The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-28

into Jerusalem was htly observed by all
of the churches Sunday. The day itself
was endowed with every quality of life
giving properties, Palm Sunday was
ushered in with an affluence of natures
gifts, and consigned to the past with
only the regrets for the departed
beauty.
The great feature Of yesterday at the
two Episcopal Churches was the visit
OF Bishop A. M. Randolph, of the South
ern Diocese of Virginia, and the con-
firmation of forty people. The morn.
ing service at ST. Johns Church was
conducted by the rector, w. Fl. Meade,
ID. D., and the sermon was delivered by
the bishop. The church was crowded
to the doors and was beautifully decor
ated with flowers, added to which there
was specially adapted music for the
Bishop Randolph took for his text,
Col. IVA, "Fhey We're a Comfort
to Me-" by which Paul refers to the
church members who helped him in his
work, as 1t was his custom to send greet
ings to them for their prayers for him
when absent and he felt strength COM
ing to him by these prayers.
The bishop spoke as follows upon this
subject: at seems to be a law in the
Divine government that those who are
interested in work or cause must be
united in asking Gods blessing on that
work IL 1t is to grow.
IL is so in work for the good of others.
1t cannot be done alone. Christian
people are body and must work as a
body.
These early Christians recognized
this principle. All were active; all
were, in sense, preachers. Hence the
wonderful power of that church over
the worlds paganism. Nothing could
withstand its progress. A congregation
tends to transfer its responsibility for
all its gifts. its knowledge of its Bible,
its care for souls to it's ministers, oven
it's own spiritual life, and spiritual
paralysis is the penalty. But you.
minister's true effectiveness and his
spiritual power over men depends
largely upon his congregation.
"These constant appeals of ST. Paul
to Christian people to pray and to help
Is the assertion that there is no real
distinction between what is called the
secular and tie religious life. I do not
call you away from your work-that is
sacred. TO be diligent in your work is
one Of your highest Christian duties.
Apply your religion to your work; let
the spirit Of your Lord and Master enter
into all your activities and callings.
Paul tells these people to use their
religion in the callings where God has
placed them and in that way help him
spread the Gospel. So too in the wor.
ship Of the church each must do part
thus make that worship congregation
in worship-how common and yet how
august.
Remember that worship requires
preparation; the worshipper must bring
to the altar some of the fire that is to
glow there. You are going to church
not only to get blessings. but TO join the
common prayers and blessings upon
others. No man should feel sense OF
isolation in church, but know that he is
among friends and brothers, who will
notice his absence, visit him when sick,
cheer him in trouble. Your personal
tenderness for the young man away
may do more than the minister can do
by his preaching. You can help your
minister cement these ties.
True ministers ought to mold the
thoughts and religious views OF their
people-they may be also nodded by
their people. There would be no sensa.
tional preachers If there were no ignor.
ant, irreverent hearers eager for such
preaching. The preacher who is strain
ing for excitement may have transient
popularity, but will inspire no intellec.
tual or spiritual respect Study your
Bible; give religion your best thoughts,
then you will not look at your minister
with blank faces which dull his en-
thusiasm."
The bishop then congratulated the
congregation upon their now edifice,
which would be benefit to- generations
to como.
The rite of confirmation was solemnly
administered to class of eleven people.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH..
In the morning, at Christ Episcopal
Church, the sermon OF the rector, Rev.
]. Cleveland Hall, was especially
directed to the confirmation class. which
was present in the large congregation
that listened. The exhortation had as
text Hebrews, 6: Ia, "Leaving the
principles OF the doctrine Of Christ, let
us go on unto perfec ton, not laying the
foundation of repentance from dead
works, and of faith toward God, of the
doctrine Of baptisms. Of. laying on of
nands, OF resurrection of the dead, and
OF eternal punishment. And this will
we do if God will permit"
The sermon dealt entirely with the
text as 1t referred to those about to be
confirmed and emphasized the fact that
perfection OF character was the goal of
Christian life. The sermon was yerv
impressive and the music at both the
morning and evening services was
beautifully rendered.
Before the sermon the baptism of
adults took place, there being four
gentlemen and two ladies'.