The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-07-28

glossy furniture.
In the gallery of the pulpit sat the
choir, consisting OF sixteen voices, led
by Prof. E. o. Young The piano
which belongs to the Sunday-school was
brought into use, and sounded we'll be-
meath the great roof which towers far
overhead.
A gentleman in the choir gallery
counted the number of persons in the
church as follows:
Seated in pews in auditorium. GOO
Seated in chairs along the aisles. 90
Standing in the auditorium. 40
Seated in the gallery. :..... 200
Standing and sitting in the back
OF tho gallery. ................. 100
Seated and standing in the choir
gallery so
Total 1850
Comfortably Sc ated 900.
The choir first sang Praise Ye the
Father" which was followed by the
long-meter doxology sung by the entire
congregation.
DR.. Hawthorne then stepped forward
to the pulpit and invoked the blessings
OF God upon the services.
After singing the hymn. 80, Worship
the King" the choir rendered a selec-
ton, which was followed by prayer by
Rev. MIR. Wildman, former pastor of
the church. Rev. Mr.. Wheeler read the
hymn, Lord of Hosts, to the Thee We
Raise" which was sung by the congre-
cation. DR.. Hippo then introduced
Rev. DIR. Hawthorne.
The Doctor is man Of striking
couRtenance, and at once attracts the
attention OF an audience by his deep
cut, classical features. He is tall,
broad shouldered and erect. He wears
his hair long, and on the left side it
covers the temple.
He took for his text the last clause of
the third verse Of the Epistle OF judah,
"Ye should earnestly contend for the
faith which was once delivered unto the
saints"
1.-THE faith for which Christians are
exhorted to CONTEND" said the doctor,
lis the whole system OF Gods recorded
truth. 1t is everything God spoke to
tho world through His son, Jesus Christ,
and through the patriarchs, prophets
and apostles. The Bible is the Christ
ian's faith"
He spoke of the Bible as being all the
help needed by man in his earthly tolls
and conflicts 1t was delivered to the
saints in all ages. Saints was one Of the
many names which God gave to His
people. Sainthood was not limited to
those who had been canonized by the
church. cit belongs to every being on
Gods footstool who loves the Lord Jesus
Christ"
Faith was revealed once for all.
When the last of the apostles fell asleep
revelation ceased. Since then man
had been qulckened and enlightened for
the study of this word, but no new
revelation had been received
He then spoke of the great sin OF TAX
ing from or adding to Gods word. TO
take from is the sin OF the infdel; to
add to is the crime of presumptious
man. God abhors both. The word
should be extended by making converts
to it, 1t should DO defended when
assailed. The aid Of civil government
should never be called upon to aid in
extending the gospel. This is the
crime OF Russia, and her persecution Of
theJews is the darkest blot on the annals
ofthe nineteenth century. God forbid
that any alliance should ever be estab-
lished between this country and that
barbarous nation.
The speaker then showed that church
maintained by the State was ALWAYS
corrupt. 81 shall never cease to thank
God for putting me in the ministry of a.
denomination OF Christians, which
through all the centuries of it's exist
cnCe, mas StOOu as lmmOVable as the
eternal hills in its opposition to any
State interference with religious belief
or worship. 1t will be blessed day
when the last vestige of State religions
is obliterated from the nations of the
earth. Infdelity will then be deprived
OF It's most Obstructive weapon"
The Doctor then spoke of the general
assembly of the Presbyterian Church,
and how 1T annihilated the doctrine of
DR.. Briggs and his Unitarian allies. He
swept with scathing sarcasm the attack
OF Briggs and Parkhurst on the Scrip
lures through the discovery that the
coneT did not "chew the cud.'
DIR. Hawthorne followed this humor-
GUS illustration of heresy with the duties
of those who belong to the church.
Many of the young people conceive the
idea that it is only an organization for
them to belong to, but not to work in.
The chuneh is all the people OF tho
earth. It's doors are open and every one
who wishes to work in the cause of God
is welcome. He spoke of the efforts Of
Philadelphia publishing house to or
ganize the Baptist young people into
national convention outside of the
church. He pronounced it heretical and
mischievous, and was glad to know it
was not making any Roadway.
Raising his eyes to the vauitcd cell
ing Of the sacred edifice and then look
ing out upon the sea of faces, the doctor
spoke of the new church. Every word
fell with distinctness. Every lover OF
IA. fos a