Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-13
SERMON TO PYTHIANS
Nj. Wright Tells The Knights Of a
Life Beyond the Grave.
THE LESSONS OF CALAMITY.
M. Boxs Delivers . Fine discourse on
This Thems-sunday- Schcoi "se'
iugs-Othsr Church Services

I'm the city was represented. iho n'0'"-
bo,s of the order assembled Mt Corcoraa
Hall. whore the roll-call OF members Oh
Damon Lodge was made. and tneh .uc
names of those who have gone 10 JOIN 'he
oreat majority were read out. process
SION was formed aud, escorted by DIVISION
No Captain A. l.. Lucas commahuIng'
nroceeded to I.eigh-Street Baptist chufch;
A. tho KNIGHTS filed in the organ psaieo
tortb its sweetest music. Captain FRANK
" Cunningham. who had consenleu w
lead the singing for the occasion; was de
tanned at home by the critical iIiness ~
one of his children. Inc cnulcn was W.
Siled when Mr.. Wright entered the pulpit.
The exercises were commenced by sing
,ba Onening Ode" of the Pythlans. MT.
WIGHT read the Scriptures and Dr. George
Coouer. of the First Baptist church. OF
fered n most fervent prayer. ASKING tnc
r,cbest blessings of Heaven upon the
motherhood that should live up to the
principles of the order that the spirit OF
fraternity should ever be amongst tnenl
and that no internal strife shoulo teaI
them asunder; that IN the reverlng the
,nemorv of their departed brethren they
should consider that they. too, must coile
TO the end Of their lyes.
AZ the conclusion of DR.. Cooper's prayer
the HYMN There IS land OF pure ue-
light" was rendered in splendid manner
10y the choir.
WE SHALL LIVE AGAIN.
Mr.. Wright took as his text JOB XIV, ~
If man die shall he live again Inns
emery ne SAID. has been propounded Tor
aces. and for all time to come 1t Will con-
time TO be asked. If there is another
life beyond the grave and we can get ready
for il we certainly should do So, Every
man hopes or fears there is another lie
Turn where you will, the intuition Is ever
before YOU that there 10 hereafter Inc
idea of another life is found IN our poetry,
IN lore. and around the grave. When
Socrates was asked. Shall we bury you
when YOU are dead 7" he answered. les,
ii YOU can find me burr me-. Inc ancient
Greeks thus studied and believed IN q
future life. TIE happy hunting-groundo OF
the red man of the forest showed that tue
Intuition of life beyond the grave was
ever with them. On every side can
be- seen evidences OF q beliel III
the future. Every man has the Durh-
ing desire in his bosom to i've
after death--the thirst for fame.
That man who is not willing to live after
death-who does not desire to do some
thing TO make his name known after
DEATHS not worthy TO 1--we to-day. The
soldier goes forth 10 the Oattle-nelu
to cover himself with glory" Inc poet
who can quote his own lines that w, VIII
make his name immorta! IS happy. Inc
pyramids are doubtless costly mauscleums
TO the memory of some men who made
their names famed. either for acts OF vaior
or as rulers. If man is but the epheme-
raj creation some men would have US De-
heye. then why do we see you members
of the order here to-day 7" MIR. Wright
asked. why do you scatter broadcast
over the universe and with fraternal
touch minister 10 each others wants ana
protect the widow and provide for the
oruban? If man il such an epbemeral
creation. then would utter this PRAYER.
.ct not the dust which forms me ever be
made animate. Let 1t feed worm or
nOurlsh pl8nt.
MANS IMMORTALITY Is ASSURED.
MANS immortality Is assured. A
practical question Is. Is this immortality
for ali men regardless OF conduct!' The
auswer is. No-a thousand times no. That
man who Is TO-DAY most devoted to duty
and Is the most God-fearing is the highest
IN your order. | have not your pass
words and cannot pass the portals OF your
lodge-room. but there are those among the
members of your order who have the same
password to Heaven and to the life after
death. The story on which your order IS
founded is one of the most beautiful
10 be found in any tongue. Inc
devotion of the brothers 10 each other
mas made them known the world over.
Greater love than that of laying
down ones life for friend no one knows.
Pythias, III one sense. can be MADE 10
represent the unsaved man within your
membership. Damon comes TO save ana
,nterpose for his freedom. 10 you IL
the duty to rescue Pythias from the block
to lead the way to the life bevond the
crave. No one knows better than | the
work YOU do. in my duties | have seer
Won visiting the sick and minlsterlng tC
the wants of your brothers upon, whom the
hand of affection had fallen; i know tina
YOU with brothers love bury your dead
] know, too. that you can and 90 put
roof over the heads of the widow and bel
defenceless children.
FRIENDSHIP, CHARITY AND BENEvoLENCB
ITO YOU who have on your tri-coloret
banner emblaZoned the words OF Friend
ship, Charity, and Benevolence may Coo
In His wisdom and mercy ever be with yol
to guide you in the paths OF right. You
benevolence is not of the kind that is for
ever Haunting itself in ones face, but o
the practical sort; your charity knows NJ
creed out recognizes that from Him VIII
doeth all things we'll you bow in humbl
allegiance your friendship Is OF klnt
that endures, for here IN our beau
tiful capital city the hero of your orde
Of to-day, Samuel Holder Hines. CAV
his life to rescue his brother III distress
Your order has been one of If not th
most potent factors in eliminating tn
scars of the cruel, relentless war that ha
marred our civilization. Knights, b
brave, be generous, be ye servants OF tn
Great Commsr der, and may He LEAD yo'
TO know that if man die he shall Inv
again."
The choir sang MY days are GLIDING
swiftly by" il which the congregation
joined. after which the benedlction wa
pronounced by DIR. Cooper. The entir
service was deeply interesting.
Among the Baptists.
Rev. DR.. +. nj. Ellis. of Baltimore, occr
pied the pulpit of Grace-Street churc
Sunday morning and preached sermon {
unusual force and p ~er The gifte
minister whose name is so famous anon
the Baptists of the South. attracted
large congregation, who listened to bi
discourse with rapt attention. The SUI
Ject If the sermon was Christ the Door,
an9sthe text was from the words, al
the door; II any man goeth IN by Me h
shall come in and out and find pastures.
DIR. Ellis spoke in eloquent language ON tn
unfailing happiness of Christianity. an
urged his hearers to seek the shelter {
their Master, whose doors were alway
open. The sermon, though very brie
was clear, forcible, and logical. and we
marked by all the beauty and grace whic
characteriZes the words of the distiI
tinguished preacher.
AT night DIR. Ellis preached again q
Grace-Street church. and another larg
congregation assembled to hear his SCI
mon. On Saturday night he delivered a
interesting address before the Youn
Mems society of the church. He spok
on the methods of Bible study.
Rev. DIR. D. +. Hippo. of LynchburI
was IN the city yesterday and attended II
Baptist ministers conference. On Sunda
he delivered the baccalaureate sermon b,
fore the young ladies of the Chester Fema
Institute.
Rev. DIR. w. W. Landrum will deliv,
the commencement sermon before I'll
cadets OF the Agricultural and Mechanics
College at Blscksburg next Sunday.
The anniversary sermon preached b
fore the Young Mems Missionary Societ
day night by DIR. Kerr was or
OF great power and beauty. Wit
the ninth verse OF the fourteenth cbapt,
OF st. Mark for his text. DIR. Kerr spoke @
the subject OF Personal Love as the Tru
Means OF salvation" There was q goo
congregation. and with special music II
entire service WAS one of interest. ID
Kerr heartily commended tho work of th
twenty-three years and has raised sbo,
$1,000.
Methedist Mestinga
d.. 4