The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-09-05
our Churches,

Absence from the city deprived u
of witnessing the ~Blessing of tn,
Bells at the Grand Avenue Gernfa,
Catholic Church, which we have ever,
reason to believe was well worth ,
column in the RELIGIOUS WEEKLY
However, we will try and make vi
for it some other time.
Sunday morning found US on TIT
old, well worn path that leads to the
Presbyterian Church, where the Rev
McElroy was to preach his first ser.
mon.
The Sunday School under the super.
intendency of Prof. McGhee, was in
session when we entered, and it was
pleasant to see so many in attendance
-cighty-four, including seven teach
ers. This school is conducted in q
methudical manher the object sought
te be attained is that Of imprcssing on
the mind and memory of each scholar
some short text that will cheer and
strengthen frail humanity in its trials
and temptations in life. r,anting the
seed, as it were, in the young mind,
fiat will grow and expand as years
advance. The writer has watered
with tears some Of those precious
seeds planted in HE toyhood, one of
which can only be erased by death,
Come unto me al! w tat are heavy
lsdened. and l will give tJd rest"
Oh. how precious that rest is.
Sunday School over, services COM
menced. The new minister is young.
slender and none too strong. lie is a
scholar. well read in ancient h.stu:y.
and gives every proof of being a sin
cece, true christian. His opening
PRAYER was short, simple, tpt oh, how
searching.
What shall; we say about the sermon?
1t was rather lengthy. one hour is too
long. 1t was scholastic, the diction
clear. and at times forcible. But WHIT
viii Presbyterian ministers read their
sermcns' Itdestroys all their beauty,
sublifhitF and effect. The premises
he laid were all that could be desired
by an educated, refined congregation,
and, had he confined himself to the
purpose of the text it would have ac-
comflished his purpose, that Of noti-
flying his beavers that he would take
no part in any cabals, cliques or con-
troversies that lead to misunderstand-
ings and disadvantages. This was
proper. and well-timed. But when
he branched off to the "cold. Shiny
finger and the .'terrific thunders"
that attended his conversion, he drew
pretty heavy on the crcdulity of his
hearers. Don't do it any more. Re
member You had in your congrega-
ton eight. maybe ten of the best edu-
Gated professors in the community,
who Y earnest readers and thinkers
Gh TINS great, mysterious Subject of
the future, to say nothing of other
professions and their families who
have long since passed the stage of
Perhaps VIC are a little 100 severe
on the new minister, but surgeons cut
deep when they want to saw the life
of the pa,icat. We like him. would
therefore save him. He will find the
of this latitude different from
those warm-hearied; irlpulsive people
of his late southern home. Somewhat
given to research and
but with it, more solid when
heir judgments are convinced. We
must take issue with lin in his state
mcnt that the American people are
,areless about holding the Sabbath
lay holy.
We have Travelled much, some
abroad, and considerable at home, and
rom close observation must say. that
he American people-a little more SO
'Outh than north-are the most earn
,st. devoted observers of the Sabbath
be found. True, we lave a few
hOughtless persons amongst us who
ire careless OF the rights of others,
,ut they are a very small percentage.
The Church music led by Miss Viii
was really good; but how differ
rom "Old Hundred and the "Psalms
If David as we have heard them
in youth. Bless the church of
he old c~ovenanters, who used to wor-
hip in glens and caves, that we have
oOked upon with awe in our infancy.
!