Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-27

4
feel OF love TO God aud one another How
! we wish we knew what hymn the disciples
| sang the evening Of the =" last SUPPER
When God inspired a hymn TO be sung
by the angelic host at the birth OK Christ
He made IL marvellously appropriate and
expressive Of the mission OF the Lord on
earth. II was glory and peace"
THE MEixISo OF GLORY.
Glory, DR.. Kerr said. Is the putting
forth Of the best powers 10 the best pur-
pose. The putting forth of the best
powers OF Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon
for selfish ends was not real glory. In the
life and death and resurrection OF Christ
God was going TO put forth His best
powers 70 the best purpose and 1t was 10
be glory in the highest" degree IL was
wonderful 10 create angels, worlds. and
men, but il was glory In the highest 10
save sinners by the sacrifice of Christ.
More glory gathers round the cross and
tomb Of Christ than any other point in the
history God has revealed TO us.
PEACE THE OPPOSITE OF WAR.
Peace ia the precious opposite OF war,
and the Gospel OF Christ is going TO estab-
lish peace at last among all nations. 1t
ought 10 be the rule now peaoeably TO set
tie disputes by arbitration, aud not the
sword. But now we can and do have
-
The peace that comes to a forgiven soul is
too well-founded 20 be destroyed by the
world or death.
Let Us, said the speaker. stop, this happy
season OF the year, and listen to the angels
sing their inspired prophecy Of glory and
Of peace.
The musical programme OF the services
was very fine.
IN TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Sunday-school department Of the
First Presbyterian church presented a
unique and Joyous scene on Sunday morn
ing, the rooms being beautifully decorated
with evergreens, while on either side or
the desk were pyramids Of -four In bags.
with boxes, bundles, baskets Of fruit,
books, toys. tea. coffee, sugar, &c. with
orders for loads OF coal, and all supple
mented by handsome sum of money.
The exercises were conducted by MIR. j. ID.
X. Slelght. the superintendent. and the
Christmas programme was choice and IN
teresting frightened with glad songs Of
praise and with brief addresses by the
pastor. Rev. DR.. Kerr, and the superln-
tendent. A pleasing recitation was also
gwen by one of the young girls. and prizes
awarded to several scholars.
The gathered offerings were an object
lesson TO the school, while children and
teachers all asserted that the event had
Ottu moro GulOIhDlt llldu ANY tuIihllLAS-
tree" of former celebrations. A commit
tee Of the lady teachers of the school. with
Mrs. DR.. Kerr as chairman. have charge of
the distribution of the gifts among the de-
serving poor. and many homes will be
made happy 10y this timely offering.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Or. Hoge preached morning and after
noon TO fine congregations. In the morn
ing he made strong presentation of the
parallel between John !. and Genesis l.,
his specific text being John l.. IA.
In the afternoon DR.. Hoge preached a
sermon appropriate to the last Sunday in
the year His text was Genesis l., IA ::
God said, Let there be hight IN the tirma-
ment," &c.
The only natural divisions Of time, said
Dr.. Hoge, are DAYS. nights. and the seasons
of the year oil the rest are artificial. Ma
ture distinctly marks the day and fixes It's
limits by visible signs.
So, too. in the latitude in which we live
four seasons arc defined, not accurately as
TO beginning and end, but with sufficient
distlnctuess as TO warrant us to divide
them into spring, summer, autumn, and
winter.
But there is nothing in nature TO deter
mine when the months or years COM
mence or close-nothing IN the armament
above or III the earth beneath to distin-
guish the first day either OF tho month or
year from the days which follow. Yet
these divisions of time measured by scien-
tifc calculations, are recognized In the
Bible and adopted by the common consent
of all civilized nations
One event-the birth of Christine most
important event in the worlds annals.
cuts chronology III twain, 50 that what
! makes history IA SAID to have occurred t..
| &. or A. D.-befOre or after Chrlst-and
I Il. III 1tbn lAthhnn 10 oh
hged TO arrange his dates accordingly, as
well as Neander or Dean Alllman.
The division of time into years subservos
the purpose Of the historian and enables
him to narTate events IN their proper order,
giving the dates of the rise and fall Of
kingdoms. the exploits of conquerors and
the great revolutions, secular and re-
ligious, which have changed the moral
aspect of the world.
NO CEMETERY OF TIME.
There is no cemetery filled with monu-
mental epitapns marking the graves of the
dead and buried years, and yet each year
has had character Of its own as distinct
as that OF any entombed mortal Some
wears have been distinguished by the adj
yaucement OF learning. by progress IN the
useful arts, by the use Of new forms OF
civilization, by the triumphs of peace lfor
peace mas its victories no less renowned
than those OF war. by the distractions OF
great heresies. by the desolations of per
secutlon. and by the progress Oh general
religious REVEALS.
The wear which will expire during the
present week has characteristics OF its
own sufficient to make 1t memorable.
Among these might he mentioned the
death of highlands laureate and most
popular pastor; the new discoveries OF
science; the Formidable aspect OF the
most powerful Of the European nations,
with their multitudlnous armies and i'm
proved methods of slaughter. with an
aggregate of ~, 900. 900 of men, producers
of nothing, consumers of everything, so
that the device on the shield of each ma
ZION might be a oayOnet and barrack,
aud the legend full armOry and an empty
treasury. -,
But for these natural and artificial divi-
ei0ns Of time, but for our birthdays, lam
lly. national, and church anniversaries,
there would be little TO remind US OF our
own feeting existence-lttle 20 mark our
own progress to the all-summonlng grave.
From the great dome Ut the sky we may
fancy that we hear the solemn tones OF the
bell striking when January comes IN and
- when the arrival of December admOn-
ishes us the year is dying. A warning peal
IL heard during each intervening month,
and if heard Alright II Is the knoll OF our
departed hours and of our approach to
the period when for US time shall be no
longer.
LIFE LIKE THE ROOTS OF TREE
The wears of mans life have been well
lixaned 10 the roots which support the
tree. When the roots are many and strike
deen into the ground the tree Is strong,
lifting its trunk high and spreading us
branches wide. But each tree has Limited
number of roots, and becomes weak as
thew grow few. A tree will not stand long
with only two or three roots TO support H.
all the rest being severed. with the
vounp the severIng of one or two roots
commits but little. There are many more
teft Not SO with those whose number has
d,n,nishad until nearly all are gone. AS
the present year closes another llfo-root Is
severed for each Of us, and as the tree
falleth so IL Will lie.
There "a something awful in the uncon-
trollable fight of time, Nothing can az
rost II. Nothing can retard 1t. The sea-
qull. on tireless wing, Is seen far OUT on we
vide seas futtering around the swift
steamer or breasting the storm, out even
the sea.gull must ind some moment anu
nIace OF rest, though IL be for the prleI
season when II catches q fugitive repose AS
II floats on the wave, but there Is no ceSsa-
non in tine fight of time. Neither Is any
connneror so remorseless. Time holds an
bour.plass in ono hand, scythe IN the
other. The glass measures mes auraIloh
I'LL q az