The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-18
THE LAST SUNDAY In CAMP.
Closing Exercises Of the Meetings at
Acton and Bethany Park.
Distinguished Visiting CIergymen Preach
the Sermons Extensive Improvements
Contemplated at Bethany.
AT ACTON cAMP-GRoUND.

Sermons by Distinguished Ministers from
Abroad Nearing the Close.
The usual excursion trains were run to Acton
camp ground, yesterday, and they were well
patronized. The crowd on the ground during
the day numbered, it is estimated, 5000 persons
about two-thifds of the number that visited
the camp the previous Sunday. The day passed
pleasantly without anything of an unusual
nature occurring
The services were well attended, and they
were made especially interesting. The lovefeast
in the morning, at o'clock, was conducted by
Rev. T. K. Pye, the president of the campmeet-
ing association. The interesting feature of the
days services, however, was the sermon at 1880
o'clock by Rev. w. P. Stow, of Chicago The
text of his discourse was Verify, l say unto
you, whatsoever believeth on me hath
everlasting life" ST. John vi. AZ,
and the theme was christian Faith
Though much has been written and spoken
the subject of faith, still DIR. Stow said, I'VE
do not need anything to understand it We
know it as we know love, faith, fear, and every
other state Of the mind-by consciousness
The work of the Christian teacher or
minister is not to give philosophical
sermons or essays on the subject Of
faith but to direct the faith that already exists
IN every soul to the true object Of salvation
The question to be considered is, is that object
theory or proposition, or is it 3 living persona
The speaker said that faith in the person Of
Christ is the only morally transformative power
Doctrine is the image of Christ, formed in
the understanding. 1t is the photograph of
Jesus, but there is a vast difference between the
photograph and the original. There is aneces-
sity for moral Transformation, IN every soul
Faith in theories and Propositions in facts, in
series of facts, cannot produce the revolution
An essential to this transformation is a genera
ton in the heart of love of truth and of virtue
Our loves are our masters. They inspire our
motives and prompt our actions. The strongest
love is the monarch Of the soul The love of sin
IN the form of carnal pleasure and selfshness is
the sovereign passion of a depraved heart To
dethrone and expel this despot there
must be generated within love of
goodness and Of truth Faith in
propositions or theories about virtue and holi-
ness cannot accomplish this work. The soul
must have goodness inearnate, bodied forth in a
living personality. In Christ we have this, and
nowhere else. He embodies in His life the ideal
of what humanity should be. Living Christ
not a dead creed is the magnet that draws, the
power that transforms Heart crushed and
bleeding, wants heart, not dogma, Heart is the
only power thatc can touch heart Words are but
cold statuary- the heart cannot repose on marble.
What we need is new consciousness which,
in its rising flow. will submerge the
old This can only come through new
This new life IS not in theory or propositions,
but in Christ He is the source Of all life. Di-
vine life is not the result of ordinances, sacra-
ments or any of our Christian
ton II am the way, the truth, the life
/ am the true vine, We are the branches The
life is in the vine, not in the branches. Faith is
the instrument that conveys this to the soul.
What can satisfy mans cravings for the OBJ
jects of loves The deepest hunger in man is
the hunger of heart or some object on which
to settle his hearts affections The
being that can give perfect satisfaction to our
love must possess certain qualities perfection,
reciprocity and continuance. The discovery of
imperfections in the object of our affections
causes pain The bestowment of affection with
out reciprocation, brings anguish to the spirit.
The thought that our dearest affections will be
Rudely sundefed and cease, is always distressing.
In Christ and nowhere else the hunger of the
soul is met in the perfection, reciprocity
and continuance. The weakness of the
church in the past has not been for
want of faith in its doctrines, its polity
or ritual but personal trust in q personal
Christ A piece of steel may be brought in con
tact with treatise of magnetism without re-
ceiving magnetic power. If it possesses mag
netism it must be brought in contact with the
magnet tself-not the treatise. If our hearts
possess divine magnetism that shall draw the
world to God they must not only be imbued with
the doctrines Of our holy religion, but must, by
faith be brought in vital contact with Christ,
the divine magnet We are not decrying
churches nor faith in sound doctrine These are
essential Doctrines are not only the images OF
Ghrlss the photograPhs OF Jesus. but they are
the GUIDE boards along the highway OF life.
WITH lnaex II nnger pointing toward personal
yh;eb ~ Sv ne na0 "a ali 4 t "
Christs church believed with living faith ii
the one personal Christ bigotry would cease.
lversisy o. onnlon ~ nust exist as long as mlnd
- nttG, ~ 49, 81 are csueeteu IN
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love each other As tbemselves N o'' eN'e's' 'ii's