Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-29
SERMONS IN GROVES.
First Union Services of the Season at
the Silver Lake Grounds.
THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE BIBLE.
A Successor Of One of the Milligans on the
Need Of Preparation.
OTHER PULPIT TOPICS OF YESTERDAY

''The groves were Gods first temples, -
and last night one was pressed into service
again to answer that purpose Pursuant to
their usual custom, the churches of the East
End have inaugurated an eight weeks
series of union services at Silver
Lake Grove, in the East End. Last
night opened the series, and long before
the hour for commencing service the great
dancing pavilion was crowded to overflow
ing, and by the time the first hymn was
sung fully 5000 people crowded each other
for standing room, or were scattered around
on the grass within ear-shot of the speaker s
voice. Besides this there were lines of
carriages bearing late corners, who could do
nothing but drive as close to the platform
as possible and listen to the services from
the seclusion of their own conveyances
The place was as brilliantly lighted as for
one of Guenther's famous summer night
concerts, but when the orchestra started it
was not the witchery of one of Waldteu-
fel's waltzes but the air of the hymn,
''Once More We Come Gods Word to
Hear
A Phenomenal First Meeting.
The opening crowd was regarded as phe-
nomenal as far as numbers go, yet all the
churches to be included in the Union meet
ings were not present. Through a misun-
derstanding several of the churches held
services last night, but hereafter nine
churches viii be represented in the congre-
cation. BY an agreement entered into by
all the churches, no one will know
hereafter who is going to preach
in the evenings until the proper
minister mounts the pulpit. A
collection will be taken up each evening.
The expenses per night are S35,and all beyond
that amount will be applied to the various
missions in the city.
The services were opened by the singing
OF hymn by a picked choir of 100 voices, ac-
compauied by the Point Breeze Orchestra.
Rev. Dewitt NJ. Benham read the Scripture
Wilson, who lead in prayer. Then came the
sermon by Rev. G. W. Chalfant of the Park
Avenue Presbyterian Church. His subject
was How Can Man Be Born When He Is
Old?" The preacher opened by telling
story of Emperor William of Germany. He
asked boy to what kingdom his horse be-
longed and the boy answered, "the animal
kingdom" Then he asked to what kingdom
, he (the Emperor) belonged and the boy re-
piled to the kingdom of God. He then told
of the powerful impression this made on the
Emperor, and drew from it the lesson that
too many men forget that they belong to the
kingdom of God
Evidences of a Healthy Sentiment.
From that he talked on the disturbances
s1D the world of theology, and said that while
not all were right it disclosed healthy
sentiment, for it shows how earnestly men
think OF God. Then he started in on the
lesson, telling the story of man to whom
Christ said, Except ye be born again ye
cannot enter the kingdom of heaven" and
of the reply, ''How can be born again?"
Mr.. Chalfant then cited instances to show
how people who had suffered from disease
had, physically, been practically made new
people. He also showed how mind is re-
generated and further declared that to be
Spiritually born again was possible. He said
many who had become Christians were liv-
ing witnesses of this wonderful change.