Telegram-herald., 1890-04-21
TO BE PROUD OF.
me Chareh OF Christ aBd Its Ne~
Pastor

~ TIE Eait9r o. the TEiAeEAx HEaAn.
The first tnng stranger IS likely 10
notice on bis attending divine servlceln
i new place Is the appearance Of the
auditorium. That OF the Church OF
Caust Ia THIS city i unusually neat aud
pleasant. The barren, gloomy, auslere
features Of many churches are not 10
he found therein.
- After having visited the Fountain
street BaI st Church, the audi o 1Qm
Of the Church OF Christ seems at nrsI 10
be very small; bat there ls scarcely =
loot OF waste room, and is seating Ca
pacity = greater than IL frst appears.
There are no "best seats" 10 be rented
10 the more favored Of the cOngrega-
ton, and the poor seats reserved Tor the
poor folks and strangers IN fact, there
are no best : as. One can see and hear
equally well IN any OF them. The room
seems much ike parlor, but there are
few arlstOcrats IN this congregation.
The large, stained glass windows give a
soft, but abundant lignt; and, take u
altogether, Il is a model little church, a
cred { 10 the city. The congregation ls
10 be congratulated on It's steady pros
perity, and It bids far TO continue.
or course, 10 stranger, the
preacher i the principal object OF
interest; and one Is not disappointed at
the first sight OF him As be enters.
Mr.. Russell, their new pastor, IS splen-
did specimen OF physical manhood. lie
evidently belongs 70 the new school OF
muscular Christianity. One does not
have 10 pity him. or fear that he wlll
drop exhausted before his sermon is
finished. There is no HINT Of dyspepsia
or disordered liver about him, or his
prayers, or his theology.
Rev. Mr.. Russell, ike Dr. Jackson,
belongs to this generation ana tins
country. There are no Engllsh or Can
adam airs about him. He Is a typical
specimen of an American gentlemen
and scholar. His voice is fine, his
enumeration perfect and the subject
matter or his sermon was excellent. |
may add that a man of his health
ought 10 be robust Christian. He can
not charge any of his possible short
comings TO 4 weak stomach, or q mud
died brain. | learned he was happily
married, which fact will add greatly 10
the peace OF his congregation.
There We're some things about the
service that drew forth my sympathy.
II theme this morning was The Par
able of the Sower." The very embar-
rassment of It's riches, and the poverty
of the time allotted him, were painfully
contrasted. The majority of modern
preachers are obliged 10 emasculate
their sermons; they are III stralt-iaekets.
No other public speakers are so pinched
and hampeTed for time. Mr.. BecchCr
used 10 say that no man VINO could not
hold the attention of u congregation for
an hour was lit to preach. | would add
that any man who IS worth hiring and
listening to, ought TO be allowed at
least an hour to develop his theme. If
the modern pulpit IS losing It's power
and influence, II Is partly because the
modern church attendcuts will not give
the preacher the same liberty they give
to OTTER speakers and really demand
they shall use.
Mr.. Russell Is to be commiScratod
for the narrowness of Ia pulpit plat
form, and for being sandwichcd in be-
tween 4 communion service every sun
day and a Sunday-SchOOl CrOwdln1
hard upon that. Sunday-schOOlso ought
TO he at . o'clock Il. m, or 3 O'Clock p.
m, 50 .hat the preaching Of the gospel
the revealing OF 1.-THE unscarchable
riches of Chrlst'-may have free
course TO run and be glorified." It was
too bad that such a magnificent theme,
so woTthily handled, 30 Ear rs ms time
would permit, scant half hour, was
brought to such an untimclyclosc. Our
city is % bc congratulated that two
such crgymen as Or. Jackson and Mr..
Russell seem TO be, are to become, as /
trust. permanent residents here.
Yours, etc,
CHARLES X. GIBSON.
Ar; On TgQO