Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-30
In THE CHURCHES.
Rev. A. b. Meldrum's Farewell to
the Central.
The Eloquent Preacher Delivers His
Last Discourse IN Rock Island. 80
Christmas Festivities at Trinity
New Organ and n Party Mt the
Church.

- ~ rum pIchCueu MS Ia g.
well sermon to the congregation of the
Central Presbyterian church, Of which he
has been pastor for two years and a huff
last evening. There was an exceedingly
large congregation present, the Broadw ay
Presbyterian dispensing with the evening
service and Rev. Marquis and congrefa-
ton complimenting the parting pastor by
their presence. A large representation of
the First Baptist church was also prese Mt.
The singing showed special pains on he
part OF the choir and the offertory by
Miss Schnitger and Mr.. Creel was touch-
ing and beautiful. Mr.. Marquis assisted
in the services.
Mr.. Medium took the text of his final
sermon from Second Chronicles 1917:
BE ye strong therefore, and let not Your b, nds
be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.
The first note of this text, said Mr..
Medium. finds response in the univer.
sal human heart. ''Be We strong" Yes,
we all want that. We all like to be able
TO do and to endure. to be victorious in
our activities and impregnsble In our de
lenses. We live in world of human
selishness; we wish to be capable of
maintaining our rights. We are engaged
in sharp competitions. II is an earnest
question with us how we may hold our
own and win success. We see our fell
lowmen overborne by repeated reve .ses,
by the faltering of our own counsels and
endeavors. by u strain upon their vigor of
body and mind. a pressure upon pr nci>
pie, virtue and character with which
they could not cope. We need To be
trained well, to put on stslwart nan
hood, to be thoroughly fortified az linst
this various stress of life. Peer into the
mist as keenly as we will; we cannot tell
what is ahead. Tomorrow shall he as
this day and much more abundant, per-
haps; and within that perhaps there are
all manner of disastrous possibilities;
that is a veil we cannot lift. Beneath
the fair and level horizon unseen now,
dark clouds may be drifting up with the
tempest in them. Today we float with
the current What If we have it to stem
when another noon stands above usI
Nay. we have every day to breast
some tidewsy in the never-quiet sea =.
Our cares are many, our burdens are
heavy, the points of weakness and expo
sure more than We can provide fer, tie
present srduous. the future uncertain
We have need to summon ourselves to do
our best. 1t is not more the lips IF the
ancient and inspired prophet ths1 the
echo from our own heart that bids u "be
strong" None of US can turn = deaf
ear. II the voice we're "be weak 'be
humble" "Le selt-disturbed, we might
postpone audience. But these other
words, "be We strong" suit our nature
and our need.
We all want to he strong. se,f-Teliant,
independent and almost every one of us
has a particular reliance for strength,
which be is confident TO be sufficient for
him. One man cOnfdes in his strength
OF will He feels that he can carry his
ends aud make Roadway against all oppO.
sitiUn by simple resOluteness Of purpose.
Another relies upon his sagscitY. He Is
acute and :Oreseeing. Give him prob
lem, whose conditions he may weigh,
whose practical solution lies behind the
- ~, . a
a kew TO il. One stakes his issues upon
temperament. He is cool, impertIrs
not open to surprises, not 10 be taken of
his guard, nor thrown off his balance.
He takes things cody, looks before he
leaps, has no riotous passions to unite
against his scepter of self contro'. An
other makes his strength Of body his
| comfort. The strength that supports him
is in his right arm, dances in his veins,
swells in his muscles. looks toll and dan
ger dauntlessly in the face and challenges
work or care or trials with confident
| smile And another relies upon his
wealth. soul take thine ease; thou art
apportiOned and secured" Another for
titles himself in the heights of lis good
name. Nothing can track him behind the
battlemented walls of stainless reputa-
ton. Around another there rises the
castled securities of home life ard Joys d.
These are the pledges he has given to
virtue; these the perennial wells of con-
| tentment from which he draws. And
yet another rests upon his strength OF
| principles. This will abide. He is gar.
Iisoned within like an impregnaOle cita-
del; he has set up in his soul the purpose
to do right; he is strong in his integrity
But, does not experience teach us thai
none of these condolences are sure
Strength of will? Well, there is strength
IN a strong will. But what ght car
mere will power throw on the darkness Of
tomorrow or the obscurities Of Provi
dence2 Sagscity Sagscitv makes M
man a prophet. Let calamity out pres
the brain for a moment and Its processes
are like the Egyptian chariots in the Rec
sea bed. driving heavily without wheels
Providence will still have some secret
too deep for the shsrpest human eyes
ViRor of body? The fever of n night
the accident of a moment may make thi
physical puissance weak as Childhood
Wealth. The thief. the flame, the panic
the thousand fluctuations which NJ
prophet can foretell laugh him to scorn
Good name2 A single blast OF tn
breath Of Islander levels his towe-
in the dust. Home life or joys
Over some little grave he may stan
tomorrow bereft and inoonsolablt
Strength of principlesI When oil
ever these stand immaculate Treaso
within OF violence without or some subj
undermining prostrstes its defenses an
the enemy sweeps in like food. Vi
no, these things will not do alone. he'
not in any or all of them. Lei me poir
YOU to the one sure unfailins reliance
That source OF strength to which IL
prophet directs King Asa, that same SUI
reliance TO which thousand Years ate
the heroic apostle Paul directed tt
Ephesian converts. BE strong IN Il
Lord, and in the power OF His might.
Mr.. Medium now exhorted his heare
to be strong in the truth Of God. He d
sired this admonition TO be one of his la
words. The work of the Lord on earth
not simply making men mora and ami
| - A, L. ,ha establishment n truth Al