The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-20
OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise-Pre.
pared by Mark.
NO. %.

oAoioBue lew years ago
between Church Bell, the People, and
Conscience. 1t was a quiet Sunday
morning. The Church Bell spoke first.
Over the town floated it's full, rich
music, and then came back again in
faint tones. The BELL seemed charged
with message to the People. which it
was telling with all its might, aud tho
massage ran thus: Come, Gomez"
Come. Gomez" Come, Come" But
although heard and we'll understood, it
was not needed by many; and this is
what the people said who did not heed
1T, and what Conscience said to them:
Bell-"Come, Come"
Peoplo-"We do not feel yery we'll TO-
day"
Consciencs-"Isn't it strange there
are so many sick people on Sunday?
Many who are we'll enough on Saturday
night are unable to go out on Sunday.
And those who are so sick on Sunday re-
cover when Monday morning comes. 1t
might seem as if some weekly epidemic
visited the town on Sunday morning
with full supply OF headaches, colds,
fevers, neuralgias and other disorders"
Bell-"Come, come"
People-"The weather is unpleasant
to-day"
Conscience-"Yes, the weather on
Sunday is always wrong-too hot, too
cold. too wet, TOO cloudy OF too windy.
Sunday heats are so exhausting, Sunday
rains arc so penetrating, Sunday cold is
so piercing that no one but the minister
and the sexton should go out to church."
Bell-"Come, come"
People-"Our garments are not good
enough"
Conscience-"There arc great many
directions in the Bible about how we
should come before the Lord, but the
style and quality of ones clothing is
not mentioned. The church isn't mil
linery establishment or show room.
In old times the rich and the poor met
together, for the Lord is tho maker OF
them all. Why not let it be SO now?'
Be.l-"Come, come"
Peoplo-"We have company"
Conscience-"Isn't there something
said about the stranger within thy g ates
keeping tho Sabbath holy? Com.
pany that drops in just at church
hour ought to bo politely in
vited out to church. There are
in Roanoke some Sunday visitors who
keep away from Church themselves and
keep others away. The should DO
taught better manners. But some peo-
pie are SO sensitive about hurting the
feelings OF visitors.
Bell-"Come, come"
People-"We are better than soma
that go to Church."
Conscience-"It may be that you are
better than some that GO to Church, but
are you satisfied with that? Will it do
to toll the Lord that you are better than
some who go to Church, and better than
some who belong to Church? There is
something in the parable of the Phari-
SEQ and Publican bearing upon this
point. Bette: read it and abandon this
objection"
Bell-"Come, come"
People-"We haven't any seats in
Church.
Conscience = Eyes. there are
seats in all the churches for all who
come. And there is q welcome There
re ID be no fear Of intruding; you can
rot wear your welcome out. You are
urged to come every Sunday. Every
thing and everybody says come, except
your ind tferent, cold heart.
~ he spirit and the bride say come.
And let him tLat neareth say come.
And let him that is athrist come. And
whatsoever will, let him take the water
of life freely"
And so the Church Bell kept ringing
out its message Come, Gomez" and
some needed the message and came and
thanked God for the privilege of com.
ing and resolved to come always. 9th
ers still refused and Conscience went to
sleep, murmuring ere it slept: What
shall it profit man if no gain the
whole whole world and lose his own
soul?"
That same bell will toll your funeral
knoll ere long. Then it will not be
Come" but it will be "Gone-gone-
gone" and gone where?
God help tho careless church mem
Der to wake up and listen to and heed
to day the call OF tho Church Bell DO.
fore the notes of tho tolling bell of eter-
nifty break upon the startled soul.
fam