The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-16

Than ever before in any one day.
Whether this be true or not it is certain
Vhat there was more Methodist preach
Hng on greater variety Of topics heard
Sby more people than during any other
dday during the history Of the Magic
2City. There was preaching by the
Rbishop, presiding elders, city pastors
and circuit riders, by vigorous young
men and the venerable fathers of the
church.
The day dawned bright and clear and
the cold March winds didn't chill the
ardor or diminish the interest of tho
church-going people of the city. Early
in tho morning tho streets were
thronged. People of every age and con-
dition, young men and maidens, fathers
and mothers and children, dressed in
their best clothes, were on the way to
hear the bishop or some favorite among
tho visiting ministers.
All the larger churches were packed,
and there were good congregations at
every place of worship in Roanoke.
by 10 o'clock, the hour announced for
the love feast to be conducted by Rev.
DR.. j. Hoffman Waugh, there were not
many vacant seats in Greene Memorial
church. After the opening service of
reading scripture lesson and singing,
DIR. Waugh made an impressive talk on
the subject of Christian love, during
which bread and water were distributed.
AT tho close of his remarks the doctor
invited short talks from individuals of
the congregation. Many brethren and
some sisters, too, gave testimony as to
their Christian experience, and these
short talks were interspersed with soul
stirring hymns that were sang with
genuine Methodist ring.
When Bishop Hendrix arrived at II
o'clock the aisles and entrances to the
church were full and running over, and
the bishop had to slip in the back way
/ or not get in at all. Every inch Of
Aspace available was occupied. Several
HUNDRED people we're turned away.
THE BISHOPS SERMON.
EWedging his way to the pulpit Bishop
d@bndrix, after the preliminary services,
an1Hounced his text as follows:
"Mesus saith unto him: Have boon so long
ya lam ana yet you k know me not phip9
1ohn SM SoS saith thou show us the father"
TMhe incarnation of Christ was the
thenhe, and the sermon was exhaustive,
powerful and eloquent. The question to
WHICH the text is reply evinced
lau% (able desire on the part of Philip to
lear& more of his Father. 1t was the
expression of an earnest desire to stand
face to face with God. His heart was
not satisfied, and he said, "Show us the
Father>pnd it sufliceth." Christ did not
rebuke, &ecause this desire showed deep
spirituality. A corrupt man does not
desire to Stand in the presence of God.
God manifests himself through the
incarnation df Christ, and Christ's reply
was Significant
If His wordA need not be taken, did
not His life AND His work reveal the
fatherP The divine attributes of God
most important (for man to know were
manifested through Christ as the only
way by which they could be made
known.
Suppose the Savior was the ideal of
some, His name would, be emblazoned
upon public buildings and mothers
would point to Him as al, example to be
emulated, and His careeh would inspire
soldiers to deeds of glory Even those
who rejected Christ asked. "What moro
could the Christ do should He Gomez"
The Christian religion and the incar-
nation of Christ were proof of his di-
vinity. Christ was willing t. challenge
belief as to his divinity in his works.
The religion of Christ is areyelation
resting on an historic basis. We know
the times and the places ,Sbere the
mon lived and worked who gaze us the
thirty-six books of the mosS valua-
BILE literature we possess. We know
when and where and by wholr{the pre-
cious promises were given aaf when
| the heavens were rifted and tho Ea thor
said this is my beloved Son, ipWhom I
am we'll pleased. "a
Christianity is based on an&istoric
fact that changed the course vents
and from which dates the eXpaHAon of
the human nina, Wnlcn mas reSu&ad in
the modern civilization with M its
efforts in behalf OF the DOWN Walden
and the weak, and for the eleva 81, of
| mankind. IA
Through tho incarnation of.ist
comes the revelation OF MS attri "a of
love. mercy, justice and wisdo at
brings man and God nearer ar
that shows the great beyond and LOS
immortality and life to light. H&
Spiritual experiences realize TIL 80
sage sent and is the test Of the tEsA
ability of Christianity to the A
soul. 1t is the experience of trut
witness of the spirit making know
Cancellation to God and the cons
ness of the forgiveness of sin. Hog
the world explain the life of Paul
cept by the revelation of God thr SKI
the incarnation of Christ? Man E1
| not comprehend the triune God tt $
was revealed through the Son.
Doxology originated in the manger s2
the birth of Christ and the benedic Eas