The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-03
OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise, prepared b!
Mark.

Original and Otherwise, Prepared by
Mark.
am religious man, and it may to
some readers seem strange that l have
consented to furnish a column Of read
ing matter every week for the Sunday
edition of The TINES.
Let me say that 1 did not comply
with the EDITORS request to furnish this
Sunday column until | bad given the
matter long and prayerful considera
ton have not considered with flesh
and blood" have consulted my
Master only, whose l am and whom l
serve" | have waited several months
for the answer. 1t has come. l have
heard % voice saying unto me, 'Write.'"
l obey. My pen is in the ink.
am by no means an advocate of the
Sunday paper" l am opposed to the
SUNDAY paper" But l recognize the
fact that the Sunday paper is here and
has come to stay.
If the Sunday paper is necessary
evil, then let us put the leaven of good
in its columns and 50 overcome evil
with good"
God be praised that the secular daily
is so willing to publish religious news.
limo was when tho great dailies Of
large cities charged advertising rates
for publishing the proceedings of relig-
ious bodies. while to insert a sermon
was an invo luntary service. Now the
great dailieS are rad to send paid and
sklllful stenographers to report the de-
alterations OF Christian conventions, and
preach the gospel, free of charge,
through their columns. Let us then
utilize for good the secular press, week
day and Lords day, when it's columns
are open to religious talks.
THE NEW YEAR.
This is tho first SUNDAY in the new
year. The Sabbaths of 1891 are now all
gone by and have borne to heaven their
report how we have improved them.
How stands the record with you? How
many times did you fail to fill Your
place in your pew at church? How
many Sundays were you absent from
your Sundayschool class? You do not
know, but somebody has kept the rec
ord. There are many unconverted men
and women in Roanoke who have made
far better average attendance at
church during 1891 than some church
members oan claim. There are many
unbelievers in Roanoke who have no ed
the absence of certain church members
from tho house OF the Lord, Sunday
after Sunday, and have wondered at the
religious or irreligious, Indifference of
some protesting Christians. Some
church members who read these lines
have made no arrangement to honor
God in His house to-day.
They have children, but they have
not prepared them for the Sunday
school. There are unconverted mem
oers of the family, but no saving exam
pie is set them to walk in the ways of
the Lord. and thus the whole family is
living life of sinful negligence. The
miserable, flimsy excuses some pro-
fessors of religion give for this neglect
of public worship are refuge of lies"
which will not stand the test of the
dying hour nor tho day of Judgment.
Then up, and got ready for church to-
day! Say with the Psalmist, "My feet
shall stand within thy gates, o Jerusa-
lem" III was glad when they said unto
me, Let us go into the house of the
Lord"
Let me ask you to join me in this
New Year resolutions: Il will permit
no excuse to keep me from church on
Sunday, or weex night prayer meeting.
or from my Sunday school class, if /
have one, that would not keep me from
secular business or social pleasure"
Write this and put your name to it, and
Keep tne VOW III inc name or inc LORD.
This year thou shalt die" Jeremiah,
2S:l6. Some who read these lines will
die this year. This is your funeral
text. Are you prepared to meet God
this y. ar?
What arc you going to do about it?
"This year thou shalt die" "So Hanan-
iah died the same year in the seventh
month" 1t may be thus with you.
Whatsoever thy hand fndeth &c do, do
it with thy might; for there is no work,
nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom
in the grave whittier thou goest." Then
lay aside THE TIMES for the present and
get ready to go to church. If these lines
shall prompt any negligent church
member or non professor of religion to
attend church to-day, shall have my
reward for this Sunday, and shall have
helpful word for another class of de-
linuuentS next Lord q dav MARX,