Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-05
SUNDAY TOPICS.
REV. DR.. R IKgR POINTS OUT THE BETTER
WAY IN LIFE.
An Immense aggregation at the Fourth Street
Methodist Ohurch--Rsv. {. NJ. Afford Ofthe
Third PresbytsriOn VI urch Discours-
s on the Indian Pro5AAn.

There was 3 congregation last night
at the Fourth Street Methodist Church
that would have been gratifying to any
speaker. 1t certainly was to the pas
tor, Rev. DR.. Riker, for he seemed to
speak with redoubled vigor and earn
estness. Every pew in that spacious
sanctuary was filed, and many chairs
were placed in the rear of the church.
1t was a solid bank Of humanity limited
only by the four walls of the church.
Wherein lies the drawing power Of
the pastor 1t is, perhaps, not difficult to
discern. There are several reasons.
/ One is his ability to speak without
notes, as he seldom has recourse 10 any
thing but memorandum, and then
only for moment, but walks and Occa-
sionally prauces from one end OF the
pulpit platform 10 the other. His ges-
! ticulatiOns are marked, and at times in
! tensely dramatic, az he acts out many
/ Of the most pathetic stories that he I'M
| folds. DR.. Riker has wiry physique,
and the way he swings his brachial
members Isl caution. Had he the hands
Of Brareus, the statements could not be
more effectively sealed. He has fund
J OF stories and anecdotes. and right here
! in a large measure is the power OF at
traction. DR.. Riker has way OF inter-
| spersing his remarks with stories and
"reminiscences as to keep the auditors
continually intent. In his sermon last
night he told ten stories, forming q
large part Of the discourse. He varies
them from the plaintive to the humor-
GUS in a way to agreebly surprise his
hearers.
In opening his discourse last night,
the pastor spoke OF the excellent reports
that had been given in the newspapers
of his sermons, and how fairly he had
been treated by the press. The subject
OF his sermon was "The Better Way,
in which DR.. Riker endeaVored
to point out to the young
that this way was just OPP
posite to the popular amusements of
which he had spoken. Amusement is
not the main business Of life. We are
not here for the purpose of being
pleased. An exalted intellect has some
thing higher than mere by-play.
l wonder how many citizens here
in Wheeling have any real,
definite purpose in life. A very
large number of people here, as in every
city, am sure, are living for to-day
with no thought of the morrow.
ADJUSTMENTS are much the same TO
human life as a safety-valve is to
locomotive. But whoever dreamed of
a locomotive being built just for the
sake of using the safety-valve to blow
of steam. l believe in a good hearty
laugh myself, and believe it can be
taken with benefit when circumstances
permit, but there is q limit to all
amusements.
DR.. Riker then told the story OF pc
culiar steamboat that was built down In
Mississippi at one time. 1t had small
boat, but it was equipped with
huge whistle, big enough for boat sew
eral times larger. The whistle was so
large that it required all the steam
available to blow it, and when the whis-
tie blew the boat stopped running, and
vice versa. So 1t is with our amuse-
ments. When we participate in them,
we are simply retarding our progress to-
ward Christianity. The place TO draw
the line on amusements is where they
are clearly detrimental to society. The
ability to make all amusements TO
appear innocent is what gives
them a grip. Many man has gone
wild over drama as seen on the stage,
but never from reading Shakespeare;
many person has become unduly in
fatuated with scenic opera, but never
from quietly reading the works of Bee
thoven; many person has seen their
passions rise over a game of progress
sive euchre, but never from an evening
OF pure conversation. We have in what
is termed society many people OF bright
intellect, and skilled aud ingenious
enough TO devise some other means of
amusement other than using the instru-
mentS of the devil.
The pastor then devoted considerable
attention TO the matter OF sacrificing
minor affairs for things higher and more
ennobling in life, citing as an incident
the college life of John c, Calhoun, who
kept himself aloof from his collsgiates
in order to prepare himself for his
future walks The boys about him
seoffed, but while the boys have never
been heard Of, the name OF John c.
Calhoun is household word in every
family.
DR.. Riker then requested the congre-
cation to stand and while hymn was
being rendered in chorus, all In SYM
patty with the movement, and ready to
renounce popular amusements, were
asked to step forward to the alter.
Ahout forty went forward.