Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-07
SUNDAY AT THE TABERNACLE.
DIR. Hatcher's First Sermon on the Doc
trines of the Baptists.

DIR. HatCner'S flrsI SeTHloH oh thS DON
trines of the Baptists.
Sunday was a high day at the Grace
Street Tabernacle. There were 643 IN the
Sunday school, and it was an inspiration
indeed to look IN upon such brlght-tdced
multitude as they were gathered IN small
groups all through the Tabernacle study
ing the Word of God Professor Herbert
Cox is chairman of committee 10 arrange
for the Sunday-schOol anniversary that
will take place on the 2Sth OF April, and IT
is proposed TO make the occasion richly
entertaining.
Great crowds attended the Tabernacle
both morning and evening TO hear Or.
Hatcher preach on both occasions. HIS
sermon in the morning was founded on
the story Of JOnah's refusal TO obey the
divine command TO preach to the Nlneyltes,
and two distinct propositions were dis
cusSed
/. The human recoil from divine APP
pointment.
2. The purpose of. God TO bring His own
from their guilty fights back TO the work
which he has for them. The sermon con-
tanned much vivid description and
abounded in stirring lessons for those who
had disregarded the special calls OF God.
The congregation seemed TO be greatly
moved.
DOCTRINES OF TIE BAPIlSIS.
At night there was another congregation
which almost entirely filed the Iaberna-
Gle, many of them evidently being attract
ed by the announcement that Dr. Hatcher
would on that occasion begin series OF
sermons on the distinctive doctrines OF
the Baptists The Doctor began by say
ing that his object in presenting
these sermons at this time was
TO instruct his young people as 10 the
peculiar beliefs of the Baptlsts. lie SAID
that there was no book on the earth That
had any authority among the BaptistS
except the Bible, and that his
sermons would consist IN presenting
the Bible statements which bore
upon those points which separated the
Baptists from their brethren OF other de-
nominations. He expressed in the most
cordial terms his frateTnal regard for other
Christian people who are not BaptlstS, and
said that he would utter not one word III
the mere spirit of controversy, ana GER
tainly would blush with shame If he should
be guilty of discourtesy toward those
whose views differed from his.
THE ACT OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM.
His topic for Sunday night was The
Act of Christian Baptism" and most of
his time was spent In presenting the
reasons which led the Baptists TO MAINTAIN
their peculiar position with reference TO
that ordinance. He adduced various state
ments in the New Testament as to this act
of baptism: gave the testimony OF MANY
Christian scholars not Baptists as TO the
apostolic practice, and called attention TO
the symbolism OF baptism as indicating
what the act was.
The Doctor said that the Baptlsts had
sometimes been charged with holding that
baptism was essential to salvation; but
pithily replied that so far from believing
that no man could be saved without bap-
tism, they believed that no man ought to be
baptized until he had already been saved
and that baptism Is the outward sign OF
an inward cleansing from sin by the blood
of Christ. lie closed his sermon by earn
estly eXhorting those who had recently
put on Christ in baptism to walk as those
who are dead TO sin aud alive unto right
eousness. He exposed his unfeigned
pleasure at the presence of so many per-
sons from other congregations and heartily
invited them to hear the other sermons of
the series
The attention 10 the sermon was close
and serious, though now and then some
telling point put in the Doctors own way
would bring smile to the faces OF his
audience.
Next Sunday night he will answer the
question as to who are proper subjects for
scriptural baptism.
THIRTEEN BAPTIZED.
Last night Or. Hatcher administered the
ordinance of baptism at the Clay-Street
Baptist church. Thirteen persons were
baptized. IL was a beautiful and impress
siye scene, especially when four sisters IN
the bloom OF early womanhood entered
tho baptistry together.