The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-10-08

the Church Arrives.
The Calvary Baptist Church was filed
with largo congregation again last
night to hear the fourth sermon of Rev
Mr.. Elsom.
The night was rainy and outside the
weather was mirkY and dismal, but this
did not keep away the earnest Baptist
workers. who seemed to have caught tho
spirit OF Wesleyan Methodism.
Mr.. Elsom took for his text the eth
verso OF tho 5th chapter of the Book of
Daniel, "Thou art weighed in the hal
ances and art found wanting"
sit is the habit of some people," said
the preacher, "to place themselves in
the balances and see how much thew
weigh. want to weigh you tonight in
the balances and see how much you
weigh by Gods eternal law. They are
accurate scales and perfect balances.
You woigh yourselves and ascertain
your health and physical condition. 1
want to weigh you and show how you
stand tonight in the presence of God.
ut is SOLEMN business for me,
because l expect to stand in tho
presence of God and to be held account
able for my accuracy in Judgment. It
Is solemn business for you BY it
you either accept the promise of God or
stand where you are now, owaiting in
the balances of Time until the eternal
judgment OF God comes over you.''
Mr. Elsom addressed his remarks to
tnat portion OF the congregation who
were members of the church. He smoke
OF the doubling Christian and cited
Peter and Thomas as examples. AS
long as Peter kept his eye on Christ he
walked on the water, but when he
doubted he sank. Thomas doubted
Christ until he placed his fingers in the
wounds in His side.
"Now you doubling Christians arc
stumbling blocks in Gods way; YOU are
IN the way of the church. Then there
is the croaking Christian and the indif-
ferent Christian. The latter are the
worse people in the church. They do
nothing; they go from house to house
spreading bad reports. If you are
weighed in the balance you will see how
miserable low and mean you are"
He paid his respects to the coyetous
Christian, the Christian who drinks
whlskey and the Christians who dance
None were worthy for work like this.
They should give up the church or give
up these evil and hellish prac Ices. No
s one can tim serve God and the world at the
lie said there was sad lack of zeal
among the members. There were
but sixty, but if they stood together
and are fred by zeal, they could take
Roanoke by storm.
Nov you are weighed in the balances
and found wanting. Is there any rem
edy? Yes; take Christ in the balances
with you and the beam will tip the level
i'll the glory of Gods majesty.
Now L want to talk awhile to YOU
sinners" pointing warning finger
about the congregation. "You think
because l have been scoring these
church people that You would weigh
we'll in the balance. If the righteous
scarcely BIO saved where shall tho un-
godly and the sinner appear? You have
all got to stand before God on your own
merits"
Tho preacher then went over the Ten
commandments. AS he repeated one
ne would show the sinners where they
had violated it. He was getting close
to some. What would he saw about
Thou Shalt Not Kill?" Would he
accuse everybody present of being a
murderer? The great congregation were
held eathless for a moment
"Yes,l on committed murder-in your
heart. Christ recognizes the heart as the
seat OF acts, good or evil"
MIR. Elsom then made pathetic
appeal,and after singing several hymns,
followed by prayer and exhortation,
nearly twenty stood up for the prayers
OF the church. After the congregation
was dismissed many of them remained
and made professions of faith.
The new pastor, Rev. c. G. Jones,
lately called to take charge of the pas
torate, arrived yesterday evening. and
was present at the meeting, but took no
part. Messrs. e. Ii. Stewart and d. A.
Jones went to Lynchburg yesterday and
returned with the new pastor on tho
6:05 train. Rev. Mr.. Jones is recognized
as a fine preacher and it is believed will
do great work for the Calvary Baptist
brethren.
Twenty-three Houses Burned.
MADRID, Oct. 7.-[Special]- The fire
which, according to dispatch sent here
at midnight from Santander, had broken
out in the hospital and had spread with
Inn