The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-10-22
HIS FIRST SERMON.
Rev. r.. ID. Blacks Introductory
Address at the First Meth.
Odist Church.


charge at the First Methodist church,
in this city, yesterday morning, to a
very large congregation. There was
not only, at the at appointed hour, a
full attendance of the churchmembers
but, fair attendance of interested
outsiders who wished to hear Rev.
Mr.. Blacks introduction to his people
and friends. The large room of wer.
ship was comfortably and closely filled.
Under the supervision of Mr.. A. f.
l.. Gardner, the gentlemanly usher.
After a voluntary musical Offering
by the choir, Rev. Mr.. Black arose
and opened the services with fervent
prayer for the blessings of the AL
mighty upon his charge and his efforts.
The tenth chapter of Acts was read by
the pastor and the familiar hymn be.
ginning "Await my soul" was rend-
cred by the choir.
Rev. MIR. Black prefaced his sermon
with few kindly and sensible remarks
to his people, saying that he wanted
to meet and get acquainted with them
all after the close of the sermon and
shake hands cordially with each and
every one Of them and their children
he was here to work among
them and do good, and the
first step toward doing that
was to get well acquainted with them
all. His remarks were kindly and
sensible.
He then announced, as his text,
the following words from the thirty
third verse of the tenth chapter of
Acts: "Now, therefore, are we all
here present before God, to hear all
the things that are commanded thee
of God"
Mr.. Black proceeded, from this, to
admonish his people to hear all that
Christ has to say to them and to
study it and heed it. He took, as a
type, Cornelius, who uttered the
above words, an officer in the Roman
army at Caesarea a man
who was not Christian
a soldier but moral man
and man who was honestly search
ing after light and guidance in the
right way and who wanted 20 hear
the word of God and inquired for it.
Here Mr.. Black paused TO deliver a
few remarks upon morality. He ap-
proved morality even in ungodly men.
He was glad it existed. 1t was the
initiatofy step to accepting Christ.
He always had hope that such men
would take one more step and be in
the church some day. Such men were
like unto the young man who needed
only one thing more. Cornelius WIS
a gentleman, as many are who are
not christians, he. said, and as all
ought to be and must be to be chris.
tians. Peter, in response to these
words of Cornelius, preached regen-
Grafton to him as the only salvation.
So, he proceeded, he was here to
preach regeneration to his people and
all who, like Cornelius, desired to
hear; to preach the plain, simple,
unadorned gospel of Jesus Christ to
all who would hear; to be friend
at court to all in search
of Christ. He might be impnlsive
in doing this, but be would do it as
God gave him strength and light and
help. From this point he proceeded
to delineate his plan of action in con-
Quoting his charge. He outlined his
work what he wished to do and
what he wished his people to do. He
desired to call upon them all in their
homes to have prayer and spiritual
communion with them, their children,
neighbors and servants. He urged
them to keep up family worship
to come to church regularly
above all, to study the Bible
continuously. He desired to spread
the gospel and do good but, in order
to do this, he must have hearty CO.
operation and assistance. He spoke
OF their new church building and
urged haste to occupy it, that they
might do more and greater good. He
spoke hopefully of the future of the
church to do great good and asked
goodwill and cooperation, pledging
his best efforts, as God gave him
power.
Mr.. Blacks discourse was neces-
sarily, largely an introduction, more
than a sermon, owing to the occasion.
He made himself acquainted with his
people and told them what he pro-
posed and wished to do. His remarks
were full of sound admonition and
were very appropriate to the occasion.
Rev. Mr.. Black is, apparently,
about 40 or 80 years of age. He
served his country in its army, DUR
ino tho war of the RahelIion and /