The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1890-09-01
AT OTHER CHURCHES.

AT OTHER CHURCHES.
DR.. Hilary A. Gobin's Sermon at the Merid-
ian-Street Methodist Church.
In the absence of DR.. Cleveland the pull
pit at Meridian-street Methodist Church
was filled. yesterday morning. by DR..
Hilary a. Goblin, dean of the theological
faculty at DePauw University. DR.. Goblin
selected as his text q part of the twenty
seventh verse of the first chapter of PauPs
epistle to the Philippians:
:, Only let your conversation be as it becometh
the gospel of Christ.
The value of a word, he said. is not
always indicated by its definition. Very
often its position gives it far deeper
meaning than is shown in the lexicon. And
especially Is this true of Bible language
and Bible diction. Language always gains
much from tive person using it and his pur-
pose. When the epistle to the Philippians
was written Paul was prisoner at Rome.
He had desire to be released and to re-
pecial interest in the people Of Philippi. for
70 him it seemed as If the Lord had special
~ called him to go into Macedonia and
proclaim the gospel.
The experiences of Paul. further said the
Doctor. were very unique. lie found
among the people spirit OF
tendency toward pagan representations.
This latter characteristic was first shown
in a young woman, and when he tried to
break her influence over the people OF the
community they were aroused to show
marked hostility. 1t is always danger
Gus, DIR. Goblin thought, to be an iconoclast.
When these people were cast into prison
they prayed, and even this was victory.
But they not only prayed: they sang
praises. And then came another victory,
which, as soon as it began to show within,
was made manifest without. Not only was
there a physical earthquake that shook the
jail, but there was an intellectual and o
moral upheaval which was stronger still.
The magistrates began to quake and to
the jailers told the prisoners that they
were at liberty to go, they refused, and
simply said, LET them come and fetch us
out" DIR. Goblin explained this remark of
Paul by claiming that the apostle was
teaching his prosecutors an object-lesson,
whereby they might learn the power Of the
church and the subservience OF secular
matters to religious belief.
The church at Philippi, the Doctor said, In
closing, wasa pure church. ltharbored none
of the heresies of the day, but was ortho-
d0x in belief and fervent IN it's fellowship.
The use of the term Conversation" in the
text was referred to as an example of the
fitness or the idea to the subject In hand.
Ordinarily the word carries with it the
meaning of q talk or mode of speaking.
When the Scriptures were written it meant
department. but in the text it has still an
other meaning-that of citizenship. Every
community has some distinguishing feat
ure 1t may be language customs or social
habits. In Philippi the people were wrapped
up in the one idea of citizenship. and for
that reason Paul used a word that carried
with 1T q deep significance. TO the people
of Philippi and to the world the advice of
the apostle was and is commandments
above this life there Is a higher and a no
bier citizenship within the reach of all.
why He Accepted the Call.
At the morning service yesterday, at the
English Lutheran Church. Rev. John
Baltzly, who has been pastor over that
congregation for the past nine years. took
occasion to refer to the call that had come
to. him to accept the passionate of the First
Presbyterian Church at Fond du Lac. Wis.
The subject was taken up in his sermon.
which had as its text the twenty third
verse of the tenth chapter of jeremiah:
The way of man is not in himself; it is not In
man that walketh to direct his steps.
Mr.. Baltzly SAID he felt that in the years
of his pastorate here his cOngrega-
ton and himself had mutually got
ten the best out of each othcr-per-
other. He felt that a door had been
opened to him, that duty to himself. to his
family and to that church called on him to
enter. He thought his hearers would adj
NIT that it was probable he could not do
anything moro if he should remain for
that church and congregation. So far as
leaving his denomination and entering the
Presbyterian was concerned he felt that
the best future was in the line of accepting
tins CALI he SAID that none Oh ms hearers
as he himself felt. and if it be true that of
two duties that appear it is ones duty to
accept the harder. surely it was that duty
that took him away.
Mr.. Baltzly then read his formal resigna-
ton, which he desired to take effect on or
before the 1st of October urging upon the
council an early action and upon the con-
gregation prompt acceptance. The peO-
pie at the Fond du Lac Church were very
hearty in their call to Mr.. Baltzly. and a
church to which he is called is the popular
one of that city, with a congregation of
about three hundred, and is the church TO
which th0-floating or irregular church at
tenders are in the habit of going.
The Power of Christianity.
The Rev. Albert Fulton. of Canton.
China, occupied the pulpit of the Taber-
nacle Church yesterday morning. He took
for his text Romans i, Is:
For am not ashamed of the gospel Of Christ.
He said that Christianity was of divine
origin, and that this is proved by the con-
quests made by Christianity. The despised
gospel conquered Rome, and by its in.
fluence banished idolatry and became the
state religion, ard all this was done in face
of prosecutions extending through several
centuries. Nothing but the divine origin
of Christianity" he continued, will ac-
count for PauPs conversion. No other mo.
tive than the one given by Paul-"the love
of Ch.ist constraineth me" - will
account for his conversion and sub