The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-24
A SERMON TO BACKSLIDERs.
Rev. MIR. EIsom at Calvary
: Tabernacle.
He Takes tho Parable of tho Prodigal
Son the Subject of His Discourse.
a Powerful and Effective Sermon.
Church Members Severely Arraigned
for Their Shortcomings.

II want to preach a sermon to YOU
backsliders tonight; you people who
have been in the grace of God once and
arc now like los5 sheep-like the Prodi-
gal Son-wandering from your fathers
fold" said Rev. p. G. Elsom last night
before taking his text
Calgary Tabernacle was packed to
overlooking and many were standing in
the aisles, and around tho doorway
Rev. Mr.. Elsom took for his text o.
portion of the 10th chapter of Luke, be-
ginning, "a certain man had two sons. !"
His subject was the "Prodigal Son." He
divided his discourse in three parts,
the prodigaps departure, the prodigal's
return and the prodigals reception.
He began by saying that this youth
who had good home came to his father
and said he wanted to leave. He was
dressed in his best clothes. He gets
what he wants and leaves that home
that had been his shelter since his in
fancy.
THAT is the way you backsliding
church people have been doing. What
is the cause? One is you pay no alton
tion to Jour church connection. MANY
of you have your church iotters stuc..,,
In your pockets That is the way you
have gone astray. BY this way of doing
you are making out God as liar. You
are saying by your actions that the
church docs not amount to anything.
Another cause is, wo got too much
mixed up with the world You are
thinking about these things too much
and get into bad company. Let me tell
you, stay in your church.
Some of you young men back there
are backsliders. because you have got
mixed up with saloon keepers and
| gamblers Some Of you women are
backsliders, because you 60 around
here dancing at the germans and at
balls. One of the prominent lady church
members in this town, l am told,
actually led german. God don't want
her. lie amt got any use for people
working in the Gauge of tho devil You.
have lost communion with God, and
lett off all your church work.
he spoke of the planet Mercury and
the rapidity of its revolutions because it
was near the sun. "Any person who is
near God and is in close communion
with him goes fast. You backsliders,
you far-away planets, are going at
snalPs pace. Onco you had the presence
of the Saviour With you, but you haven't
got it now. Once you loved to road His
word, but you don't love to read it ow.
"Once you loved to go to church, but
you don't love to go there now. Here
are men in Roanoke who are dying in
their sins, yet you never talk 10 Thorn
about it. You never practice what you
| preach. You VINO are in the church
church members-gone astray never tell
us preachers about not practicing what
we preach. Go do your duty first,
then you can see tho faults OF others
"a man with big store down the
street told mo to-day he was almost a
skeptic. / asked him why was that.
| Well, he said he knew one man here in
Roanoke who was q member of tho
church and he was the biggest liar he
ever heard talk. Another church mem
Der could beat anybody swearing no
ever listened to. Well, don't blame
that man much. II that is tho way You
church people are going to do. les tho
church and may be there WON'T be so
many skeptics.
Skinner, are you backslider to-
night? 1t you arc you will como TO
grief. God will take away your chill
| drcn, your health. You are not fit to
have anything"
MIR. Elsom then took up the p,odigals
return, and described the feeling OF tho
boy in that far-off country where he
made up his mind to return home. He
/ described the feelings of the father
when he saw him approaching his old
home.
He then offered resolution that as
those who had gone astray from the
church, be it resolved that they return.
"Who will second that resolution? |
| want Ill RI IL 1oI Col TO-
witness Let it be voluntary on your
| pait. God loves tho sinner who of his
free will comes homo, says he has erred
and asks to be forgiven "
Ho Then described the prodigal's re-
| ceptioD. THAT father when he saw
his boy approach in the twilight took
him in his arms and nevor uttered
word of reproacb. lie was willing to
take him back. just so it is with God,
sinner. He is ready to take you back
again. lie will never utter a word to
offend you. He will take you in his
arms that blessed moment when YOU
| renoupce the world and bless you as
| his child"
The sermon had great effect. More
than fifty stood u2 for the prayers of
the church and many went forward and
made o profession of faith.
Mr.. Elsom will preach again on Sun
day morning and at night. AT 4 o'clock
Sunday evening he. will preach his great
{ sermon to the children. He wants
every child in the city to come out and
hear him.
Rev. Mr.. Day preached again last
night to largo congregation at ST.
| -.