profanity, dishonesty, and It may
be the simple care of unbelief, and in the word
there are seeds which when PROPERLY plant
ed and watered by the power Of the Holy
Ghost, will root out any thornes which the
enemy by his followers may plant. We as a
church have a work to do and each one il
responsible for his part. Here Is water by
which the seed may be planted. And when
the voice of the speaker has ceased and the
places of the workers are filed by other work
ers, then we shall sit down at the marriage
supper of the lamb We may expect to make
sacrifices, for the harvest is great, which we
shall receive. Solicit the aid OF others ia this
work and glory in this work to the end.