The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-25
THE CHURCHES.
nor WEATHER HIS a BAD EFFECT
on COyGRE0A TONS.

Rather SHINY yAtfended-FnreweliS Ssrn IN
of Rev. DIR. DashieIl Prior to Leaving for
Europe--The MethGdist Sunday School
Society Church Notes.
Yesterday was the hottest Sunday Of
The year. The heat was sweltering, and
its effect was plainly shown in the dlmin-
ished congregations Shich attended the
various places Of worship. In fact, SO
noticeable was the fslling of from the
accustomed attendance that one Of the
pastors delivered a sermon on the sub
iect He did not bla.ne his flock, how
ever To the contrary he was ex-
ceedingly charitable, and ini-
mated that he did not expect
religious duties to be bept strictly up in
such stesmy and sultry weather any more
than he would expect business TO be as
carefully attended TO - under more com
Portable conditions. Nevertheless, he
urged upon his hearers not to forget their
religious obligations, but 10 attend church
at least once every Sunday no matter
how ardent or potent might be the rays OF
old sol.
The following were the main points Of
interest occurring in the religious world
of Richmond yesterday,
DIR. DAsHIELL's FAREWELL SERMON.
Yesterday was the last Sunday for
some months 10 como. that Rev. 1. q
Dashell, ID. D.. rectlr OF ST. Marks
church officiaied.
There were three services during the
day. The first was snorning prayer al
7 O'Clock At IL O'Clock the Litany
was said. followed By the entire Holy
Communion service.
The Doctor stated while reading the
notices for the week that his work as
secretary of the diocese had been and
was SO pressing that .,e had not been
able to make a personal CAL on each
member of the parish. He would be al
home until Thursday Of this week. and
hoped all would come and see him. He
would he at the church Wednesday
night at the regular service. The Doctor
took for his text Pssm 73, verse IS :;
1T is good for me TO draw near to
God"
1t isa good thing, said the preacher, 10
live in a Christian land, to live among
people, and in localiss where the Chris
tian influence is felt, 10 live where there
is enlightenment and where there is a
civilization, the result Of Christianity in
its purest forms. While many may not
Dartake of the privil, ges Of this Chris
iian religion, yet 1t is good for them to
live among those who 10, and it uDques.
lionably does them rood by the very con-
tact with those who draw near to God.
l, Is good thing 10 read the word OF
God. 1t Is good 10 read at all, provided
the volumes and paper' read nre healthy
The better the book NE better reason
fer reading Ii, and so on 1t goes until you
reach the Bible. II is the book Of books
to read and bv reading II you draw near
er TO God. Your reading Of the Bible
encourages others To do so. 1t leads hem
TO inquire the way OF salvation and
drink Of the wsters OF life
To draw near 10 God is 10 be consid
cred in particular sense. 1t was TO be
a personal matter with each
If each member of the church read his
or her Bible, and was not afraid TO let il
be known, 1t produces an example; il
sets others TO reading. 1t causes one 10
say, II am poor sinner" and from the
inspired word he may find The light OF
the Lamp of Life; find therein the sweet
assurance that saves one from despair.
All Christians can help each other. To
draw near TO God each individual can
help the other Help them by words OF
comfort, words Of sympathy, words OF
love. How much does one single kind
word TO another prevent backward
track and draw that one nearer 10 God
| Do YOU not know that the Bible is but
words. 1t is words from above; words
from God, our Father and Saviour words
spoken first, written next. and intended
| TO lie spoken and written, TO be told by
YOU and me to others words TO read
mark, learn and inwardly digest words
which are the word of God, the more
read, listened to, conveyed TO Others and
needed, the closer are we drawn 10 God.
When David wrote the text he was
| living in different times from now. Nc
doubt some particular matter was troub
ling him. troubling his conscience. TC
the devout man in those day s the temple
was their spiritual home, and David, the
King, psalmist, and sinner, believed as
the climax of everything was TO dwell II
the house of the Lord forever
For ourselves it IL needed that we turr
away from ourselves and enter the tenn
ple of the Lord. 1t is needful that ",
turn aside once a week, If not oftener
and say it is good for us to draw near tC
God; to say it is good for US to draw
nigh to Him tn worship. 1t is your dull
as Christians, and by your example Il
cause others to follow, TO leave busines
cares little while, cast aside for tn
moment the dissipating thoughts o
pleasure, and worship God whenever tn
church holds services in holiness ant
truth, for it is good to seek Him there.
A man in company with gold seeker
may strike rich vein of gold and be
come wealthy man for life. No matte
how much he WAS degraded or how mucl
he was elevated, he would never hav
struck the gold vein had he not followe'
the gold-seekeTs.
1t is just the same with people VIII
Just merely attend church services. Tha
attendance may result in discoverin
the unsearchabe riches OF Christ and th
golden treasure OF Gods love. II ma
be good thing to attend service for on
who only comes to scof. II may be