Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-02-09
The Close Of the Meet,nr..

After Eve weeks If uBion services, the
meetings closed last right. The sermon
vas by Rev. ). sham N. on "TheName OF
Christ. The following are the closing
remarks OF Rev Robert Fl. Williams. of
the Presbyterian church.
We have come TO the close Of our meet
ing, not because We are weary, for they
might be continued indefinitely Nor do
we close because we have no tokens of
the divine presence. but because other du-
ties that have been omitted and postponed
for time. demand our attention.
The end Of any good thing is not pleas.
at u contemplate The close Of an in
terestirg book comes too soon tn tie read
err. But he can turn back aud go over IL
again. This We cannot do with the meet.
ings which now come TO close. We can
however, turn back 10 memory to these
delightful meetings. and refre, b our souls
for memory of such meetings is pleas
ure still. All through life we shall have
memory of these union meetings, and
some of US will say they have been among
the sweetest we have ever of ended.
S vera things have been gained by
these meetings. One is, the conviction
that christians of different denominations
can lite Ia delightful fellowship. To
have that imp res-ion made upon the
world is worth all the toll and prayer OF
the last five weeks
The things in which we agree, the
great fundamental doctrines OF The chris
tIau religion, which are held In common
by christians everywhere, we're magnified
ia our services. sin, repen' ance, faith,
regeneration, the person and work Of
Christ. were the doctrines that were
brought into pr ,mincnce
The hrches have been quickensd and
prepared for the work of another year.-
Tue services commenced in the week Of
prayer, an We thought would terminate
with tnat week, but the Holy Spirit led US
on until more than u month of prayer was
observed. How may the churches in
crease their efficiency is question that
has given concern 10 Gods people 10
many aces. These weeks of worship
an work, we think, have answered this
question tor us.
But such experiences as we have passed
through may mean preparation for trial
AS we'll as for work. That succ-ssfui
minister of the gospel. "Whitefeld, SAID
that he looked upon peculiar happiness
ia religion ss preparation for fresh
trias 1t may be that The churches may
be Cal ed 10 go through some trials that
we have not yet had, or be called TO de-
fend truths That are very dear to u.s.
Shall these churches thus united in wor-
ship and work be found standing togeth-
er in the me OF trial? Shall we BOT nelp
zach other also In trial, aud do what We
can To defend religious interest that We
hold in Common
Anothar thing gained quite early in
these meetings, was An endorsement oil
the bill now before Congress, known rs
The sunday Rest Bill, aud the appoint
ment of committee To be known as the
Saba h Observance Committee. Tnat
action, as We understand it, commits these
churches TO careful observance OF the
Sabbath and the uses of your influence 10
get others TO observe it. 1t may be that We
shall need all the strength We have got
ten by these meetings, TO keep our own
resolutions C, ncerning the Sabbath -
Then several have united with the
churches who have resolved during the
meetings TO live for God. Others, We
have No doubt. wi date the beginning OF
their religious lite iron the time spent Ia
prayer al these meelings.
We have, as we think. passed an i'm
poitaut epoch in the religious history OF
This city Never before, probably, was
there such continuous, united effort for
the advancement OF religion.